The Biden White House continues to call out what it calls “dangerous” misinformation it says is circulating in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
“A number of scam artists, bad-faith actors, and others who want to sow chaos because they think it helps their political interests are promoting disinformation about the recovery effort, including ways to access critical and live-saving resources. This is wrong, dangerous, and it must stop immediately,” it said in a memo put out Saturday.
The White House on Friday called “absolutely false” former President Donald Trump’s claim the Federal Emergency Management Agency has given so much money to cities to deal with the influx of migrants that it has no funds left to deal with disasters.
FEMA also is pushing back on misinformation it says has circulated on social media about the agency’s efforts to help victims of Hurricane Helene.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell on ABC’S “This Week” called the claims about the agency’s funding “ridiculous.”
“You know, it’s really a shame that we’re putting politics ahead of helping people, and that’s what we’re here to do,” Criswell told anchor George Stephanopoulos on Sunday.
Asked about the impact of disinformation on recovery efforts, Criswell said it has a “tremendous impact” on the comfort level of FEMA employees in the field. “It’s also demoralizing to all of the first responders that have been out there in their communities helping people,” she said.
After Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Wednesday that FEMA does not have the funds to make it through the hurricane season, Trump and Republican allies seized on it, saying the victims are suffering because of it.
In the wake of Hurricane Helene, ABC News’ “Good Morning America” is set to provide five days of special coverage titled “Southeast Strong: Help After Helene”(#SoutheastStrong), spotlighting communities across the southeast impacted by Hurricane Helene and the urgent efforts to help them recover.
People clean up in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Oct. 1, 2024, in Hot Springs, N.C.
Jeff Roberson/AP
He repeated the claim on Friday in Georgia, saying “a billion dollars was stolen from FEMA to use it for illegal migrants, many of whom are criminals, to come into our country, and FEMA is now busted. They have no money.”
GOP Texas Rep.Troy Nehls tweeted that the administration “continues to put the American people last” by FEMA spending over a billion dollars in aid to migrants.
Former President Donald Trump arrives at the Augusta Regional Airport after Hurricane Helene hit the area, Augusta, Ga., Oct. 04, 2024.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
“This is FALSE,” senior deputy press secretary Andrew Bates wrote in a memo circulated to reporters on Friday. “No disaster relief funding at all was used to support migrants housing and services. None. At. All.”
Bates wrote that funding for migrant services is run through a separate “spigot” at Customs and Border Patrol, and ultimately administered by FEMA, but that it’s in “no way related” to FEMA’s hurricane recovery efforts, which he said are plentiful for immediate Helene response.
“I want people to know that FEMA has enough money and that we are here to support you,” Jaclyn Rothenberg, director of public affairs at FEMA, told ABC News in a phone interview. “We’ve seen posts where people say, I’m not going to apply because My neighbor needs more help than me. Still apply. Please apply. We want you to get help from us. We are here actively working around the clock to support you. We want to encourage people to apply for assistance.”
FEMA has also launched a web page dedicated to pushing back on what it says is misinformation about the federal government’s response.
That includes claims FEMA is asking for cash and turning away volunteers — which the agency says also aren’t true.
“FEMA does not and will not ever take donations from survivors and rumors of FEMA armed guards stopping vehicles with donations or taking donations from organizations are absolutely false,” Rothenberg said. “Volunteer agencies specialize in handling those donations and are actively on the ground helping people affected by Helene.”
President Joe Biden participates in a tour and briefing of an area affected by Hurricane Helene in Keaton Beach, Florida, Oct. 3, 2024.
MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images
Another rumor that is circulating on social media is that victims can get only $750 from FEMA.
People who apply for relief will get $750 for immediate needs — but the agency says people will qualify for more as their application moves through the agency.
“The $750 is just to get some immediate cash into your pockets,” Rothenberg said. “When you apply for FEMA you are also signing up for other benefits, and that is just the first amount of cash to hit your bank account that is intended for immediate food, baby formula, breastfeeding supplies, medicine that you may need, then, based on what your unique needs are, you can also receive displacement assistance.”
Willie Nunn, who is coordinating Helene’s disaster response on the ground in South Carolina, told ABC News that “to have that out there…all you’re going to get is a negative impact on our survivors.”
Nunn and his team have been on the ground coordinating the response to the Hurricane since October 1.
“Any misinformation is damaging misinformation,” Nunn said. “There is no one size fit all solution.” He urged people to call FEMA’s 1-800 number to get to get the facts.
“We’re putting boots on the ground to make sure when we can get out, when we have access to folks and they have access to us, that we can combat these rumors,” he said.
Rothenberg said the level of misinformation on social media has been “exacerbated” in the last few federal disaster responses.
ABC News’ Kate Walter contributed to this report.
The White House has recently refuted claims made by former President Donald Trump that FEMA disaster relief funds were used to assist migrants at the southern border. Trump made the allegations during a recent interview, stating that funds allocated for disaster relief efforts were being diverted to provide aid to migrants entering the country.
In response to these claims, the White House issued a statement denying any misuse of FEMA funds for migrant assistance. The statement emphasized that FEMA funds are strictly designated for disaster response and recovery efforts, and cannot be used for any other purposes.
The White House also clarified that the Biden administration has been working diligently to address the humanitarian crisis at the border, but has done so using separate funding sources specifically allocated for migrant assistance. These funds are used to provide shelter, food, medical care, and other essential services to migrants in need.
The allegations made by Trump have sparked controversy and raised concerns about the integrity of FEMA’s disaster relief funding. However, the White House’s swift response and clarification on the matter have helped to alleviate any doubts about the proper use of these funds.
It is important to note that FEMA plays a crucial role in providing assistance to communities affected by natural disasters and other emergencies. Any misuse of these funds would not only be unethical but could also have serious consequences for those in need of immediate assistance during times of crisis.
Moving forward, it is essential for government officials and agencies to uphold transparency and accountability in the allocation and use of FEMA funds to ensure that they are being used appropriately and effectively to support disaster response and recovery efforts.
