Misinformation about the responses to hurricanes Helene and Milton— ranging from accusations that the Federal Emergency Management Agency is failing to mobilize resources to hard-hit areas to conspiracy theories that the government controls the weather — has surged across social media platforms in the past several weeks.



Media Matters found content on TikTok, Facebook, Telegram, and X where users expressed interest in traveling to instigate violence toward FEMA workers in North Carolina or said they supported others doing so.



The threats have forced FEMA to take safety precautions while distributing aid, and in one county, temporarily pause aid altogether. In Rutherford County, North Carolina, and Carter County, Tennessee, FEMA workers faced threats of violence from armed civilians.

 

Following online misinformation about the federal response to Hurricane Helene, FEMA faced threats of violence

According to The Washington Post, on October 12, North Carolina resident William Jacob Parsons was arrested after Rutherford County officials received a tip that “a white male had an assault rifle” and had made comments about going to harm FEMA employees. 



There were initial reports that U.S. military personnel "had come across … trucks of armed militia saying they were out hunting FEMA” but further investigation revealed that the threat was “more limited.” FEMA was operating in the area again as of October 13, but the Post reported that the agency was “working out of an abundance of caution” by stationing their operations at fixed locations instead of going door to door.



On October 15, a group of disaster relief workers said they came across a group of armed individuals confronting FEMA workers in Carter County, Tennessee.



“They were all armed, open carry not guns drawn, but they had surrounded them and there was a lady there that was yelling and threatening them,” said veteran volunteer Tracy Elder. WJHL reported that “During the confrontation, Elder did call 911 because she said they weren’t being rational,” but she was ultimately able to diffuse the situation.



Anxiety around potential encounters with armed civilians follows the proliferation of false claims on social media that FEMA has been “obstructing” or confiscating supplies or closing roads and bridges, preventing residents from leaving.

 

Social media users said they plan on forming armed convoys to go to North Carolina or support militias that are mobilizing against FEMA

Media Matters found social media content with significant engagement, including videos with tens of thousands of views, implying that armed civilians should confront FEMA. Some of these creators say they are part of active groups, though there aren’t currently reports of FEMA encountering armed militias.



Additionally, Media Matters found examples of users on alt-tech sites like Gab, Gettr, and Truth Social explicitly encouraging harming or killing FEMA workers. 

One TikTok account with a username that seemingly implies violence against federal employees said — in a video with 322,000 views — that they are “part of a group that we are willing to get you through any and all roadblocks by any means necessary. Any means necessary. You know what I mean.” The original has been deleted, but as of this writing the video is still viewable on the app via repost. 

On October 3, one TikTok user claimed without evidence in a video with over 60,000 views that “FEMA turned guns on people trying to help out.” He claimed that it was “confirmed by Newsmax.”



Another account appeared to be recruiting “special forces, SEAL teams, Rangers, Marines, anybody that has combat experience” to “build the team” prior to Hurricane Helene. The same account later began raising money for a 25-hour drive to North Carolina. In one video that has since been deleted, the TikTok user said that, “FEMA has no idea what’s coming” and that “we’re going to get our meat.” 

Media Matters also previously found an October 5 video specifically calling for TikTok users to “organize” a convoy against FEMA, and another encouraging them to “stand by awaiting the rally point” to defend the country against “domestic enemies.” Both have been taken down from the app.



One TikTok user claimed on October 8 that a militia was going to Chimney Rock in Rutherford County, North Carolina to “stop the bulldozing and stop the mines.” He then said “y'all boys get started, give me a call. Let’s drain this fucking swamp.”

Accompanying support for armed militias in North Carolina were calls for sheriffs to arrest FEMA workers on X and Facebook. On X, Newsmax host Todd Starnes wrote, “It is only a matter of time until law enforcement in North Carolina physically remove FEMA and any other federl assets who are impending rescue efforts and relief deliveries. The government is playing a very dangerous game.”

A video of North Carolina Sheriff Tripp Kester “calling for local citizens to form militias to protect the Constitution” has been shared widely on Telegram, TikTok, Facebook, and X. The posts claim that he “calls for local citizens to form militias to protect the Constitution … either by voting, or God forbid, to use our 2nd amendment rights to protect ourselves from tyranny.” But the video is actually from 2020 when the sheriff was reacting to a proposed bill that was labeled as a “gun grab.”



In a video shared on Telegram, Jeremy Herrell, a host on the right-wing streaming network LFA TV, claimed that “the Sheriff departments are literally banning together with the fire departments and saying that they will arrest any federal employee that tries to impede on any rescue or relief by claiming jurisdiction.” 

One TikTok user appears to be attempting to organize a gathering of some sort in Washington, D.C., from November 15-17 to “make your bullshit insurrection look like chump change.” The account previously posted at least one video promoting misinformation about the response to Hurricane Helene. 

 

FEMA, the White House, and the media have been actively combatting pervasive misinformation about Hurricanes Helene and Milton

Fearing the exact scenario that is currently playing out in North Carolina and Tennessee, both FEMA and the White House made a point to push back against false claims about recovery efforts. 

FEMA created a “Myth vs. Fact” page in an attempt to dispel rumors and President Joe Biden called out misinformation twice in televised appearances, triggering more backlash from right-wing media. 

Several media outlets have debunked claims that FEMA is purposefully withholding aid and highlighted the agencies’ efforts.

Biden has urged House Speaker Mike Johnson to take action in Congress to approve additional aid for FEMA. Johnson has refused because “It would be premature to call everyone back now, because these storms are so large in their scope and magnitude, it's going to take a little bit of time to make those calculations.”