Current:Home > MyFEMA administrator continues pushback against false claims as Helene death toll hits 230-InfoLens
FEMA administrator continues pushback against false claims as Helene death toll hits 230
View Date:2024-12-23 10:45:09
The head of the U.S. disaster response agency continued to forcefully push back Monday against false claims and conspiracy theories about her agency’s response to Hurricane Helene as the death toll from the storm continued to climb.
Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell pointed to the agency’s massive, collaborative effort that keeps growing, and she strongly urged residents in hard-hit areas to accept the government’s offer for assistance.
“We have thousands of people on the ground, not just federal, but also our volunteers in the private sector,” Criswell said at a news conference in Asheville, North Carolina. “And frankly, that type of rhetoric is demoralizing to our staff that have left their families to come here and help the people of North Carolina. And we will be here as long as they’re needed.”
Misinformation has spread over the past week in communities hit the hardest by Helene, including that the federal government is intentionally withholding aid to people in Republican areas. Former President Donald Trump and other Republicans have questioned FEMA’s response and falsely claimed that its funding is going to migrants or foreign wars.
FEMA has dedicated part of its website to providing accurate answers to questions and addressing rumors on its response to Helene.
On Friday, the agency put out a statement debunking rumors that it will only provide $750 to disaster survivors to support their recovery. Criswell said that initial money helps residents with expenses for medicine or food. She said additional funding will be available to reimburse them for the cost of home repairs, personal items lost, post-hurricane rental units and hotel stays.
“But I can’t give it to them if they don’t apply,” Criswell said. “And if people are afraid to apply, then it is hurting them.”
When asked directly about a circulating claim that FEMA would seize people’s property if they don’t pay back the $750 in within one year, Criswell said that was “absolutely false.”
The cleanup and response to the storm that killed at least 230 people continued Monday, while Milton strengthened rapidly into a Category 5 hurricane on a path toward Florida, the same area battered by Helene less than two weeks ago.
More than 130,000 customers in western North Carolina were still without electricity Monday, according to poweroutage.us.
Also in North Carolina, more than 1,600 local and state search-and-rescue team members have been joined by about 1,700 members of the state National Guard, according to Gov. Roy Cooper’s office.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon said Monday that an additional 500 active-duty troops have been deployed to North Carolina. Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, said troops with advanced technological assets will be arriving, bringing the total number of active-duty forces to about 1,500. The troops are bringing surveillance equipment to allow officials to get a better overview of the region.
Air Force Gen. Gregory Guillot, commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, said search-and-rescue aircraft were flying 10-hour sorties providing wellness checks, medical care and evacuations. He called the military’s operations the “most important and honorable mission for us, which is to help fellow citizens.”
Cooper said more than 50 water systems were destroyed or impaired by the storm and that the pace of restoring service varies by community. He said he couldn’t give a specific timeline but said the process might take longer in Asheville and Buncombe County, where at least six dozen people died.
“It’s still going to be a while,” he said.
In South Carolina, officials estimate $250 million has been spent on debris cleanup, infrastructure damage and emergency response. More than 300 homes were destroyed and 5,200 damaged, state Emergency Management Division Director Kim Stenson said Monday.
The state’s largest school district, Greeneville County, plans to reopen Wednesday after shutting down for seven days. The district said it has had to modify bus routes because of blocked roads, closed bridges, sinkholes, and traffic signal outages at major intersections.
In Tennessee, where at least 12 people died from Helene, Gov. Bill Lee on Monday visited Bristol Motor Speedway, now a hub for collecting donations for victims and centralizing other operations in the wake of the flooding. Lee met with coordinators and volunteers who were sorting through donations.
“These are Tennesseans and they’re hurting,” Lee said. “Not only are they hurting, but they’re helping.”
___
Associated Press writers Lolita C. Baldor, Gabriela Aoun, Jeffrey Collins and George Walker contributed to this report.
veryGood! (67284)
Related
- Bluesky has added 1 million users since the US election as people seek alternatives to X
- Hurts so good: In Dolly Alderton's 'Good Material,' readers feel heartbreak unfold in real-time
- Proposed Louisiana bill would eliminate parole opportunity for most convicted in the future
- Top NBA free agents for 2024: Some of biggest stars could be packing bags this offseason
- Who will be in the top 12? Our College Football Playoff ranking projection
- Kentucky's second-half defensive collapse costly in one-point road loss to LSU
- Machine Gun Kelly Shares Heartbreaking Message on Megan Fox’s Miscarriage
- Ex-Alabama police officer to be released from prison after plea deal
- NFL overreactions: New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys going nowhere after Week 10
- How to Watch the 2024 SAG Awards and E!'s Live From E! Red Carpet
Ranking
- Charles Hanover: A Summary of the UK Stock Market in 2023
- Audrii Cunningham case timeline: From her disappearance to suspect's arrest
- Stock market today: Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 surges to all time high, near 39,000
- Cartel video shows gunmen shooting, kicking and burning bodies of enemies, Mexican police confirm
- More than 150 pronghorns hit, killed on Colorado roads as animals sought shelter from snow
- Zendaya Slyly Comments on Boyfriend Tom Holland’s “Rizz”
- Hurts so good: In Dolly Alderton's 'Good Material,' readers feel heartbreak unfold in real-time
- Volkswagen to recall 261,000 cars to fix pump problem that can let fuel leak and increase fire risk
Recommendation
-
Ariana Grande Shares Dad's Emotional Reaction to Using His Last Name in Wicked Credits
-
Apple TV riding Lionel Messi wave with 'significant' viewership ahead of 2024 MLS season
-
One Year Later, Pennsylvanians Living Near the East Palestine Train Derailment Site Say They’re Still Sick
-
HIV/AIDS activist Hydeia Broadbent, known for her inspirational talks as a young child, dies at 39
-
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had mild stroke this month, team says
-
Michael Jackson's Youngest Son Bigi Blanket Jackson Looks So Grown Up on 22nd Birthday
-
Mayorkas meets with Guatemalan leader Arévalo following House impeachment over immigration
-
The Excerpt podcast: The ethics of fast fashion should give all of us pause