FEMA accused of not giving staff orders, seizing aid, stalling Starlink deliveries to Hurricane Helene victims

WASHINGTON — Outraged critics of the Federal Emergency Management Agency aired allegations Friday that Hurricane Helene relief workers are sitting idle without orders — and that those who are working are “seizing” aid deliveries and slow-walking distribution of Starlink satellite internet equipment.The allegations were outlined by Elon Musk, the CEO of Starlink operator SpaceX, and by Rep.Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), citing on-the-ground whistleblowers as the death toll topped 215 across six states, making the storm the deadliest in America since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.“Just received this note from a SpaceX engineer helping on the ground in North Carolina.

@FEMA is not merely failing to adequately help people in trouble, but is actively blocking citizens who try to help!” Musk wrote on X.The note read: “Hey Elon, update here on site of Asheville, NC.We have powered up two large operating bases for choppers to deliver goods into hands.

We’ve deployed 300+ starlinks [sic] and outpour is it has saved many lives.The big issue is FEMA is actively blocking shipments and seizing goods and services locally and locking them away to state they are their own.

“It’s very real and scary how much they have taken control to stop people helping.We are blocked now on the shipments of new starlinks [sic] coming in until we get an escort from the fire dept.

[sic] but that may not be enough.”Gaetz, meanwhile, wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas that “my office has been in contact with whistleblowers in numerous emergency-management functions at the federal, state, and local levels, and they all point to the same critical mismanagement issues.”“FEMA has wasted taxpayer funds, misappropriated funds, and left other federal, state, and local responders without deployment orders on the ground,” Gaetz wrote.“As reported and further confirmed by my office, hundreds, if not thousands of service members were deployed by the Department of Defens...