FEMA has been dealing with conspiracy theorists since shortly after it was created.

In the wake of hurricanes Helene and Milton, an outlandish conspiracy theory about the Federal Emergency Management Agency that has percolated for decades started to reappear online. Now, the government agency is making one of its strongest pushes against the claim to date.

In a new section of its hurricane rumor response page published Wednesday, FEMA looked to put to rest the long-lasting conspiracy theory that’s followed it since shortly after the agency was founded. Known as the “FEMA camps” theory, it falsely speculates that the agency sets up camps meant to “detain people.”

On the page, the government agency wrote that it has recently set up temporary housing for staff responding to the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in a few locations in western North Carolina. FEMA added that there are over a thousand FEMA staff in the state and that the lodging, which is protected by security personnel, is for staff and “not for any other purpose.” It called the “FEMA camp” rumors “all false.”

  • ikidd@lemmy.world
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    3 days ago

    I was listening to a Behind the Bastards episode the other day, and the malicious lying that goes on around FEMA’s hurricane efforts is bloody depressing. People refusing the $750 handout to buy food because they think they’ll lose their house over it, one guy was relating his FIL’s plight and almost in tears. They couldn’t convince him that it was bullshit and didn’t have the money to go to NC to pack him up and take him to somewhere safe.

    There’s a special place in hell for the shitbirds spreading this trash.

    • captainlezbian@lemmy.world
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      3 days ago

      Motherfucker these are your tax dollars at work. Like I don’t trust the government for much, but I trust them to respect the property rights of white Americans to a disturbing fault. When we need land we eminent domain and pay the value of the property as understood by tax services.