Hurricane Relief Workers Forced to Flee Amid Threats from Armed Militia

Government officials in a North Carolina county were evacuated this weekend after alarming threats surfaced, with armed civilians reportedly “hunting” for hurricane relief workers.

The U.S. Forest Service raised the alarm on Saturday afternoon, as detailed by The Washington Post, warning that National Guard troops had encountered two trucks carrying armed militia members claiming they were targeting FEMA, the federal agency responsible for disaster response.

The email, which has been verified, led to an immediate evacuation of emergency personnel in Rutherford County, as incident management teams swiftly coordinated their retreat. Although officials were cleared to return by Sunday afternoon, a similar scare unfolded in Ashe County, forcing FEMA to halt its operations once again as local authorities assessed the threat, according to Axios.

These troubling incidents highlight the chaotic ripple effects caused by the spread of disinformation surrounding the recent hurricanes, Helene and Milton. Conspiracy theories, many perpetuated on social media, have fueled public mistrust and skepticism about the government’s relief efforts.

Among the most vocal figures is Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who controversially suggested via X (formerly Twitter) that the storms were part of an elaborate plot involving extraterrestrial laser technology.

Other baseless claims circulating include theories that the weather was manipulated to cover up corporate lithium mining or that citizens were intentionally left stranded in storm-ravaged areas. Even former President Donald Trump has contributed to the disinformation, suggesting that disaster relief funds were being withheld from Republican voters and redirected toward undocumented immigrants.

FEMA, already strained by the magnitude of the storms, has had to set up a dedicated “rumor response” page to counter these false narratives. However, the damage to public trust is evident, as some residents are now refusing aid due to their belief in these conspiracy theories.

“It’s tragic. Many of the people rejecting help are the ones who need it the most,” said Riva Duncan, a former Forest Service official in Asheville, North Carolina, speaking with The Washington Post.

These incidents underscore the dangerous impact of misinformation, not only on the government’s ability to respond effectively but on the lives of those most affected by the storms.