No, TEMA/FEMA officials are not taking donations away during hurricane relief efforts

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — 10News received several emails asking to verify claims that Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and Federal Emergency Management Agency officials were taking donations away from local organizations. Social media posts said monetary, food and water donations were being confiscated. 

We looked into those claims.

THE QUESTION 

Are TEMA/FEMA officials taking donations away?

THE SOURCES 

Patrick Sheehan, Director of the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency 

Tennessee Emergency Management Agency 

THE ANSWER

No, TEMA/FEMA is working to redistribute donations.

WHAT WE FOUND 

In TEMA's original message, the agency asked people not to donate until local officials asked for supplies. The agency also asked for people to avoid traveling to affected counties. Patrick Sheehan, the TEMA director, said that's because there were around 120 Tennesseans who were unaccounted for. He said TEMA wanted to focus on locating and rescuing them before having donations and volunteers come into the area.

Sheehan said, now, local organizations in Cocke County are overwhelmed by the amount of donations coming in. 

"Right now they cannot manage the influx of donations and it's impeding their ability. Worse, it's impeding the ability of Tennesseans who are suffering to be able to get the aid that they're trying to access," Sheehan said. 

He said he understands Tennesseans have volunteer spirit, but said they need to hold off until supplies are asked for. 

"We knew this was going to happen because of the severity of the impact. People have these great intentions of trying to help. So they donate. Oftentimes, they donate whatever they have on hand. But the problem is a lot of times what people are able to donate easily, or that ships easily, or is easy to transport, is not what people in the community need," Sheehan said. 

There is a central donation location at the Bristol Motor Speedway. Sheehan encourages donors to send supplies there. The donations will be evaluated and then sent to communities that request them. 

Sheehan also said people affected by the hurricane will not stop needing help anytime soon. So, there is plenty of time for people to donate and volunteer. 

"They'll need help a week from now. They'll need help a month from now.  They'll need help a decade from now. Now is not the only time to help. Don't just think about today when it's easy to think about because it's front and center. They're still going to be heartbroken of the loss they've faced and they're still gonna be trying to rebuild as they get on with their lives and they'll need help then," he said.

Social media posts have also claimed people posing as TEMA and FEMA officials have been taking supplies. Sheehan said he has reached out to law enforcement to check these claims. He said FEMA agents will begin going door to door in affected counties to inform people who qualify for assistance. 

Sheehan said these officials will be identifiable by their FEMA shirts and ID badges. He also warned people FEMA officials will never ask for social security numbers, bank account information or for payment.