By Karen Jenkins - 10/16/24

CARTER COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) — There were some tense moments on Saturday when volunteers witnessed an armed group of people confronting and threatening FEMA workers in the Elk Mills community of Carter County in Tennessee.

Tracy Elder is president and founder of the International Alliance of Community Chaplains. Her group has been working in disaster relief for more than 20 years.

They are in Carter County at the request of the Elk Mills Volunteer Fire Department to help run the command center there, providing supplies and resources for those in need. But Elder told Nexstar’s WJHL that she found herself between FEMA workers and a group of armed citizens criticizing the work of the government agency on Saturday.

Elder was ultimately able to diffuse the situation.
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“They were armed — they were all open-carry — they had surrounded [the FEMA workers] and there was a lady that was yelling at them and threatening them,” Elder said.

She explained that she listened to the group’s grievances about FEMA but explained to them that her organization was not associated with the federal agency. Elder said she felt the group was frustrated and she was able to hear them out, but was firm that their behavior wasn’t appropriate.

“People just need to be heard, and then some of that does take a skill that doesn’t take a confrontation,” Elder said. “I said, ‘Hey I hear you. You can say there’s no volunteers but I’m standing right in front of you honey and I’m here and we’re helping.'”

Elder said once the group realized that FEMA wasn’t taking those donations, and that the command center was run by volunteers, they left and surprisingly returned later with supplies to donate.

During the confrontation, Elder did call 911 because she said the group wasn’t being rational.

“I don’t care whatever their beef is with the government or FEMA, that’s not my job. My job on this ground is to take care of the folks here,” Elder told WJHL.

Because of the bridges washed out in the community, the area is now a now a much longer drive from the sheriff’s department. That doesn’t sit well with Carter County Sheriff Mike Fraley, and it’s why he’s working to get a sub-station up and running at the site of the now washed-away fire department. Two deputies will be stationed there 24 hours a day.

Fraley suspects the group that confronted Elder is from North Carolina. According to other sheriffs he’s spoken to, they’ve been causing these problems on both sides of the state line and it’s unacceptable.

“Those FEMA workers, they’re here to help, and if you don’t want FEMA’s help, then politely tell them so. But they are human beings just like we are,” Fraley said.

Despite the confrontation, a FEMA representative told WJHL that FEMA will still be in the region working with those impacted by the flooding as they begin the recovery process.