Arrest made after FEMA crews threatened amid hurricane relief efforts
By: Hurricane Helene (Yahoo News)
Arrest made after FEMA crews threatened amid hurricane relief efforts
As the nearly 65,000 residents of hard-hit Rutherford County, North Carolina , struggle to clear endless mud and debris left behind by Hurricane Helene , help has hit a roadblock.
Federal Emergency Management Agency crews in North Carolina were forced to relocate due to a reported armed threat against workers, first reported by The Washington Post.
An email sent by the U.S. Forest Service to federal responders in Rutherford County alerted them of an apparent standdown after National Guard troops reportedly encountered armed militia saying they were "hunting FEMA."
Out of an abundance of caution, FEMA said its disaster assistance teams will be stationed at fixed locations instead of going door-to-door, which has been the agency's common practice in the past.
One person was arrested in connection to the threat, CBS News confirmed on Monday.
"FEMA continues to support communities impacted by Helene and help survivors apply for assistance. For the safety of our dedicated staff and the disaster survivors we are helping, FEMA has made some operational adjustments. Disaster Recovery Centers will continue to be open as scheduled, survivors continue to register for assistance, and we continue to help the people of North Carolina with their recovery," FEMA said in a statement to CBS News.
Helene made landfall on Sept. 26 as a powerful Category 4 storm near Perry, Florida. It tore through six states, leaving more than 225 people dead, most in North Carolina.
An aerial view of people standing near destroyed and damaged buildings in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene flooding on Oct. 8, 2024, in Bat Cave, North Carolina. / Credit: Getty Images
The North Carolina National Guard told CBS News in a statement on Monday that it had "no reports of our soldiers or airmen encountering any armed militia, any threats and any type of combatants. We are continuing to serve all those counties in need of our assistance."
In a statement to CBS News, the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office said they received a call Saturday afternoon that said a man with an assault rifle had made a comment about possibly harming FEMA employees working on recovery efforts in the Lake Lure and Chimney Rock area. Deputies alerted the Lake Lure Police Department and other agencies of the threat.
The man suspected of making the threat was identified as William Parsons, 44, of Bostic, North Carolina. He was arrested and charged with going armed to the terror of the public.
The sheriff's office said Parsons was armed with a handgun and a rifle when he was arrested. He was released on a $10,000 bond.
"The initial report stated there was a truck load of militia that was involved," the sheriff's office said. "However, after further investigation, it was determined Parsons acted alone and there were no truck loads of militia going to Lake Lure."
Capt. Jamie Keever with the sheriff's office told CBS News on Monday that local law enforcement remains on high alert, but their office is not aware of any additional, specific and credible threats.
False claims have surfaced online including that the federal government planned to halt search and rescue efforts in order to seize and bulldoze Chimney Roc and that victims were only receiving $750 in aid . Many of the conspiracy theories have prompted FEMA to create a page on its site discrediting rumors and false information about its response to Hurricane Helene.
Former President Donald Trump has repeatedly spread misinformation , suggesting FEMA money for hurricane victims was diverted and given to migrants. Although FEMA does sometimes provide aid to immigrants, the source of funding is separate from disaster relief.
"We have individuals in need of assistance who are entitled to assistance who aren't seeking it because of the false information," Homeland Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on Sunday.
Last week, President Biden addressed false claims , including one that said the government can control the weather, promoted by some Republican politicians.
"Marjorie Taylor Greene, the congresswoman from Georgia, is now saying the federal government is literally controlling the weather, we're controlling the weather. It's beyond ridiculous. It's so stupid, it's got to stop," Mr. Biden said in his remarks from the White House.
Over the weekend, Mr. Biden visited Florida for a second time in just over the week to tour the storm damage after Hurricane Milton slammed the Gulf Coast of the Sunshine State as a Category 3 storm. On Sunday, the president announced $600 million in aid for areas impacted by Helene and Milton.
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Nicole Sganga, Kelsie HoffmanUpdated October 14, 2024 at 2:05 PM·4 min read4.4kLink Copied
As the nearly 65,000 residents of hard-hit Rutherford County, North Carolina, struggle to clear endless mud and debris left behind by Hurricane Helene, help has hit a roadblock.
Federal Emergency Management Agency crews in North Carolina were forced to relocate due to a reported armed threat against workers, first reported by The Washington Post.
An email sent by the U.S. Forest Service to federal responders in Rutherford County alerted them of an apparent standdown after National Guard troops reportedly encountered armed militia saying they were "hunting FEMA."
Out of an abundance of caution, FEMA said its disaster assistance teams will be stationed at fixed locations instead of going door-to-door, which has been the agency's common practice in the past.
One person was arrested in connection to the threat, CBS News confirmed on Monday.
"FEMA continues to support communities impacted by Helene and help survivors apply for assistance. For the safety of our dedicated staff and the disaster survivors we are helping, FEMA has made some operational adjustments. Disaster Recovery Centers will continue to be open as scheduled, survivors continue to register for assistance, and we continue to help the people of North Carolina with their recovery," FEMA said in a statement to CBS News.
Helene made landfall on Sept. 26 as a powerful Category 4 storm near Perry, Florida. It tore through six states, leaving more than 225 people dead, most in North Carolina.
The North Carolina National Guard told CBS News in a statement on Monday that it had "no reports of our soldiers or airmen encountering any armed militia, any threats and any type of combatants. We are continuing to serve all those counties in need of our assistance."
In a statement to CBS News, the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office said they received a call Saturday afternoon that said a man with an assault rifle had made a comment about possibly harming FEMA employees working on recovery efforts in the Lake Lure and Chimney Rock area. Deputies alerted the Lake Lure Police Department and other agencies of the threat.
The man suspected of making the threat was identified as William Parsons, 44, of Bostic, North Carolina. He was arrested and charged with going armed to the terror of the public.
The sheriff's office said Parsons was armed with a handgun and a rifle when he was arrested. He was released on a $10,000 bond.
"The initial report stated there was a truck load of militia that was involved," the sheriff's office said. "However, after further investigation, it was determined Parsons acted alone and there were no truck loads of militia going to Lake Lure."
Capt. Jamie Keever with the sheriff's office told CBS News on Monday that local law enforcement remains on high alert, but their office is not aware of any additional, specific and credible threats.
False claims have surfaced online including that the federal government planned to halt search and rescue efforts in order to seize and bulldoze Chimney Roc and that victims were only receiving $750 in aid. Many of the conspiracy theories have prompted FEMA to create a page on its site discrediting rumors and false information about its response to Hurricane Helene.
Former President Donald Trump has repeatedly spread misinformation, suggesting FEMA money for hurricane victims was diverted and given to migrants. Although FEMA does sometimes provide aid to immigrants, the source of funding is separate from disaster relief.
"We have individuals in need of assistance who are entitled to assistance who aren't seeking it because of the false information," Homeland Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on Sunday.
Last week, President Biden addressed false claims, including one that said the government can control the weather, promoted by some Republican politicians.
"Marjorie Taylor Greene, the congresswoman from Georgia, is now saying the federal government is literally controlling the weather, we're controlling the weather. It's beyond ridiculous. It's so stupid, it's got to stop," Mr. Biden said in his remarks from the White House.
Over the weekend, Mr. Biden visited Florida for a second time in just over the week to tour the storm damage after Hurricane Milton slammed the Gulf Coast of the Sunshine State as a Category 3 storm. On Sunday, the president announced $600 million in aid for areas impacted by Helene and Milton.
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As the nearly 65,000 residents of hard-hit Rutherford County, North Carolina , struggle to clear endless mud and debris left behind by Hurricane Helene , help has hit a roadblock.
Federal Emergency Management Agency crews in North Carolina were forced to relocate due to a reported armed threat against workers, first reported by The Washington Post.
An email sent by the U.S. Forest Service to federal responders in Rutherford County alerted them of an apparent standdown after National Guard troops reportedly encountered armed militia saying they were "hunting FEMA."
Making America Great Again, or something.
I don't understand why the feds and NG even placate the maga moron militias. they're no better than looters ...
domestic terrorists threatening gov't aid workers? ezpz, light them up ...
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he looks like a character out of the movie Deliverance.
Threatening aid workers and now they are not going door to door which is going make it much more difficult for those that need help.
threaten a aid worker and the NG should give them one warning and commence by opening fire.
then blame it on trump/vance and arrest those two POS.
I'm right there with that shit. wtf are those f'n morons thinking?
the former 'president' traitor convicted felon rapist and that dick jd keep inciting his maga cultists to threaten FEMA workers by lying/inciting them to believe that FEMA funds are going to illegal immigrants
everything they say and do is incitement against decent citizens/people - THEIR OWN CONSTITUENTS - and the defense of the indefensible continues
Trump and Vance are responsible for a reign of terror in America. They lied about Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, resulting in the city being subjected to numerous bomb threats. Now, they're lying about FEMA and FEMA workers are receiving death threats. You can't possibly overstate how evil they are.
That’s because they are true MAGA
M aking
A merica
G iant
A sswholes’
Mental Acuity Gone Away
Exactly. Evil personified. Hateful evil scum.