The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) temporarily suspended its hurricane relief operations in North Carolina due to safety concerns over the weekend. This decision followed the arrest of an armed individual who allegedly threatened federal emergency workers.

The halting of aid comes as FEMA grapples with a wave of conspiracy theories and misinformation regarding its efforts in the wake of recent devastating hurricanes, particularly Hurricane Helene, which severely impacted western North Carolina and surrounding regions.

On Saturday, the U.S. Forest Service received a communication from FEMA, indicating that a National Guard team had encountered militia members who claimed they were out to “hunt FEMA,” as reported by Jason Nedlo, a spokesperson for the Forest Service’s Southern Area Blue Incident Management Team. This email was first highlighted by The Washington Post.

The communication stated, “FEMA has advised all federal responders in Rutherford County, NC, to stand down and leave the county immediately,” according to an official who shared the message with other federal agencies. It noted that National Guard members found “two trucks of armed militia members who said they were hunting FEMA.”

That same day, law enforcement in Rutherford County, one of the areas heavily impacted by Helene, apprehended a man who made a “vague threat” to “go mess up some FEMA personnel,” according to Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office Captain Jamie Keever.

William Jacob Parsons, who authorities said was armed with an AR-style rifle and two handguns, was charged with public endangerment. Parsons, 44, was subsequently booked into the Rutherford County Detention Center on a $10,000 bond, which he later paid for his release. He is scheduled for his first court appearance on Wednesday at the Rutherford County Courthouse.

Keever clarified that there was no evidence to support reports of a “truckload of militia” in the county, despite those initial claims.

“Further investigation confirmed Parsons acted alone, and there were no militia trucks in Lake Lure,” stated the sheriff’s office in a news release.

Threats result in aid suspension while FEMA adjusts operations

Due to these threats, FEMA staff temporarily ceased in-person assistance applications in certain mountain communities in North Carolina. This information was shared in a social media statement from the Ashe County Emergency Management Department, which noted that FEMA personnel would not be present in Lansing or Riverview.

“We understand that all FEMA representatives in NC have been withdrawn due to threats in some counties (not Ashe),” the post explained. Later on Sunday, the department announced that in-person applications for aid would resume Monday.

Ashe County Sheriff B. Phil Howell also confirmed that FEMA had “paused their process” because of “threats made against them.” He urged residents to “remain calm and steady,” advising them to “assist one another and avoid spreading rumors.”

A FEMA official from Washington indicated that field staff have been pulled back from doing door-to-door outreach, which is a standard practice in disaster-hit areas, and are currently operating from Disaster Recovery Centers, “as we navigate through this situation.”

This official, who chose to remain anonymous due to safety considerations, confirmed that FEMA staff have “not been entirely evacuated” but are working from secured locations instead.

The official added that FEMA is addressing significant rumors and misinformation “that abound” in the relief and recovery areas, making their task more difficult due to the nature of hearsay, as reported to YSL News.

In an email to YSL News, FEMA stated, “To ensure the safety of our dedicated staff and the individuals we assist, we are enacting certain operational changes.”

False narratives and conspiracy theories regarding FEMA and its capabilities have proliferated online since Hurricane Helene struck the mountainous areas. In public communications, FEMA has worked to clarify misrepresentations, debunking claims that the federal government is taking land from storm survivors, only providing $750 to those who lost their homes, and restricting airspace during search and rescue efforts.

These inaccuracies have resulted in difficulties for ground volunteers and affected families, according to FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell during a recent press briefing.

“They create fear among people, leading to concerns that they may not apply for assistance, which prevents us from providing them with the essential help they need,” Criswell expressed.

(This story has been updated with additional information.)