Buttigieg counters Musk declare of Fema blocking Starlink from hurricane aid

Pete Buttigieg, the transportation secretary, shot down criticism by Elon Musk on the federal government’s dealing with of Hurricane Helene aid efforts, accusing the SpaceX CEO of spreading misinformation.

Musk accused the Federal Emergency Administration Company (Fema) of blocking his satellite tv for pc web firm, Starlink, from delivering to elements of North Carolina decimated by the hurricane, a declare each Fema and Buttigieg mentioned was false.

“Nobody is shutting down the airspace and FAA doesn’t block professional rescue and restoration flights. If you happen to’re encountering an issue give me a name,” Buttigieg wrote. Musk replied that he had seen lots of of such experiences and would cellphone.

Musk had spent a number of hours on Friday raging on X in opposition to Fema over what he referred to as “belligerent authorities incompetence”. Posting texts allegedly acquired from “a SpaceX engineer on the bottom”, he accused the federal company of blockading the catastrophe space and stopping personal helicopters from delivering Starlink terminals, which hook up with satellite tv for pc web service, and different provides.

Musk wrote, “SpaceX engineers are attempting to ship Starlink terminals & provides to devastated areas in North Carolina proper now and @FEMA is each failing to assist AND received’t let others assist. That is unconscionable!!”

When reached for touch upon Musk’s allegations, Fema issued an announcement much like Buttigieg’s: “The claims about FEMA confiscating or taking commodities, provides or sources in North Carolina, Tennessee, or any state impacted by Helene are false.

“FEMA has helped present Starlink terminals to the state of North Carolina, together with to the Jap Band of Cherokee Nation and demanding lifeline areas as decided by the state. These models are supporting state and native municipalities, City Search and Rescue and catastrophe coordination. Starlink models have been despatched to a number of states in help of Hurricane Helene response efforts,” mentioned Jaclyn Rothenberg, Fema director of public affairs.

Nonetheless, Donald Trump amplified Musk’s claims on his app Reality Social. Musk mentioned he would be part of the previous president at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday.

False data has swirled within the communications blackout that has adopted Hurricane Helene’s devastation. Telephone and energy traces have been down throughout the south. Trump falsely accused Joe Biden of failing to name Georgia’s governor after the storm, when Biden had phoned Brian Kemp.

Musk has a historical past of inserting himself into rescue operations. In 2018, he provided to ship a small submersible to Thailand to help with the rescue of a boys’ soccer group, which divers on the scene referred to as a “PR stunt”. In response, Musk referred to as the pinnacle rescuer a “pedo man”, eliciting a defamation go well with that Musk later received.