Conservative commentator Benny Johnson claimed in an Instagram post that Americans affected by Hurricane Helene were only receiving $750 in aid, while billions of dollars were being sent to Ukraine. However, this claim was found to be false. The $750 payments were just initial support under a new FEMA program, and individuals affected by the hurricane could apply for additional forms of financial assistance such as emergency food assistance, unemployment benefits, home repair loans, and small business loans.
The Instagram post included part of Vice President Kamala Harris’ remarks in which she mentioned the $750 in emergency assistance for immediate needs, but she also detailed other forms of aid available for hurricane victims, such as funds for home repair, deductibles, and hotel costs. The $750 payments were part of the Serious Needs Assistance program announced by FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security with the goal of increasing flexibility and providing funds faster.
The claim that the funding for Ukraine affected the money available for disaster relief was dismissed by FEMA, as the two events were separate. Misinformation related to Hurricane Helene, including falsely presented videos and images, has been debunked by USA TODAY. PolitiFact and Lead Stories also debunked the claim made by Johnson. Despite attempts to contact Johnson for comment, there has been no response. The debunked claim has been clarified by explaining the various forms of financial assistance available to those affected by the hurricane.
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