Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) workers in North Carolina's Rutherford County have been forced to move following a threat of violence against them, leaving about 65,000 residents struggling to clean up mud and debris left by Hurricane Helene.
The U.S. Forest Service emailed federal responders in the county, warning them to stop their work for now. This happened after National Guard soldiers met armed militia members, who said they were "hunting FEMA," CBS News reported.
One arrest has been made in connection with the threat. For safety reasons, FEMA said its teams will now stay in set locations instead of going door-to-door to help people, which was what they usually did.
"FEMA continues to support communities impacted by Helene and help survivors apply for assistance. For the safety of our dedicated staff and the disaster survivors we are helping, FEMA has made some operational adjustments," FEMA said, CBS News reported. "Disaster Recovery Centers will continue to be open as scheduled, survivors continue to register for assistance, and we continue to help the people of North Carolina with their recovery."
The Rutherford County Sheriff said they got a call on Saturday afternoon about a man -- identified as William Parsons, 44, from Bostic, North Carolina -- with an assault rifle, who made a comment about possibly harming FEMA workers helping with recovery in the Lake Lure and Chimney Rock areas.
Deputies informed the Lake Lure Police and other agencies about the threat. The man has been arrested and charged with carrying weapons in a way that caused fear among the public. When he was arrested, Parsons had both a handgun and a rifle. He was released after paying a $10,000 bond.
"The initial report stated there was a truck load of militia that was involved. However, after further investigation, it was determined Parsons acted alone and there were no truck loads of militia going to Lake Lure," the sheriff's office said.
Hurricane Helene hit land on Sept. 26 as a strong Category 4 storm near Perry, Florida. It swept through six states, killing over 225 people, with the highest death toll in North Carolina.
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