As the nearly 65,000 residents of hard-hit Rutherford County, North Carolina, struggle to clear endless mud and debris left behind by Hurricane Helene, help hit a roadblock. Federal Emergency Management Agency crews were forced to relocate due to a reported armed threat against workers, first reported by The Washington Post.
FEMA said later on Monday that it would resume normal operations because the threat turned out to be less serious than first feared.
Initially, an email sent by the U.S. Forest Service to federal responders in Rutherford County alerted them of an apparent standdown after National Guard troops reportedly encountered armed militia saying they were "hunting FEMA."
One person was arrested in connection to the threat, CBS News confirmed on Monday.
Out of an abundance of caution, FEMA said its disaster assistance teams were being stationed at fixed locations instead of going door-to-door, which has been the agency's common practice in the past.
"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. 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," FEMA said in a statement to CBS News.
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