{"id":41857,"date":"2024-10-11T18:09:16","date_gmt":"2024-10-11T22:09:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/?p=41857"},"modified":"2024-10-11T18:18:26","modified_gmt":"2024-10-11T22:18:26","slug":"idaho-capital-sun-fema-combats-rumors-and-disinformation-about-disaster-efforts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2024\/10\/11\/idaho-capital-sun-fema-combats-rumors-and-disinformation-about-disaster-efforts\/","title":{"rendered":"Idaho Capital Sun: FEMA combats rumors and disinformation about disaster efforts"},"content":{"rendered":" \"Hurricane<\/a>
Storm surge damage caused by Hurricane Helene is seen in the small town of Steinhatchee, Florida. Photo by Brigida Sanchez \/ U.S. Army<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n
FEMA chief decries rumors, disinformation about hurricane recovery\u00a0as worst ever<\/div>\r\n
Lies about various aspects of FEMA\u2019s response to Hurricane Helene could potentially endanger first responders on the ground<\/div>\r\n
Friday, October 11, 2024<\/div>\r\n
By Jennifer Shutt, Idaho Capital Sun<\/a> <\/div>\r\n

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WASHINGTON, D.C. —\u00a0 Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell said Tuesday that rumors and disinformation will become a regular part of natural disaster response moving forward, and rebuked those seeking to benefit politically from spreading false information.<\/p>

The volume and type of disinformation spreading about FEMA, as Southeast states struggle to recover from Hurricane Helene, is the worst Criswell said she has ever seen, following a \u201csteady increase\u201d in rumors following previous natural disasters.<\/p>

Incorrect information about FEMA and its response to natural disasters has been spreading through numerous avenues, including social media, podcasts and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump\u2019s numerous comments and posts. Criswell did not name any politicians or other individuals during the call with reporters.<\/p>\t

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Meanwhile, Hurricane Milton is barreling toward Florida\u2019s Gulf Coas<\/a>t and expected to make landfall by Wednesday night. Meteorologists are warning the storm could be one of Florida\u2019s worst. <\/a>Thousands of people were evacuating Tuesday.<\/p>

Criswell said she\u2019s concerned the lies about various aspects of FEMA\u2019s response to Hurricane Helene may have a chilling effect on whether people harmed by natural disasters apply for assistance. It could also potentially endanger first responders on the ground.<\/p>

\u201cIt\u2019s just really demoralizing to them. It hurts their morale, and they\u2019ve left their families to be able to come in here and help people,\u201d she said of first responders and FEMA staff.<\/p>

While no one has physically attacked FEMA staff or other emergency responders so far, Criswell said, she and others are closely monitoring misinformation as well as how people in areas hit by natural disasters react to it.<\/p>

FEMA\u2019s collaboration with local law enforcement can help to monitor safety and security issues, though rumors and disinformation could make matters worse, she said.<\/p>

\u201cIf it creates so much fear that my staff don\u2019t want to go out in the field, then we\u2019re not going to be in a position where we can help people,\u201d Criswell said, adding that she does have concerns about \u201cthe safety of our folks that are walking around in neighborhoods that may or may not have full confidence in the government.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cAnd so we are watching that closely to make sure that we\u2019re providing for their safety as well,\u201d she said.<\/p>

Helene brought devastation to multiple states including Florida<\/a>, Georgia<\/a>, North Carolina,<\/a> South Carolina<\/a>, Tennessee<\/a> and \u00a0Virginia<\/a>. <\/a>\u00a0More than 230 deaths <\/a>have been reported.<\/p>\r\n

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\n\t\t\n\t\t\tTribes respond after Hurricane Milton makes landfall in Florida\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t
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The Miccosukee Tribe and the Seminole Tribe are dealing with the effects of Hurricane Milton after the catastrophic storm hit their homelands in Florida.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t

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Getting federal assistance to storm victims<\/div>

The rumors and inaccurate information about FEMA\u2019s response and recovery efforts are \u201ccreating fear in some\u201d people who are trying to navigate their way through the hurricane recovery process, Criswell said.<\/p>

\u201cI worry that they won\u2019t apply for assistance, which means I can\u2019t get them the necessary items they need,\u201d Criswell said. \u201cAnd so those are the biggest impacts I see as a result of this constant narrative that is more about politics than truly helping people.\u201d<\/p>

She said the current situation is worse than ever.<\/p>

\u201cWe have always put up rumor control pages because there\u2019s always been people that have been out there trying to take advantage of those that have just lost so much in creating false websites and trying to get their information and defrauding people and the federal government,\u201d Criswell said. \u201cAnd so not something that\u2019s new, but the level of rhetoric just continues to rise.\u201d<\/p>

Following the Maui wildfires in August 2023, federal officials worked with local officials to help reassure Hawaiians the rumors and disinformation that spread following that disaster were not true.<\/p>

Some of the disinformation about the Maui wildfires<\/a> was from \u201cforeign state actors,\u201d Criswell said.<\/p>

FEMA was eventually able to get federal assistance to everyone who needed it, but it took much longer than it would have otherwise, she said.<\/p>

The first assistance people in hard-hit areas often receive from FEMA is a $750 payment meant to help with immediate needs like water, food, clothing and medicine.<\/p>

There has been significant misinformation around that amount. Criswell clarified on the call that it\u2019s the first installment from FEMA and that more assistance goes out to people affected by natural disasters as the recovery process moves forward.<\/p>

\u201cWe know that they have immediate needs in the first few days, and it\u2019s just an initial jump start to help them replace some of that,\u201d Criswell said.<\/p>\r\n

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\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\u2018Gadugi\u2019: Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians pledges support after Hurricane Helene\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t
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The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is counting its blessings and coming together as a community amid widespread damage caused by Hurricane Helene.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t

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As FEMA gathers more information about property damage and other problems related to natural disasters, people will likely receive additional assistance for home repairs as well as the cost of staying in a hotel if their home was badly damaged.<\/p>

FEMA then continues to work with people on longer-term needs, like rental assistance, if that\u2019s needed.<\/p>

FEMA has set up a webpage seeking to dispel rumors and disinformation <\/a>about its response and recovery efforts.<\/p>

It says that in most cases the money FEMA gives to disaster survivors does not have to be paid back and notes that the agency \u201ccannot seize your property or land.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cThere are some less common situations in which you may have to pay FEMA back if you receive duplicate benefits from insurance or a grant from another source. For example, if you have insurance that covers your temporary housing costs, but you ask FEMA to advance you some money to help you pay for those costs while your insurance is delayed, you will need to pay that money back to FEMA after you receive your insurance settlement.\u201d<\/p>

The webpage also says that no funding for disaster recovery was diverted to address border security or immigration issues.<\/p>

\u201cThis is false. No money is being diverted from disaster response needs. FEMA\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>

FEMA funding questions and how U.S. Congress may respond<\/div>

FEMA has plenty of funding to cover response and recovery efforts for the 100-plus open natural disasters throughout the country, but will need supplemental funding from Congress in the months ahead.<\/p>

\u201cI have enough funding to continue to support the response efforts for both of these events, and then continue to support the recovery efforts from all of the storms across the nation,\u201d Criswell said, referring to Hurricanes Helene and Milton.<\/p>\r\n

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\n\t\t\n\t\t\tCongress left D.C. with little done. They\u2019ll be back Nov. 12 to give it another try. \u2022 Idaho Capital Sun\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t
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The Republican House and Democratic Senate are out until Nov. 12, though Hurricane Helene funding may bring them back earlier.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t

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\u201cHowever, I\u2019m not going to be able to support those recoveries for long without a supplemental,\u201d she added. \u201cAnd we anticipate needing additional funding in the December, January time frame, or I\u2019ll have to go back into what we call immediate needs funding again, where we pause obligations in our recovery projects to ensure that I can respond to an event like we\u2019re seeing today.\u201d<\/p>

The first step for Congress to approve emergency funding for FEMA or any other federal agency is typically when the Office of Management and Budget sends a supplemental spending request to lawmakers on behalf of the White House.<\/p>

Lawmakers can then choose to write legislation providing some, all, or more money than requested. They can also choose not to fund the emergency request, though that appears unlikely this time.<\/p>

For the moment, FEMA has about $20 billion in its disaster relief fund, she said.<\/p>

People who need assistance from FEMA should call 1-800-621-3362, register on disasterassistance.gov\/<\/a> or fill out an application on the FEMA app.<\/p>

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