Insane right wing lies have convinced them that FEMA is a paramilitary organization that is abducting people or putting them into camps. This was a common conspiracy theory starting during the Obama administration that is now built on top of the various lies from Republican politicians during this latest election cycle. Apparently it's reached a critical mass and the militias feel comfortable enough in the wake of the disaster to start going after people.
You're doing a disservice by making it sound like it is a fringe or even recent idea that the government is out to get people.
"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help'".
- Ronald Reagan, 1986-08-12
Official Republican policy for the better part of the last half century is that government is bad and out to harm you. Sure, it's gotten more extreme in recent years, but it's been building to this for as long as I've been alive.
The "funny" thing (in a bleak and dark way) is that we heard lots of FEMA conspiracies in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina (2005) right in the middle of the Bush (Republican, for those not in the US) presidency.
So, it seems FEMA is this mysterious Democratic boogeyman shadow army that also uh, transcends both Republican and Democratic administrations?
I don't recall them during Katrina, but that was before social media took off. Mainly I saw discussion about FEMA's effectiveness and "not caring about black people." During Obama's administration that quickly morphed into right wing talking points on social media about FEMA stockpiling ammo to force people into concentration camps in Texas, which were popular enough they were spouted by my mom's neighbor.
