FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell accused former President Donald Trump of spreading “worry” and potentially obstructing restoration efforts with his “utterly false” claims about a lack of FEMA help in states like North Carolina and Georgia following Typhoon Helene.

The loss of life toll of Helene stands at more than 200, and Florida is gearing up for some other storm with Storm Milton. In an interview with Fox Information’ Laura Ingraham, Trump persisted accusing FEMA of no longer doing sufficient and not having sufficient tools on the ground to help in recovery efforts.

“They don’t have the folks, and so they’re complaining there’s no people around to assist,” Trump stated.

Criswell joined CNN’s Kate Bolduan on Tuesday and blasted Trump’s accusations as “totally false.”

She stated:

“His accusations are just completely false. I feel the very first thing I’d say is, simply because you don‘t see anyone on the ground in a FEMA shirt doesn‘t mean that we don‘t have folks there. We have now folks which might be embedded within the state emergency operations heart. I’ve teams which are strolling around neighborhoods. I have teams which are embedded with the entire county EOCs. Individuals are on the bottom, however we‘re additionally bringing in resources. And it‘s now not just FEMA. We’re one a part of the federal domestic. We’ve got over three,400 participants from throughout all federal agencies in North Carolina serving to to strengthen this response.”

Criswell referred to as for an finish to such “rhetoric,” arguing it can doubtlessly lead to individuals now not applying for help or seeking out resources from FEMA.

“We actually have just got to forestall this rhetoric, as a result of what it‘s doing is it‘s striking fear within the people who we’re now not going to be there to help them,” she said. “And I concern that people won’t register for help with us and get get admission to to essential instruments that they are eligible for.”

Watch above via CNN.

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