NBC News: Armed Militia ‘Hunting FEMA’ in North Carolina Causes Hurricane Responders to Evacuate

[Clip starts]
PARK (voice-over): “This morning growing safety fears for government workers in western North Carolina, supporting ongoing recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene. According to ‘The Washington Post,’ an urgent message was sent to numerous federal agencies on Saturday, warning FEMA has advised all federal responders in Rutherford County, North Carolina to stand down and evacuate the county immediately, adding that National Guard troops had come across trucks of armed militia, saying they were out hunting FEMA. NBC News has not seen the email cited by ‘The Post,’ and it’s unclear whether the threat mentioned was seen as credible. North Carolina Republican Congressman Chuck Edwards addressing the reported threats on MSNBC.”
Edwards: “We had two counties with folks reported with different militia groups attacking and threatening FEMA.”
PARK: “In a statement to NBC News, FEMA writing in part, ‘For the safety of our dedicated staff and disaster survivors we are helping, FEMA has made some operational adjustments.’ According to the agency, disaster recovery centers remained open. But at least two counties said FEMA staff would not appear at other planned locations Sunday, with officials in Ashe County saying the agency had paused their process as a precaution, as they are assessing the threats. That included a temporary halt on accepting some aid applications. The heightened tension with FEMA’s response to Helene has been fueled in recent days by misinformation, amplified in part by former President Trump.”
Trump: “Kamala spent all her FEMA money, billions of dollars, on housing for illegal migrants.”
PARK: “The head of FEMA calling those claims categorically false, and promising that the agency’s work will not stop.”
CRISWELL: “It doesn’t deter us. We know what our mission is.”
PARK: “Asheville business owners like William Dissen say it’s a distraction and that more help is needed.”
DISSEN: “I want folks to know that the government is here. They’re helping. I know we’d all like it to be a little faster, but also realizing that the devastation is just so vast and so immense that you know it’s going to take time.”
[Clip ends]
PARK (on camera): “And getting access to clean running water in the area is still a priority, with tens of thousands of residents in western North Carolina still having no access to it. Meanwhile, FEMA says that they will be back at those affected locations that happened over the weekend due to those reported threats.”