For the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the arrival of Hurricane Milton comes at a precarious moment.
The agency tasked with coordinating federal disaster relief is not only already dealing with the massive damage left behind less than two weeks ago by Hurricane Helene in states like North Carolina, but it’s also struggling to counter rampant false claims made about that effort.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell held a news conference Monday in Asheville, N.C., where she addressed widespread misinformation spread by politicians and on social media that the agency doesn’t have enough staff, is out of money and is limiting assistance to victims to $750.
“We have thousands of people on the ground, not just federal, but also our volunteers in the private sector,” Criswell said. “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.”
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