No, TEMA/FEMA officials are not taking donations away during hurricane relief efforts [Video]

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — 10News received several emails asking to verify claims that Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and Federal Emergency Management Agency officials were taking donations away from local organizations. Social media posts said monetary, food and water donations were being confiscated. 

We looked into those claims.

THE QUESTION 

Are TEMA/FEMA officials taking donations away?

THE SOURCES 

Patrick Sheehan, Director of the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency 

Tennessee Emergency Management Agency 

THE ANSWER

No, TEMA/FEMA is working to redistribute donations.

WHAT WE FOUND 

In TEMA’s original message, the agency asked people not to donate until local officials asked for supplies. The agency also asked for people to avoid traveling to affected counties. Patrick Sheehan, the TEMA director, said that’s because there were around 120 Tennesseans who were unaccounted for. He said TEMA wanted to focus on locating and rescuing them before having donations and volunteers come into the area.

Sheehan …