White Home calls Trump’s declare FEMA catastrophe aid cash spent on migrants ‘completely false’

The Biden White Home continues to name out what it calls “harmful” misinformation it says is circulating within the wake of Hurricane Helene.

“Plenty of rip-off artists, bad-faith actors, and others who need to sow chaos as a result of they assume it helps their political pursuits are selling disinformation concerning the restoration effort, together with methods to entry crucial and live-saving assets. That is unsuitable, harmful, and it should cease instantly,” it mentioned in a memo put out Saturday.

The White Home on Friday known as “completely false” former President Donald Trump’s declare the Federal Emergency Administration Company has given a lot cash to cities to cope with the inflow of migrants that it has no funds left to cope with disasters.

FEMA is also pushing again on misinformation it says has circulated on social media concerning the company’s efforts to assist victims of Hurricane Helene.

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell on ABC’S “This Week” known as the claims concerning the company’s funding “ridiculous.”

“, it is actually a disgrace that we’re placing politics forward of serving to folks, and that is what we’re right here to do,” Criswell instructed anchor George Stephanopoulos on Sunday.

Requested concerning the influence of disinformation on restoration efforts, Criswell mentioned it has a “great influence” on the consolation stage of FEMA staff within the discipline. “It’s additionally demoralizing to all the first responders which were on the market of their communities serving to folks,” she mentioned.

After Homeland Safety Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas mentioned Wednesday that FEMA doesn’t have the funds to make it by way of the hurricane season, Trump and Republican allies seized on it, saying the victims are struggling due to it.

Within the wake of Hurricane Helene, ABC Information’ “Good Morning America” is about to offer 5 days of particular protection titled “Southeast Robust: Assist After Helene”(#SoutheastStrong), spotlighting communities throughout the southeast impacted by Hurricane Helene and the pressing efforts to assist them get better.

He repeated the declare on Friday in Georgia, saying “a billion {dollars} was stolen from FEMA to make use of it for unlawful migrants, lots of whom are criminals, to return into our nation, and FEMA is now busted. They don’t have any cash.”

GOP Texas Rep.Troy Nehls tweeted that the administration “continues to place the American folks final” by FEMA spending over a billion {dollars} in help to migrants.

“That is FALSE,” senior deputy press secretary Andrew Bates wrote in a memo circulated to reporters on Friday. “No catastrophe aid funding in any respect was used to help migrants housing and providers. None. At. All.”

Bates wrote that funding for migrant providers is run by way of a separate “spigot” at Customs and Border Patrol, and in the end administered by FEMA, however that it is in “no method associated” to FEMA’s hurricane restoration efforts, which he mentioned are plentiful for rapid Helene response.

“I would like folks to know that FEMA has sufficient cash and that we’re right here to help you,” Jaclyn Rothenberg, director of public affairs at FEMA, instructed ABC Information in a cellphone interview. “We have seen posts the place folks say, I am not going to use as a result of My neighbor wants extra assist than me. Nonetheless apply. Please apply. We wish you to get assist from us. We’re right here actively working across the clock to help you. We need to encourage folks to use for help.”

FEMA has additionally launched a internet web page devoted to pushing again on what it says is misinformation concerning the federal authorities’s response.

That features claims FEMA is asking for money and turning away volunteers — which the company says additionally aren’t true.

“FEMA doesn’t and won’t ever take donations from survivors and rumors of FEMA armed guards stopping automobiles with donations or taking donations from organizations are completely false,” Rothenberg mentioned. “Volunteer companies specialise in dealing with these donations and are actively on the bottom serving to folks affected by Helene.”

One other rumor that’s circulating on social media is that victims can get solely $750 from FEMA.

Individuals who apply for aid will get $750 for rapid wants — however the company says folks will qualify for extra as their software strikes by way of the company.

“The $750 is simply to get some rapid money into your pockets,” Rothenberg mentioned. “If you apply for FEMA you’re additionally signing up for different advantages, and that’s simply the primary amount of money to hit your checking account that’s supposed for rapid meals, child components, breastfeeding provides, medication that you could be want, then, based mostly on what your distinctive wants are, you may as well obtain displacement help.”

Willie Nunn, who’s coordinating Helene’s catastrophe response on the bottom in South Carolina, instructed ABC Information that “to have that on the market…all you are going to get is a damaging influence on our survivors.”

Nunn and his staff have been on the bottom coordinating the response to the Hurricane since October 1.

“Any misinformation is damaging misinformation,” Nunn mentioned. “There isn’t a one dimension match all answer.” He urged folks to name FEMA’s 1-800 quantity to get to get the information.

“We’re placing boots on the bottom to ensure after we can get out, when now we have entry to people and so they have entry to us, that we are able to fight these rumors,” he mentioned.

Rothenberg mentioned the extent of misinformation on social media has been “exacerbated” in the previous couple of federal catastrophe responses.

ABC Information’ Kate Walter contributed to this report.