Aerial view of flood damage from Hurricane Helene along the Swannanoa River in Asheville, North Carolina, on Oct. 3.Mario Tama/Getty Images
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Background
Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida on Sept. 26, causing significant damage and flooding across multiple southeastern states including Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas and Tennessee. The death toll of 200 people is expected to rise as emergency services reach remote and isolated areas affected by the storm.
A series of online claims have been directed at the response to the storm by the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Authority (FEMA). We’ll examine some of the most prominent.
No, FEMA is not confiscating supplies in affected areas
Multiple claims have been made on social media without supporting evidence that FEMA or other agencies are confiscating supplies that civilians are attempting to distribute to flood-affected areas.
Combination image of two screenshots from X making claims about FEMA confiscating supplies in flood-affected areas.X
In an e-mailed statement to The Globe, the agency said, “The claims about FEMA confiscating or taking commodities, supplies or resources in North Carolina, Tennessee, or any state impacted by Helene are false. FEMA is continuing to work with our federal family and state and local partners in the impacted areas to effectively bring in life-saving resources to the people and communities who need it most. As of Oct. 3. FEMA has deployed more than 9.3 million Meals Ready to Eat (MREs), over 11.2 million litres of water, more than 260,000 and 150 generators to areas impacted by Helene.
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency made a similar statement on X on Oct. 2.
Screenshot of a post on X by the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency debunking claims relief supplies are being confiscated.X
WBIR-TV, an NBC affiliate in Knoxville, Tenn., produced a report also debunking these claims and outlined where donations can me made.
FEMA doesn’t divert disaster money to migrants but does fund a program for non-citizen migrants
Addressing claims that it is diverting resources away from disaster response, FEMA posted a fact-check on its site saying, “This is false. No money is being diverted from disaster response needs. FEMA’s disaster response efforts and individual assistance is funded through the Disaster Relief Fund, which is a dedicated fund for disaster efforts. Disaster Relief Fund money has not been diverted to other, non-disaster related efforts.”
FEMA does fund the Shelter and Services Program, which the agency describes as, “financial support to non-federal entities to provide humanitarian services to non-citizen migrants following their release from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The intent is to support CBP [Customs and Border Protection] in the safe, orderly and humane release of non-citizen migrants from short-term holding facilities.
FEMA allocated US$650-million in two rounds of funding for the program in its 2024 fiscal year ending Sept. 30. FEMA did not address a Globe request for more information about the program, but their site does list the groups that received funding. The NYC Office of Management and Budget received the most funds in the first round with US$38,864,884. Pima County, Arizona was second receiving US$21,827,581 and Catholic Charities, Diocese of San Diego third with US$19,592,554.
US$19.9-billion of FEMAs 2024 budget was allocated to the Disaster Relief Fund. The US$650-million for the Shelter and Services Program is about 2 per cent of FEMA’s 2024 budget (Page 8) of US$30.5-billion.
FEMA funding will not cover hurricane season but can meet immediate needs
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas at a press briefing at the White House on Oct. 1.Mark Schiefelbein/The Associated Press
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told reporters this week that FEMA does not have enough funding to make it through this hurricane season but that FEMA can meet immediate needs. Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30.
Mr. Mayorkas was not specific about how much additional money the agency may need, but his remarks matched concerns by President Joe Biden and some lawmakers that Congress may need to pass a supplemental spending bill to help with recovery efforts.
Congress in late September replenished a key source of FEMA funding via a continuing resolution, providing additional money for the agency’s Disaster Relief Fund.
With a report from the Associated Press