A man named William Jacob Parsons, 44, was arrested in North Carolina for threatening FEMA employees responding to Hurricane Helene. He was charged with Going Armed to the Terror of the Public, a misdemeanor. Parsons was found armed with a handgun and a rifle. The sheriff’s office started investigating after a call was received about a man making threats against FEMA workers in the Lake Lure and Chimney Rock area.
Due to these threats, some FEMA offices had to close temporarily, causing aid to several communities impacted by Hurricane Helene to be paused in parts of North Carolina. FEMA teams assisting disaster survivors had to make operational adjustments to ensure the safety of their staff and the people they were helping. On Saturday, FEMA workers had to stop their work in Rutherford County due to reports of armed militia threatening them.
It was later confirmed that Parsons had acted alone, and there were no militia groups heading to Lake Lure. The misinformation and threats circulating online have caused delays in aid reaching those who need it the most. Former FEMA administrator Craig Fugate mentioned that delays in in-person inspections could slow down the process of getting aid to disaster survivors.
The misinformation about the federal response to recent hurricanes has been unprecedented, causing challenges for response efforts. President Joe Biden has requested information on how the government is addressing misinformation. FEMA continues to assess potential threats to its staff and is working with local officials to ensure the safety of its employees.
The public affairs teams at federal agencies have been instructed to increase social media posts to show the public the efforts being made to provide aid and support. It is crucial to combat misinformation with accurate information about the ongoing recovery efforts. Rutherford County and neighboring counties have been sharing photos and updates about aid efforts to counteract the false information circulating online.
