FACT CHECK: Did the North Carolina State Police Issue A Statement Threatening The Arrest Of FEMA employees?
A post on the social media platform X is claiming the “North Carolina State Police” issued a statement threatening the arrest of any federal employees that hinders rescue operations.
UPDATE: 🚨 🚨 🚨
The North Carolina State police issue statement that they will start arresting any federal employees trying to stop or hinder rescue operations! #FEMA needs to GTFO— RyanMatta 🇺🇸 🦅 (@RyanMattaMedia) October 4, 2024
Verdict: False
No such office under the name “North Carolina State Police” exists. The next-closest organization, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, has not issued such a statement.
Fact Check:
Election officials in North Carolina, Georgia and other states are struggling to ensure those affected by Hurricane Helene can vote in next month’s presidential election, according to Politico. Officials in the state of North Carolina are also facing anti-Semitic attacks over slow recovery efforts in the wake of the storm, The Washington Post reported.
Some users on X are claiming that the “North Carolina State Police” had issued a statement saying they will arrest any federal employees that get in the way of rescue operations. There is no proof of this statement ever being made, however. (RELATED: Did Donald Trump Donate $25 Million Dollars to Hurricane Victims?)
Check Your Fact was unable to find any official government statement that threatened any federal employees with arrest at all. In fact, a Google search of “North Carolina State Police” turned up empty, as that bureau does not seem to exist. North Carolina does have a State Highway Patrol, but there is no proof that they made any statement like the one being reported.
The North Carolina Department of Public Safety’s website provides information about disaster relief, however no mention of arrests are found at all. Spokespersons from FEMA have taken to social media to ask users not to spread misinformation and tune to official outlets for information.
There are many dangerous, misleading rumors spreading about #Helene response, which can actively prevent survivors from getting help. Our top priority is ensuring that disaster assistance is reaching people in need.
— Jaclyn Rothenberg (@FEMAspox) October 3, 2024
This is not the first time that false claims about Hurricane Helene were shared. Users on social media falsely claimed that a GoFundMe sponsored by former President Donald Trump will only give three percent of donations to the victims of the storm.
