Seba News Desk: Musk claims FEMA obstructs Starlink shipments in NC after Hurricane Helene, while FEMA denies allegations and emphasizes its support efforts.
Elon Musk criticized the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on Friday, alleging that it is obstructing the delivery of Starlink satellite internet shipments in North Carolina, which has been severely affected by hurricanes.
Musk expressed his concerns on X, stating, "FEMA is not only failing to provide adequate assistance to those in need, but is also actively hindering citizens who are attempting to help!"
He mentioned receiving a message from a SpaceX engineer in Asheville, North Carolina, who reported that the company had established "two large operational bases for helicopters to deliver supplies directly to those in need." Musk noted that over 300 Starlink units had been deployed, which he claimed had saved numerous lives.
However, he relayed that the engineer indicated FEMA was "actively obstructing shipments and confiscating local goods and services, asserting control over them. It is alarming how much authority they have assumed to prevent assistance. We are currently unable to proceed with the shipment of new Starlink units until we receive an escort from the fire department, which may not suffice."
Later that day, Musk announced that the issue had been "resolved," attributing the resolution to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
He subsequently shared a text conversation with the engineer, in which he alleged that FEMA was preparing to restrict airspace to "'regulate' the private helicopters we are using to deliver Starlink and supplies. We are also coordinating with the Trump team for support, but the situation does not appear promising."
In response to these allegations, FEMA firmly denied the claims in a statement to FOX Business.
FEMA's Director of Public Affairs, Jaclyn Rothenberg, stated to FOX Business that allegations regarding the agency confiscating commodities, supplies, or resources in North Carolina, Tennessee, or any state affected by Hurricane Helene are unfounded. She emphasized that FEMA is actively collaborating with federal, state, and local partners in the affected regions to deliver essential resources to those in need. As of October 3, FEMA has distributed over 11.5 million Meals Ready to Eat (MREs), more than 12.6 million liters of water, over 400,000 tarps, and 150 generators to areas impacted by the hurricane.
As of late Friday, the death toll attributed to Hurricane Helene reached 232, with the majority of fatalities occurring in North and South Carolina, marking the most severe hurricane devastation since Katrina in 2005.
In response to the situation, Rothenberg noted that Starlink units have been deployed in North Carolina and other states following the hurricane. She highlighted the importance of connectivity in disaster response, stating that FEMA has effectively utilized Starlink in various disaster scenarios, including those in Guam, Hawaii, and Alaska. The agency has provided Starlink terminals to North Carolina, including to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Nation and other critical locations identified by the state. These units are aiding state and local municipalities, Urban Search and Rescue teams, and disaster coordination efforts. Starlink units have been dispatched to several states to support the response to Hurricane Helene.
FEMA also directed FOX Business to its rumor response page, which clarifies that claims about the agency rejecting donations and seizing supplies are entirely false and often circulate after a disaster. The agency does not confiscate donations or food from survivors or voluntary organizations. Instead, the management of food, water, and other goods is entrusted to voluntary agencies that specialize in the storage, sorting, and distribution of such items.
FEMA does not accept donations or food from survivors or voluntary organizations. The management of food, water, and other goods donations is the responsibility of voluntary agencies that specialize in the storage, sorting, cleaning, and distribution of these items. Furthermore, FEMA does not perform vehicle stops or manage road closures with armed personnel; such actions are carried out by local law enforcement.
Starlink and Elon Musk did not provide an immediate response to FOX Business' inquiry for comment.
খবর/তথ্যের বিষয়বস্তুর সঙ্গে মিল আছে এবং আপত্তিজনক নয়- এমন মন্তব্যই প্রদর্শিত হবে। মন্তব্যগুলো পাঠকের নিজস্ব মতামত, সেবা হট নিউজ এর দায়ভার কখনই নেবে না।