FEMA adds misinformation to its list of disasters to clean up

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is fighting misinformation on top of a major storm cleanup in Florida as Hurricane Milton rapidly intensifies just after Hurricane Helene rocked the state.

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell told reporters on a call Tuesday that misinformation around the storms is “absolutely the worst I have ever seen,” according to Politico. FEMA posted a rumor response page about the hurricane, and though it’s not the first time it’s taken that kind of approach, Criswell said, “I anticipated some of this, but not to the extent that we’re seeing.”

FEMA’s rumor response page includes fact-checks to claims made by former President Donald Trump, like that the agency will only provide $750 to disaster survivors. FEMA says that’s just the amount provided quickly through “Serious Needs Assistance” for food and emergency supplies, but survivors could still be eligible for other types of funds, too. Other fact-checks include debunking the false claim that FEMA disaster response resources were diverted to border issues. FEMA says “Disaster Relief Fund money has not been diverted to other, non-disaster related efforts.”

Elon Musk, one of Trump’s most prominent tech backers, has also contributed to the misinformation, according to FEMA officials. Musk claimed on X last week that FEMA was “actively blocking citizens who try to help.” FEMA’s acting director for response and recovery, Keith Turi, told ABC that’s “absolutely not true. FEMA does not block anyone from helping or assisting. We do not confiscate supplies and use them for other purposes. In fact, we do the exact opposite.”

Turi warned that misinformation like Musk’s tweet is “damaging to the overall efforts. There are people that are hurting because they’ve lost loved ones. Their homes are destroyed. We need to be able to have an environment where we can trust each other and they can trust that there is help on the way.” He warned such claims inhibit disaster survivors from seeking help from FEMA that they’re entitled to.

Criswell said misinformation could impact FEMA workers, too. “If it creates so much fear that my staff doesn’t want to go out in the field, then we’re not going to be in a position where we can help people,” she said on the press briefing, according to Axios. Criswell said it’s not yet confirmed if foreign actors are involved in the spread of misinformation, according to Axios, though the agency found “Pro-China actors” involved in similar efforts around the Maui fire response last year.