902d SFS provides security for FEMA emergency aid in Texas, Feb. 20, 2021(Photo: Brian J. Valencia)
Actions by officials on Maui have contributed to an air of suspicion about handling the Lahaina fire that killed over 100 and left around 1000 people unaccounted for, including many children.
In a shocking development, a leaked letter has revealed that Maui County Officials have instructed the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to oversee and enforce a media blackout on the distribution of images and videos related to the recent Maui wildfire disaster.
The decision has sparked controversy and raised questions about transparency and the public’s right to information during a crisis.
An individual who wishes to remain anonymous has shared an email from FEMA with Anthony Cabassa, Host of ‘Informed Daily’ on YouTube. The email was sent to a nonprofit organization that is headed to Maui to help with disaster relief efforts.
The content of the email is directed at those on the ground, urging them to STOP posting any images or videos of the disaster immediately. Justin Angel Knighten, Director of the Office of External Affairs at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, wrote the email.
The email reads:
Out of respect for those who perished, we were asked by Maui County officials to pause on posting on social media and elsewhere new imagery of damage/disaster/debris starting now. They are asking for a full stop on disaster imagery going forward. At this time, we have not been asked to take any photos or video down. Our team on the ground is coordinating with the County for further guidance to ensure we remain fully aligned. Cultural sensitivity is of the utmost importance in all our response and recovery activities to this disaster.
EXCLUSIVE 
| A person wishing to stay anonymous has sent me this email by FEMA sent to their nonprofit who is headed to Maui to help with disaster relief.
They say they are being asked to STOP posting any images or videos while on the ground effective immediately. pic.twitter.com/hdZy5ubwvv
— Anthony Cabassa (@AnthonyCabassa_) August 21, 2023
Cabassa expressed concern in his writings, citing that the source found this directive to be “weird,” especially given the timing of its arrival when President Biden was scheduled to visit the island.
In a social media post, he wrote, “FEMA has instructed them – at the order of local Maui Govt. to ‘pause on posting’ to their socials or elsewhere.”
The source says they found this to be “weird” especially as this was sent when they were aware President Biden would be visiting the island. @FEMA has instructed them – at the order of local Maui Govt. to “pause on posting” to their socials or elsewhere.
Very interesting …
— Anthony Cabassa (@AnthonyCabassa_) August 21, 2023
Cabassa added,”This letter gives me the same undertone of watching Nick Sortor upon arriving in Maui, and having a group of people follow him around when was trying to investigate the events in Maui.”
The Gateway Pundit previously reported that a bizarre and scary incident took place during the broadcast of Steve Bannon’s War Room Saturday morning when independent reporter Nick Sortor was confronted live on air by a crazed leftist stalker during a remote report from Maui.
Sorter was standing in the parking lot of the hotel he was staying at when a man dressed in black and wearing a cap, whose eyes were bulging in anger behind wire-rimmed glasses, approached Sortor from his back and started addressing him by name. This was at 5:45 a.m. local time. The man accused Sortor of taking resources from fire relief victims just by being there to report. Sortor noted he was 45 minutes away from the fire scene at Lahaina.
“This dude showed up to my hotel, which is 45 mins from Lahaina, at literally 5:45 am to stalk me. He had NO idea I was about to do a live shot this morning. I’m just dumbfounded,” Sortor said.
This is now a MAJOR safety issue. I’m literally being stalked by people.
Keep in mind i was doing that live shot at 5:45 am local time. That just makes it even worse.
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) August 19, 2023
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