PHOENIX — NBC News asked six Trump supporters what they thought of FEMA’s response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton. All six were upset with FEMA’s response, and five of them of repeated false claims made by Trump and his allies about the agency.
“There’s videos all over the place of people trying to help. Set up little camps, set up all the stuff to bring them. And they’re [FEMA] coming in with helicopters. They’re coming in, shutting people down,” said Tyler Hammond, falsely claiming that FEMA is actively preventing hurricane assistance.
His wife, Taylor Hammond, claimed she’s seen the same thing. “They’re literally actively stopping American citizens from helping other American citizens, and that’s just not OK,” she said.
Asked where they had seen these videos, the couple said TikTok.
Taylor Hammond also falsely claimed that FEMA is only providing hurricane victims with $750 of relief. Three other Trump supporters that NBC News interviewed repeated his false claims that hurricane relief is being spent on immigrants.
“They’ve given all of our money to illegal criminals just for them to have votes for the future, and they’re destroying this country,” said Patricia Kipp-Funaro, 55.
On a website set up to counter false rumors about hurricane relief, FEMA disputed that it is confiscating donations or blocking volunteers. Though the agency does not accept donations or volunteers, “FEMA encourages people who want to help to volunteer with or donate cash to reputable voluntary or charitable organizations.”
On the $750 claim, which Trump has also repeated, FEMA said that $750 is just the starter payment “while FEMA assesses your eligibility for additional funds. As your application continues to be reviewed, you may still receive additional forms of assistance for other needs such as temporary housing, personal property and home repair costs.”
As NBC News reported, the claim about disaster relief being diverted to undocumented immigrants is false and appears to be the result of people conflating two separate funds.
Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., also disputed claims that FEMA is stifling assistance, writing in a press release, “FEMA is NOT stopping trucks or vehicles with donations, confiscating or seizing supplies, or otherwise turning away donations.”
“This is a flat out lie. We’re working with all partners around the clock to get help to people,” North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said in a tweet, responding to Trump’s claims Friday that Democrats are preventing aid from entering areas ravaged by the hurricanes.