US emergency responders, forecasters facing threats in wake of hurricanes
Al Jazeera
Meteorologists are reporting abuse as misinformation swirls around recent deadly storms that hit the southeastern US.
Hurricane disinformation is causing such confusion after recent storms hit parts of the United States that federal emergency workers and meteorologists are having to take precautions after coming under threat from the public.
Forestry workers clearing tree damage were directed to stop working at the weekend in one area of western North Carolina hard hit by Hurricane Helene because of concerns over “armed militia” threatening government workers, the Washington Post reported, citing an email sent to federal agencies.
The Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office released a statement confirming that it had arrested an armed suspect for making threats against Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) employees in North Carolina.
On Saturday, an official with the US Forest Service, which is supporting recovery efforts after Hurricane Helene along with FEMA, sent an urgent message to other agencies warning them to “stand down and evacuate the county immediately”.
The message stated that National Guard troops had come across trucks of armed militia “saying they were out hunting FEMA”.
