From Axios: FEMA chief “very concerned” about disinformation from U.S. adversaries after disasters.

“FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell told Axios…..on Monday that she is “very concerned” about the ability of U.S. adversaries to spread disinformation and sow distrust in the wake of natural disasters in the U.S.

Driving the news: She pointed to misinformation and disinformation spread by nation-state actors — namely, China and Russia — following this year’s devastating fires in Maui and train derailment and chemical spill in East Palestine, Ohio.

What she’s saying: “I’m very concerned about convergence cyberattacks with our natural disaster — that our adversaries know when we are most vulnerable and know how to take advantage of those times,” Criswell said at the Axios event in Dubai.

“I’m very concerned about this new threat landscape that is coming into our environment and creating challenges that we haven’t faced before,” she said, adding that this includes the spreading of misinformation and disinformation.
“It’s creating so much difficulty for us to get people who really need our help to come ask us for the help because it’s created this level of distrust,” she said. “It’s a whole new challenge.”