Senate candidate Eric Hovde circulates false Hurricane Helene claims debunked by FEMA
Eric Hovde, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Wisconsin, has been circulating false claims about Hurricane Helene that federal officials are urging people to stop spreading.
"FEMA is out of money and doesn't have money to transfer to those people affected by the hurricane,” Hovde said in an Oct. 3, 2024, video on X, formerly Twitter. “They used the money to assist illegal immigrants.”
As of Oct. 7, 2024, the post is pinned to the top of Hovde’s profile and has over a quarter of a million views.
At former President Donald Trump’s rally in Juneau, Wisconsin, on Oct. 6, 2024, Hovde claimed Vice President Kamala Harris and his opponent, Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, are “not even taking care of our veterans or the people that were devastated by that hurricane.”
Trump, meanwhile, declared that the federal government “is doing nothing.” The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has called misinformation spread by Trump and others “ridiculous and just plain false.”
The agency launched a webpage to address rumors about the hurricane, a typical response during natural disasters to get critical information to survivors. False information can confuse or prevent people from getting help, FEMA says.
Here’s what FEMA says about claims that Hovde and others have made about Hurricane Helene.
FEMA says it has enough money for immediate needs, could run out by end of hurricane season
Hovde starts his video by claiming FEMA is “out of money.” On the agency’s rumor response website, FEMA says it “has enough money right now for immediate response and recovery needs.”
“If you were affected by Helene, do not hesitate to apply for disaster assistance as there is a variety of help available for different needs,” the agency says.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told reporters last week that FEMA can meet all of its current obligations, but will most likely run out of funding before the end of the hurricane season.
In an Oct. 7 press release, FEMA said federal assistance to Hurricane Helene survivors has surpassed $210 million. The agency is preparing for Hurricane Milton, which is projected to threaten areas still recovering from Helene.
“The agency’s capacity to manage multiple simultaneous disasters ensures that it can continue to prioritize response and recovery efforts for Helene, while also being ready to respond to Milton,” the agency said.
Money is not being diverted for international or border-related issues
Hovde also claimed the agency ran out of funding because “they used the money to assist illegal immigrants.”
FEMA says “no money is being diverted from disaster response needs,” such as international or border-related issues. Disaster response efforts and individual assistance is funded through a dedicated Disaster Relief Fund.
FEMA does administer the Shelter and Services Program, which supports non-federal entities providing humanitarian services to noncitizen migrants following their release from the Department of Homeland Security, according to its website.
The program has $650 million in funding this year, but that money is separate from disaster relief funds, USA TODAY reported.
Hovde’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment for this PolitiFact.
FEMA asks people to use and share official sources of information
At the end of his video that includes false claims, Hovde urges people to “please share this with people you know. Get the word out.”
FEMA’s rumor webpage asks people to help stop the spread of rumors by finding trusted sources of information, sharing information from trusted sources, and discouraging others from sharing information from unverified sources.
Survivors can apply for FEMA assistance by calling the helpline at 1-800-621-3362, visiting c or downloading FEMA’s app.
More information on disaster assistance can be found here. Information on Hurricane Milton can be found here.
Our ruling
In a video on X, Hovde claimed FEMA is “out of money” amid Hurricane Helene recovery and the agency “used the money to assist illegal immigrants.”
FEMA has debunked both claims, which have been spread by Trump and other conservatives. FEMA says it has enough money to meet its current needs, but could run out before the end of the hurricane season.
And while FEMA administers a program that helps migrants, that funding is separate from disaster relief. Money from the Disaster Relief Fund is not being diverted, the agency says.
We rate Hovde’s claims False.
Sources
Eric Hovde, X, Oct. 3, 2024.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Recap: Donald Trump speaks for nearly two hours at rally in Juneau, Wisconsin, Oct. 6, 2024.
USA TODAY, 'Ridiculous and just plain false': FEMA administrator knocks Trump's Hurricane Helene recovery claims, Oct. 6, 2024.
USA TODAY, Have you heard these rumors? FEMA wants to set the record straight., Oct. 5, 2024.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, Hurricane Helene: Rumor Response, Sept. 6, 2024.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA Launches Web Page to Respond to Rumors and Confirm the Facts Related to Hurricane Helene Response and Recovery, Oct. 4, 2024.
USA TODAY, Is FEMA running out of money for hurricane season? Here's what you need to know, Oct. 4, 2024.
USA TODAY, Hurricane Milton tracker: Follow projected path of Category 4 storm expected to hit Florida, Oct. 7, 2024.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, As Federal Assistance for Hurricane Helene Exceeds $210 Million, FEMA Prepares for Dual Response with Hurricane Milton Strengthening as it Moves Toward Gulf Coast of Florida, Oct. 7, 2024.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, Shelter and Services Program.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Eric Hovde circulates false Hurricane Helene claims debunked by FEMA