'Hunted' | FEMA workers targeted by armed militia during emergency response

FEMA workers targeted by armed militia during emergency response

Discussions around worker safety reached a new level, after federal emergency teams responding to Hurricane Helene were abruptly withdrawn from a North Carolina county following threats from armed militias who were reportedly “hunting” federal disaster workers.

The unsettling episode has raised concerns about the safety of emergency responders amid mounting anti-government rhetoric tied to Donald Trump and his backers.

Federal responders were told to evacuate Rutherford County after the US Forest Service received a warning that militia members were actively threatening FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) teams.

The urgent message, shared with several federal agencies, indicated that local National Guard troops had encountered two trucks carrying armed men who claimed they were “hunting FEMA”, which they believe is somehow responsible for the weather.

Emergency workers were promptly moved to a secure area, halting relief efforts in the hurricane-ravaged county, where they had been delivering aid and clearing debris. The evacuation has fuelled broader concerns about escalating hostility toward government workers in disaster zones.

Was Trump to blame?

Recent threats appear to echo politically-charged narratives circulating online, with some observers pointing fingers at former President Donald Trump and his running mate Senator JD Vance.

Critics argue that their inflammatory statements are exacerbating distrust and misinformation surrounding hurricane relief efforts, accusing Trump of spreading “lies and disinformation” that have endangered FEMA workers and disrupted critical recovery operations.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas recently highlighted a wave of threats against federal employees deployed in hurricane-hit areas, including North Carolina and Florida.

According to The Guardian, some meteorologists have also been targeted with violent messages from individuals who believe that hurricanes are being “controlled” by government officials.

Katie Nickolaou, a Michigan-based meteorologist, described receiving messages accusing her of “creating” and “steering” Hurricane Milton, which struck shortly after Helene.

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Threats to disaster workers come on the heels of several unsubstantiated claims by Trump regarding the federal hurricane response. Among other assertions, Trump has suggested that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have mismanaged federal aid, including claims that funds were diverted away from Americans in need to support undocumented immigrants.

The allegations have spurred resistance to FEMA’s presence in some affected areas, with locals in towns like Chimney Rock refusing assistance based on fears fuelled by misinformation.

In response to the increasingly hostile environment, FEMA has adjusted its approach, moving workers to secure, fixed locations rather than going door-to-door. The safety of relief teams remains a priority, with federal agencies coordinating to assess ongoing risks in politically charged areas.

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