Old North News

A SpaceX engineer supporting the relief efforts in Asheville described FEMA's interference with relief efforts following Hurricane Helene, stating that “FEMA is actively blocking shipments and seizing goods and services locally, locking them away to claim as their own.”

“Just received this note from a SpaceX engineer helping on the ground in North Carolina. FEMA is not merely failing to adequately help people in trouble, but is actively blocking citizens who try to help!” Musk wrote in an Oct. 4 social media post on X.

In his post, Must shared a note from a SpaceX engineer working to support the Hurricane Helene relief efforts in Asheville, saying, “We have powered up two large operating bases for choppers to deliver goods into hands. We’ve deployed 300+ starlinks and outpour is it has saved many lives. The big issue is FEMA is actively blocking shipments and seizing goods and services locally and locking them away to state they are their own. It’s very real and scary how much they have taken control to stop people helping. We are blocked now on the shipments of new starlinks coming in until we get an escort from the fire dept. but that may not be enough.”

According to The Federalist, the Biden-Harris administration has allocated more than $1 billion in FEMA funds between FY2023 and FY2024 to support the Emergency Food and Shelter Program, a program designed to provide “financial support to non-federal entities to provide humanitarian services to noncitizen migrants following their release from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Critics argue that this represents a significant shift in FEMA’s priorities, which now emphasize “equity” and “climate resilience” over traditional emergency preparedness. Meanwhile, southeastern U.S. residents affected by storms, such as those impacted by Hurricane Helene, are suffering from inadequate disaster response, with hundreds still missing.

Hurricane Helene, which struck the Southeastern U.S. from September 24 to 27, caused widespread destruction as it moved inland after making landfall in Florida. The storm brought heavy rain, strong winds, and widespread flooding across the state, leading to downed trees, power outages, and damage to homes and infrastructure. Coastal areas experienced storm surges, while inland regions faced flash flooding, particularly along rivers and low-lying areas. Affected communities have been involved in extensive recovery efforts to restore power and rebuild damaged communities.