‘The worst I have ever seen’: FEMA struggles with unprecedented disinformation chaos
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell cautioned that conspiracies and rumors are undermining recovery and relief efforts.
TroibNews 
Misinformation is increasingly impacting both hurricane responders and survivors, according to the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). As another significant storm approaches the Southeast, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell highlighted that false conspiracy theories surrounding Hurricane Helene are discouraging survivors from seeking assistance and are negatively affecting responder morale.
“It is absolutely the worst I have ever seen,” Criswell said during a Tuesday morning call with reporters. She noted, “It's creating distrust in the federal government, but also the state government, and we have so many first responders that have been working to go out and help these communities."
To combat the influx of scams typically seen in the wake of disasters, FEMA has a rumor control page in operation. Criswell remarked, “I anticipated some of this, but not to the extent that we’re seeing.”
Many of the false narratives have been traced back to Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his followers, who have unfoundedly claimed that federal responders are misallocating disaster funds to immigrants. Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and a rising GOP megadonor, has also propagated misinformation regarding federal interference in hurricane recovery efforts.
In a separate event on Tuesday, President Joe Biden underscored the dangers of disinformation, labeling the spread of false claims about disasters as “un-American.” He stated, "Those who do it, do it to try to damage the administration. We can take care of ourselves, but it misleads people, it puts people in circumstances where they panic, where they really, really, really worry and think 'we're not being taken care of.' ... It's un-American, it really is; people are scared to death, people know their lives are at stake."
Criswell noted the parallels between the misinformation climate surrounding Hurricane Helene and that which emerged after the 2023 Maui wildfires, the latter of which researchers later connected to foreign entities.
Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris is seizing on the misinformation tactics employed by Trump's camp, launching a new ad campaign in swing states featuring former Trump administration officials criticizing the Republican nominee for delaying disaster aid during his presidency to states he deemed politically unfavorable, as reported by PMG’s E&E News. This ad forms part of a $370 million fall media strategy from the Harris campaign, marking the first ad to focus on disaster relief politics as the Gulf Coast braces for its third hurricane in a month.
“[Trump] would suggest not giving disaster relief to states that hadn’t voted for him,” charged Kevin Carroll, a former senior counsel at the Department of Homeland Security, in the one-minute advertisement. “This isn’t normal,” emphasized Olivia Troye, a former White House homeland security adviser. “The job of the president is to protect Americans — regardless of politics.”
Members of Congress are also weighing in on FEMA’s response to Hurricane Helene and preparations for Hurricane Milton. Several Republicans have voiced their dissatisfaction with FEMA's ongoing relief efforts on social media and cable news, often repeating misinformation regarding the response efforts.
A diverse group of lawmakers from both parties, particularly those from states recently affected by severe storms, are advocating for Congress to approve supplemental disaster relief funding promptly. Some have suggested an early return from the six-week pre-election recess, although congressional leaders have sought to downplay these calls, asserting that FEMA has adequate resources for the coming weeks.
Contentions over disaster funding may intensify when Congress reconvenes after the November elections, especially if additional disasters occur. Conflicts over the necessity for disaster aid are likely to continue, with FEMA officials becoming focal points for Republican criticism.
House Oversight and Accountability Chair James Comer stated Tuesday on Fox News that he is pursuing “a complete review of FEMA” and is contemplating asking Criswell to testify at a hearing scheduled for mid-November.
Anna Muller for TROIB News
“It is absolutely the worst I have ever seen,” Criswell said during a Tuesday morning call with reporters. She noted, “It's creating distrust in the federal government, but also the state government, and we have so many first responders that have been working to go out and help these communities."
To combat the influx of scams typically seen in the wake of disasters, FEMA has a rumor control page in operation. Criswell remarked, “I anticipated some of this, but not to the extent that we’re seeing.”
Many of the false narratives have been traced back to Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his followers, who have unfoundedly claimed that federal responders are misallocating disaster funds to immigrants. Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and a rising GOP megadonor, has also propagated misinformation regarding federal interference in hurricane recovery efforts.
In a separate event on Tuesday, President Joe Biden underscored the dangers of disinformation, labeling the spread of false claims about disasters as “un-American.” He stated, "Those who do it, do it to try to damage the administration. We can take care of ourselves, but it misleads people, it puts people in circumstances where they panic, where they really, really, really worry and think 'we're not being taken care of.' ... It's un-American, it really is; people are scared to death, people know their lives are at stake."
Criswell noted the parallels between the misinformation climate surrounding Hurricane Helene and that which emerged after the 2023 Maui wildfires, the latter of which researchers later connected to foreign entities.
Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris is seizing on the misinformation tactics employed by Trump's camp, launching a new ad campaign in swing states featuring former Trump administration officials criticizing the Republican nominee for delaying disaster aid during his presidency to states he deemed politically unfavorable, as reported by PMG’s E&E News. This ad forms part of a $370 million fall media strategy from the Harris campaign, marking the first ad to focus on disaster relief politics as the Gulf Coast braces for its third hurricane in a month.
“[Trump] would suggest not giving disaster relief to states that hadn’t voted for him,” charged Kevin Carroll, a former senior counsel at the Department of Homeland Security, in the one-minute advertisement. “This isn’t normal,” emphasized Olivia Troye, a former White House homeland security adviser. “The job of the president is to protect Americans — regardless of politics.”
Members of Congress are also weighing in on FEMA’s response to Hurricane Helene and preparations for Hurricane Milton. Several Republicans have voiced their dissatisfaction with FEMA's ongoing relief efforts on social media and cable news, often repeating misinformation regarding the response efforts.
A diverse group of lawmakers from both parties, particularly those from states recently affected by severe storms, are advocating for Congress to approve supplemental disaster relief funding promptly. Some have suggested an early return from the six-week pre-election recess, although congressional leaders have sought to downplay these calls, asserting that FEMA has adequate resources for the coming weeks.
Contentions over disaster funding may intensify when Congress reconvenes after the November elections, especially if additional disasters occur. Conflicts over the necessity for disaster aid are likely to continue, with FEMA officials becoming focal points for Republican criticism.
House Oversight and Accountability Chair James Comer stated Tuesday on Fox News that he is pursuing “a complete review of FEMA” and is contemplating asking Criswell to testify at a hearing scheduled for mid-November.
Anna Muller for TROIB News
