Fact Check: Did a FEMA official say, "We plan to execute between 70,000 and 80,000" people? Fake audio rumor debunked

A viral audio clip allegedly featuring a FEMA official saying they plan to "execute" 70,000 to 80,000 people and subsequently correcting themselves to say "evacuate" has gone viral on the internet in October 2024. The clip says:

"We plan to execute between 70,000 and 80,000 ... we plan to evacuate between 70,000 and 80,000 people."

Multiple social media users shared the clip while showing their reactions to the audio. When the clip went viral, residents of Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia, and Tennessee were facing the aftermath of the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene. Hurricane Milton was also on its way at that time. Over 230 people reportedly died after Hurricane Helene hit the areas as of October 7.

However, the viral clip did not include any statement by a FEMA (U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency) official. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin originally spoke the line on September 28, 2021, at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Afghanistan withdrawal in Washington, D.C. The original audio can be heard at the 22:13 mark in a video shared by C-Span.

A day after (September 29, 2021), Austin made the same error and corrected himself in a House Armed Services Committee hearing. The audio can be heard in the 18:08 timestamp in a C-Span video.

Both hearings took place during a US Congress review of the failures during the US military withdrawal from Afghanistan. The original audio clip did not concern the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency.

---

Several TikTok users falsely claimed FEMA said "the quiet part out loud"

Multiple social media platforms showed proof of TikTok users falsely claiming that FEMA said "the quiet part out loud" while sharing the aforementioned audio clip. TikTok users shared reaction videos to the original 2021 audio clip and wrote misleading captions claiming that a FEMA official said the quiet part loudly.

The website Snopes verified four such videos. At the time of their review, TikTok muted the audio. The muted audio supposedly signifies TikTok took action against these users for spreading misinformation online.

TikTok's reported action came while several residents across the United States were dealing with the aftermath of the deadly Hurricane Helene and preparing for the subsequent Hurricane Milton. After a few hours, one of the four videos displayed the message, "Video currently unavailable."

Nicholas Smith, the Communications Director of TikTok, said in an email to Snopes:

"I can confirm that all four videos that you shared — including the three TikTok videos that you linked to and the X video that had been stamped with the TikTok logo — were proactively removed from our platform for violating our Integrity and Authenticity Community Guidelines before your inquiry."

On Sunday, October 6, FEMA issued a press release warning people to stop spreading misinformation using its name. The statement said FEMA is "prepared to respond and stands ready to support the state with any request for resources."

"Hundreds of FEMA staff are on the ground in Florida supporting Helene recovery and coordinating with the state to prepare people for the next storm."

The official X account of FEMA also urged people to be careful about spreading misinformation during the hurricanes. They debunked the rumor that they would provide only $750 to Helene survivors.

"$750 Serious Needs Assistance is only ONE type of assistance available to help pay for essential emergency supplies."

The rumors allegedly went viral after former President Donald Trump claimed that there were “no helicopters, no rescue” in North Carolina and only $750 was given to the survivors of Helene.

Vice President Kamala Harris supported the organization against such claims, denying the allegations made by Trump. She said that "a lot of mis- and disinformation being pushed out there by the former president about what is available, in particular, to the survivors of Helene." Harris urged residents to listen to local officials and be safe from Milton.