FACT CHECK: Did U.S. Special Forces Fight FEMA Agents Amid Hurricane Ian?

Christine Sellers | Fact Check Reporter

A post shared on Facebook purports U.S. Special Forces fought Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) agents who reportedly took personal belonging from Southwest Florida residents amid Hurricane Ian.

Verdict: False

The claim stems from a satirical website. U.S. Special Forces did not fight FEMA agents amid Hurricane Ian.

Fact Check:

More than 100 people have been confirmed dead as a result of the impacts from Hurricane Ian, according to CNN. President Joe Biden and Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis toured storm-hit areas of the state as part of a recovery effort, The Associated Press reported.

The Facebook post claims U.S. Special Forces purportedly fought FEMA agents who allegedly entered Southwest Floridians’ homes and took their firearms, cash, and jewelry amid Hurricane Ian. The agents allegedly targeted the “most expensive homes” instead of providing residents with hurricane relief, according to the post.

The claim is false. There are no credible news reports to support the claim. Likewise, the claim does not appear on the FEMA, U.S. Marine Corps, or the Special Forces’ verified social media pages. (RELATED: Does This Image Show ‘FEMA Camp Containers’?)

A keyword search reveals the claim stems from a Sept. 29 article published on the website, “Real Raw News.” A disclaimer included on the website’s “About Us” pages indicates it contains “humor, parody, and satire.”

Check Your Fact has contacted spokespersons at FEMA, the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Army’s Media Relations Division for comment and will update this piece accordingly if one is received.

Christine Sellers

Fact Check Reporter

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