Is the Federal Emergency Management Agency confiscating supplies and donations for Hurricane Helene victims? No, that's not true: An agency spokesperson told Lead Stories that such accusations are "false." State and local officials in multiple Southern states that were hit by Hurricane Helene have unequivocally stated that the federal agency has not confiscated any supplies or donations. The agency does not handle or distribute donated supplies -- that is done by voluntary organizations.
The claim appeared in a post and video (archived here) on Instagram on October 2, 2024. The caption on the post read:
BREAKING! North Carolina airspace shut down in preparation for Joe Biden FLYOVER. Relief efforts halted! FEMA and law enforcement CONFISCATING DONATIONS, and demanding all financial donations go to FEMA! #fema #relief #floods #hurricane #lfa
TRUSTED GROUP: Lincoln County Airport, NC 704-735-0602
This is what the post looked like on Instagram at the time of writing:
(Source: Instagram screenshot taken Thu Oct 17 20:09:12 2024 UTC)
In the video, Jeremy Herrell (archived here), the host of conservative media podcast Live From America TV, said:
FEMA that now has jurisdiction in a lot of these areas, is literally confiscating donations and relief materials.
FEMA press secretary Daniel Llargues told Lead Stories via email on October 17, 2024, that the accusation was "false":
The claims about FEMA confiscating or taking commodities, supplies or resources in North Carolina, Tennessee, or any state impacted by Helene are false. FEMA is continuing to work with our federal family and state and local partners in the impacted areas to effectively bring in life-saving resources to the people and communities who need it most.
Matthew Behnke, communications director for FEMA's Office of External Affairs, also told Lead Stories via email on October 17, 2024, that the claims are "false." Volunteer groups, rather than FEMA, handle donations for hurricane victims, he underlined:
Rumors about FEMA turning away donations, stopping trucks or vehicles with donations, confiscating and seizing supplies often spread after a disaster. These are all false. FEMA does not take donations and/or food from survivors or voluntary organizations. Donations of food, water, or other goods are handled by voluntary agencies who specialize in storing, sorting, cleaning, and distributing donated items.
Behnke added that volunteer organizations "are supporting feeding operations with bulk food and water deliveries coming via truck and aircraft." He said in full:
As of today, in support of North Carolina, FEMA has approved over $100 million in housing and other types of assistance for over 77,000 households. More than 3,000 families who cannot return home are staying in safe and clean lodging through FEMA's Transitional Sheltering Assistance program. Shelter numbers remain steady, with 13 shelters housing just over 560 occupants.
Federal assistance for those affected by the hurricanes includes supporting survivors with housing repairs, personal property replacement and other essential recovery efforts. Additionally, we are coordinating for debris removal and emergency protective measures, which are necessary to save lives, protect public health and prevent further damage to public and private property.
Commodity distribution, mass feeding and hydration operations remain in areas of western North Carolina. There are over 370 FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance members in communities providing support. There are also six Disaster Recovery Centers now open in Asheville (Buncombe County), Bakersville, Boone, Lenoir, Marion and Sylva where survivors can speak directly with FEMA and state personnel for assistance with their recovery. Additionally, voluntary organizations are supporting feeding operations with bulk food and water deliveries coming via truck and aircraft.
Lillian M. Govus, communications and public engagement director for Buncombe County, North Carolina, told Lead Stories via email on October 17, 2024, that she agreed with Behnke. Govus shared a story about her own experience after the hurricane:
On a personal level, [I] have benefitted from FEMA as we address storm damage at my home.
FEMA addressed the accusation that the agency was confiscating supplies and donations on a post on their website (archived here) (page two) on October 3, 2024:
Rumor: FEMA is confiscating donations for survivors.
Rumors about FEMA turning away donations, stopping trucks or vehicles with donations, confiscating and seizing supplies often spread after a disaster. These are all false.FEMA does not take donations and/or food from survivors or voluntary organizations. Donations of food, water, or other goods are handled by voluntary agencies who specialize in storing, sorting, cleaning, and distributing donated items.
FEMA does not conduct vehicle stops or handle road closures with armed guards -- those are done by local law enforcement.
The North Carolina Department of Public Safety stated on their website (archived here) that the claim is false, writing, "Donations are not being confiscated by state and federal officials":
FACT: The state is encouraging financial donations to the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund at www.nc.gov/donate, or to a NC Volunteer Organization Active in Disaster. A list of these organizations can be found at www.ncvoad.org/members. The state is working with these organizations to stand up logistical operations to coordinate the collection and distribution of countless physical donations from across the state and country. Donations are not being confiscated by state and federal officials.
RUMOR: The state is discouraging donations in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Physical donations are being confiscated by state and federal officials.
Tennessee Gov. Phil Lee (archived here) also denied that FEMA had confiscated supplies or products. As local news outlet WVLT 8 (archived here) reported on October 3, 3024, Lee said that the claim was "totally inaccurate":
There's a lot of misinformation. ... In fact, there's some belief and understanding that it's coming from foreign sources just to confuse on the ground what's happening here. There's no confiscation of supplies or of products coming in from FEMA or TEMA [Tennessee Emergency Management Agency]."
Lead Stories contacted Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp as well for comment about the claim. We will update this fact check as appropriate if a response is received.
At the time this was written, PolitiFact and Check Your Fact had reviewed the same claim.
Other Lead Stories fact checks of claims about Hurricane Helene can be found here.
