[60 Minutes correspondent Sharyn] Alfonsi interviewed Robert Samaan, a FEMA regional administrator who is overseeing the agency’s response in North Carolina. He said “mistrust” of the federal government can prevent those who have been affected from getting the help they need.

“Any time that people are out there trying to sow mistrust in the government, it can impact people’s recovery,” said Samaan. “They may be more hesitant to call and register for assistance, which is disappointing. And it’s sad that people would do that.”

One of the false claims is that FEMA provides $750 and nothing more to help victims of Hurricane Helene.

“The $750 is part of our Serious Needs Assistance program. That’s just to get them started with their initial recovery,” Samaan explained.

“We’re going to work with them to get them additional funds for other things that they might need, [like] home repairs [and] things of that nature.”

FEMA created a “Hurricane Rumor Response” page on their website that debunks the false information circulating on social media.

One of the rumors is that the agency’s disaster relief funds were diverted to help migrants. FEMA addressed this on their website writing: “This is false…No money is being diverted from disaster response needs. FEMA’s disaster response efforts and individual assistance is funded through the Disaster Relief Fund, which is a dedicated fund for disaster efforts. Disaster Relief Fund money has not been diverted to other, non-disaster related efforts.”

Local officials have been fighting the disinformation as well. On October 3rd, the Rutherford Emergency Management Response Team refuted a conspiracy theory on Facebook that federal, state, and local government officials planned to seize the town of Chimney Rock. [Continue reading…]