National, Regional and Local News

[ti-amie]

Hurricane recovery officials in N.C. relocated amid report of ‘armed militia,’ email shows
Safety fears are growing as misinformation collides with a large-scale federal recovery effort.

By Brianna Sacks
October 13, 2024 at 6:04 p.m. EDT

LAKE LURE, N.C. — Federal emergency response personnel on Saturday had employees operating in hard-hit Rutherford County, N.C., stop working and move to a different area because of concerns over “armed militia” threatening government workers in the region, according to an email sent to federal agencies helping with response in the state.

Around 1 p.m. Saturday, an official with the U.S. Forest Service, which is supporting recovery efforts after Hurricane Helene along with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, sent an urgent message to numerous federal agencies warning that “FEMA has advised all federal responders Rutherford County, NC, to stand down and evacuate the county immediately. The message stated that National Guard troops 'had come across x2 trucks of armed militia saying there were out hunting FEMA.’”

“The IMTs [incident management teams] have been notified and are coordinating the evacuation of all assigned personnel in that county,” the email added.

Two federal officials confirmed the authenticity of the email, though it was unclear whether the quoted threat was seen as credible. The National Guard referred questions to FEMA when asked about the incident. One Forest Service official coordinating the Helene recovery said responders moved to a “safe area” and at least some work in that area — which included clearing trees off dozens of damaged and blocked roads to help search-and-rescue crews, as well as groups delivering supplies — was paused.

By Sunday afternoon, personnel were back in place, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The setback is one of the latest examples of growing concerns about safety and security in western North Carolina, where many towns were almost wiped off the map after the historic hurricane made landfall two weeks ago. In the weeks since, misinformation and rumors have made the recovery more difficult, targeting multiple federal agencies operating as part of the recovery. Federal officials such as the secretary for the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA’s director of public affairs have been the target of antisemitic attacks.

Chimney Rock, in Rutherford County, has become one of the centers of tension and conflict after a rumor spread on social media that government officials planned to seize the decimated village and bulldoze bodies under the rubble. Authorities and news outlets debunked the assertion, but people still took to social media imploring militias to go after FEMA.

A person familiar with FEMA operations, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the agency was working out of an abundance of caution and its teams were operating at fixed locations and secure areas instead of the usual practice of going door to door.

“FEMA continues to support communities impacted by Helene and help survivors apply for assistance,” the person said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to describe sensitive discussions. “For the safety of our dedicated staff and the disaster survivors we are helping, FEMA has made some operational adjustments.”

The heightening tension has resulted in residents harassing federal employees, said Riva Duncan, a Forest Service official who lives in Asheville.

Duncan, who is also a representative with the Grassroots Wildland Firefighters, said people have been yelling at federal employees delivering aid or showing up to do repairs, saying, “We don’t want your help here.”

One Forest Service employee, she said, was pulling into a gas station when someone yelled at him to leave, saying “We don’t want the government here.”

“It’s terrible because a lot of these folks who need assistance are refusing it because they believe the stuff people are saying about FEMA and the government,” Duncan said. “And it’s sad because they are probably the ones who need the help the most.”

In a text message shared with The Washington Post, a woman said that her child, a Forest Service crew member from California, was one of those who temporarily left the county.

Earlier Saturday, a resident came to a supplies distribution center, now largely run by relief group the Cajun Navy with the help of a Baptist Church organization, and threatened FEMA personnel who were also stationed there in a trailer, according to two Cajun Navy volunteers. Lake Lure Police and Rutherford County Sheriff’s offices confirmed the incident.

Sgt. Herbie Martin with the Spindale Police Department, located about 25 miles outside Lake Lure, was circling the parking lot Sunday afternoon. He also confirmed the incident, saying “he hoped FEMA would come back.”


https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/ ... ail-shows/

[dryrunguy]

Given the last post, this seems appropriate. It's not directly related, but it's relevant.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxLjt29E69g

[ti-amie]

Given the last post, this seems appropriate. It's not directly related, but it's relevant.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxLjt29E69g

Thanks for this. I expect that there will be some saying Governor Newsom planned this...Oh wait...

[dryrunguy]

Brian Tyler Cohen annoys me to death. In general, I find his reporting to be accurate and on point. What irks me is the degree to which he sensationalizes content in his titles: "Trump Campaign Devastated by New Lawsuit." No they weren't. "Judge Delivers Trump a Fatal Blow in Court." No, he/she/they didn't. He overstates things, which basically reduces his content to clickbait.

But that said, the content is good and factual. He just really annoys me.

He also describes himself as an independent progressive... Whatever THAT is...

But for me, he seems like one of those content creators who borderline falls on the opposite, left side of what David Pakman was talking about regarding the right in the link I shared. And if we're being real, the left has a similar problem. Just not as exacerbated or detrimental. But still, I see stuff from similar content creators with titles like "Kamala won the election tonight because of this interaction with a voter"... No, she didn't.

David posted a video a day or two ago about how he is being criticized for not being "optimistic enough" about Harris' chances in the election. It's a thing. I have NEVER approached the process of information consumption as, "Tell me what I want to hear." Or I'm out. That is no way to consume information.

[ti-amie]

This is the first time I happened upon one of his videos and I have to agree with your analysis of his presentation. I was glad that he posted those tweets by that MAGAt trying to blame the local mayor and the state of California for the cult leaders failings though and I think that was his main point.

What really irked and distracted me though was the collar of his shirt. Doesn't he know about Derek Guy?! I could barely focus on what he was saying because of the shirt collar!

[ponchi101]

Brian Tyler Cohen annoys me to death. In general, I find his reporting to be accurate and on point. What irks me is the degree to which he sensationalizes content in his titles: "Trump Campaign Devastated by New Lawsuit." No they weren't. "Judge Delivers Trump a Fatal Blow in Court." No, he/she/they didn't. He overstates things, which basically reduces his content to clickbait.

But that said, the content is good and factual. He just really annoys me.

He also describes himself as an independent progressive... Whatever THAT is...

But for me, he seems like one of those content creators who borderline falls on the opposite, left side of what David Pakman was talking about regarding the right in the link I shared. And if we're being real, the left has a similar problem. Just not as exacerbated or detrimental. But still, I see stuff from similar content creators with titles like "Kamala won the election tonight because of this interaction with a voter"... No, she didn't.

David posted a video a day or two ago about how he is being criticized for not being "optimistic enough" about Harris' chances in the election. It's a thing. I have NEVER approached the process of information consumption as, "Tell me what I want to hear." Or I'm out. That is no way to consume information.

Isn't that modern journalism? I am frequently annoyed by headlines line "Such and such demolished some other person" or "Watch A*****e 1 own A****2".
And of course, nothing like that happened. But we have to dial everything to 11. Or you get no clicks.

[ti-amie]

[ponchi101]

No, they weren't and they aren't. They were adequate and very good, but great is too much.
I am on record here about Biden. He has been very good. Handled C19 properly, helped the economy recover, and has been adequate at the international level.
Obama was a good president domestically, but his foreign policies left to be desired. He was never able to gauge Putin correctly, his response to the Syrian chemical weapon's attack was weak, and he was unable to respond properly to the annexation of Crimea.
And Clinton. The man is a consummate, serial liar. He was very good for the economy but he was also the one that repealed the Glass-Steagall act, planting the seeds for the 2007 financial meltdown.
They were good. Just that.

People have to start using other adjectives. Not everything or everybody is located at the far ends off the spectrum. Not everybody is great or amazing, nor evil and a disaster. There are words in the middle.
And no, I am not leaning on the Dems. Reagan was not even close to good, regardless of what the GOP says, and Bush II was a bad president.
You have to strive for balance.

[patrick]

No, they weren't and they aren't. They were adequate and very good, but great is too much.
I am on record here about Biden. He has been very good. Handled C19 properly, helped the economy recover, and has been adequate at the international level.
Obama was a good president domestically, but his foreign policies left to be desired. He was never able to gauge Putin correctly, his response to the Syrian chemical weapon's attack was weak, and he was unable to respond properly to the annexation of Crimea.
And Clinton. The man is a consummate, serial liar. He was very good for the economy but he was also the one that repealed the Glass-Steagall act, planting the seeds for the 2007 financial meltdown.
They were good. Just that.

People have to start using other adjectives. Not everything or everybody is located at the far ends off the spectrum. Not everybody is great or amazing, nor evil and a disaster. There are words in the middle.
And no, I am not leaning on the Dems. Reagan was not even close to good, regardless of what the GOP says, and Bush II was a bad president.
You have to strive for balance.

Be nice to Slick Willie from Arkansas

[ti-amie]

[ponchi101]

Not necessarily for Kamala. Most likely her husband was a republican. She may have voted to honor his vote.
(Can't hear the audio).

[ti-amie]

Not necessarily for Kamala. Most likely her husband was a republican. She may have voted to honor his vote.
(Can't hear the audio).

I don't think she voted for Kamala either. I think the reason this got publicity is because she clearly stated that her husband didn't think she, as a woman, should vote. She did say she was very young when she got married (this is the South) and she didn't think her husband saying she shouldn't vote was outrageous at that time. I note that it was her niece who brought her to the polling place.

[ti-amie]

I...



#ETTD

[ponchi101]

But not Big Macs? I am lost.

[mmmm8]

But not Big Macs? I am lost.

The patties might be prepped in different locations.