Man Arrested for Threatening FEMA Workers in Hurricane Helene Recovery Efforts

 

Authorities have arrested a man accused of threatening violence against Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) workers responding to Hurricane Helene in North Carolina. William Jacob Parsons, 44, faces charges of "going armed to the terror of the public," according to a statement from the local sheriff's office on Monday.

At the time of his arrest in Rutherford County, Parsons was found to be in possession of both a rifle and a handgun. He was later released on a $10,000 bond while awaiting the resolution of his case.

The sheriff's office clarified that earlier reports suggesting that truckloads of “armed militia” had threatened FEMA workers were inaccurate. According to the agency, Parsons acted alone, and there were no organized militia threats.

Hurricane Helene made landfall near Perry, Florida, on September 26, resulting in over 200 fatalities and widespread destruction across a five-state area, including North Carolina. The aftermath of the storm has been compounded by a surge of misinformation, including unfounded conspiracy theories claiming that the government manipulated the hurricane to facilitate lithium mining and that FEMA diverted disaster relief efforts to assist immigrants.

Parsons was arrested near Lake Lure and Chimney Rock after deputies received a report of a man with an assault rifle who allegedly made comments about potentially harming FEMA employees working in the area following the storm. Law enforcement later tracked down Parsons' vehicle, leading to his arrest. The sheriff’s office did not report any injuries related to Parsons’ threats or his subsequent arrest.

In response to the threats, FEMA instructed its workers in Rutherford County to "stand down and evacuate immediately," as confirmed by an email obtained by the Washington Post. The agency later stated that it had made “some operational adjustments,” but disaster recovery centers would remain open and continue assisting survivors.

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced on Tuesday that FEMA had disbursed over $99 million in aid following Hurricane Helene, providing assistance to 1,900 individuals in need of temporary housing.

If convicted of going armed to the terror of the public, Parsons could face up to 120 days in jail, as this charge is classified as a first-class misdemeanor. Attempts to reach Parsons for comment were unsuccessful.