As a recovery activity from hurricane helen The situation persists across the southeastern United States, with federal and state officials warning that misinformation and conspiracy theories are hindering social engagement. provide assistance Deliver accurate information to victims.
The American Red Cross said misinformation was hurting relief efforts, but Dean Criswell, who heads the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said: said False claims are “demoralizing” aid workers. said Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina.Let’s face the nation” on Sunday claimed the claims were hampering rescue efforts.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Monday that “scammers, bad actors, and others who put politics over people are spreading misinformation about our efforts, including falsehoods about federal aid. “It’s spreading,” he said.
Misinformation often spikes after major weather disasters, but the spread of false claims accelerated as Hurricane Helen hit several battleground states in the weeks before a hotly contested election. There is.
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Former President Donald Trump doubled down on his misleading statements about federal disaster relief on Monday, falsely claiming that the Biden administration had allocated “nearly all of the FEMA funding” to illegal immigrants. At a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, President Trump falsely suggested that only $750 in aid was being provided to storm victims.
Here are four fact checks regarding key claims about Helen’s recovery efforts.
1. Claim: Federal aid is being diverted to aid immigration.
A widely circulated claim is the false claim that FEMA diverted disaster relief funds to aid illegal immigrants and that the funds were depleted. President Trump expanded on this claim at Thursday’s Michigan rally, saying, “Kamala has spent all of FEMA’s money, billions of dollars, on housing for illegal immigrants,” adding that the Biden-Harris administration “has spent all of FEMA money, billions of dollars, on housing for illegal immigrants.” He claimed the funds were stolen and given to illegal immigrants. immigration.
these claims are false
FEMA said it has funding for “immediate response and recovery efforts” to Hurricane Helen, but could face funding shortfalls if more storms occur this season. The agency said the funds will not be diverted to disaster response needs.
Critics of the Biden-Harris administration point to one of FEMA’s efforts, the Shelter and Services Program, which gives grants to organizations that provide shelter and other services to migrants. The funding Congress approved for fiscal year 2024 was $650 million, a small portion of FEMA’s budget.
FEMA receives funding from Congress for specific functions, including disaster relief. There are two different funding sources for shelter programs and disaster relief funds, both authorized by Congress.
As CBS previously reported, the last time funds earmarked for disaster relief were used for immigration purposes was in 2019 during the Trump administration, when the Department of Homeland Security told Congress that funds earmarked for disaster relief and other said it plans to use the $271 million allocated to its expansion efforts. Free up space in immigration detention centers and strengthen programs that require asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their cases are processed in the United States.
2. Claim: Storm victims will only receive $750.
At a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, President Trump suggested only $750 in federal aid would be available to people who lost their homes in the hurricane, echoing a claim widely circulated on social media. did. “They’re giving $750 to people whose homes have been swept away. And yet we’re sending tens of billions of dollars to foreign countries that most people have never heard of.” Trump said.
This claim is misleading
The $750 referenced is part of FEMA’s Critical Needs Assistance program, which aims to provide immediate relief for essential items such as food, water and medicine. The program is part of a larger aid package being provided to people affected by the storm.
FEMA announced that federal aid to survivors exceeded $210 million. President Biden was announced The federal government has announced it will cover “100%” of the cost of debris removal and emergency protection measures in North Carolina for six months.
FEMA also debunked claims online that the $750 was a loan and that people’s property would be seized if they did not pay it back. “This is not true. We are not seeking the return of this money,” said FEMA spokeswoman Jaclyn Rothenberg.
3. Claim: Volunteering and donations are blocked
Dozens of social media posts suggest state and federal authorities are blocking volunteers from entering hard-hit areas such as western North Carolina and confiscating donations intended for storm victims. There is.
These claims are misleading
Officials say the claims mischaracterize efforts to coordinate disaster relief and keep people safe. The North Carolina Department of Public Safety urged volunteers to coordinate through official channels and encouraged donations to vetted volunteer organizations, as many roads remain dangerous due to landslides. They said the donations were not confiscated.
FEMA also refuted claims that it is rejecting donations and closing roads, saying volunteer organizations handle all physical donations and local law enforcement oversees road closures. .
FEMA also said the FAA “does not restrict access for recovery operations.” This followed a post by X owner Elon Musk who claimed that FEMA was blocking the delivery of aid. The FAA said in a statement that it is working to maintain safety as recovery efforts keep the skies busy.
4. Claim: The government is withholding aid from Republican areas.
President Trump claimed that aid was not reaching Republican areas of North Carolina in the early stages of recovery efforts, posting on Truth Social on Monday: “I’ll be there in a minute, but I don’t like the reporting on the federal government.” The government and Democratic governors don’t go out of their way to help people in Republican areas. ”
This claim lacks evidence
FEMA strongly refutes this claim on its website, stating, “We provide assistance to survivors regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, English proficiency, or economic status. ” he said.
Western North Carolina has been the focus of misinformation, including claims that aid efforts are being blocked. The area is represented by Republicans in Congress, but Asheville is represented by Democrats in the state Legislature.
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper on Sunday linked to several articles that quoted President Trump’s remarks about recovery efforts and criticized those who are spreading “misinformation.”