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In the midst of responding to two catastrophic hurricanes in 2024, a senior FEMA official found herself battling not only natural disasters but also a wave of targeted harassment and antisemitic attacks that eventually forced her from her home and limited her ability to perform critical duties.
Jaclyn Rothenberg, who served as director of public affairs at the Federal Emergency Management Agency from July 2021 to late 2024, faced an unprecedented barrage of online abuse while coordinating hurricane response communications during Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
“It was the fall of 2024. I was the director of public affairs at FEMA during Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which was a huge moment in the world of misinformation because there was so much of it, so fast. And it was in the middle of the election cycle,” Rothenberg explained.
Her primary responsibility was ensuring disaster survivors received accurate information about available services and support. However, as she worked to disseminate life-saving information, she became a target for online attackers who questioned her competence and attacked her based on her Jewish identity.
“What was really surprising to me at the time was getting attacked for my religion,” Rothenberg said. “There were a lot of people online who could say anything and everything without knowing me — very hurtful things.”
The situation escalated dramatically after Rothenberg issued a public statement challenging misinformation about FEMA’s hurricane response. Online harassers not only targeted her with antisemitic rhetoric and mocked her appearance but also uncovered and shared her personal information, including her address and details about her family members.
“They found my address, my husband, and my parents. They looked into my work history,” Rothenberg recalled. The situation became so dire that she was forced to leave her home and stay with friends.
The harassment ultimately reached a breaking point when someone threatened to kill her, prompting FEMA to assign security protection — an unusual step for a communications professional rather than a high-profile politician.
“That was surreal because I was hired to be a communications lead for the agency,” she said. “It felt like one of the first times when people weren’t just going after politicians, but also federal employees for doing what they were hired to do.”
The threats forced FEMA to limit Rothenberg’s public-facing duties, which she believes had tangible consequences for disaster victims. “I had to tone down public communication from the spokesperson account. I had to stop doing media interviews about the topics that I was trying to get out there. We saw a decrease in registration for assistance. There was real impact.”
Rothenberg credits her Jewish faith for helping her persevere through the ordeal. She referenced the concept of “tikkun olam,” a Hebrew phrase that emphasizes doing what’s best for others. “I felt empowered by continuing to do my job and communicating life-saving information,” she said.
Now serving as senior vice president for reputation management at communications and lobbying firm Avoq, Rothenberg uses her experience to advise clients on preparing for similar scenarios. She warns that targeted harassment isn’t limited to top executives.
“As a result, one of the things I’ve counseled clients on, both at the C-suite level and below, is that it’s not just the CEO they’re going after. They’ll go after the head of HR, the head of communications,” she explained.
Rothenberg believes companies need to conduct proactive exercises on how to respond to such situations and protect both executives and employees. She also emphasizes the importance of privacy management on social media platforms.
“This is the new normal, unfortunately,” she said. “Companies have to think about what protection looks like from a privacy standpoint on social media. I don’t think people really realize the online footprint that they have.”
Rothenberg acknowledges that the full psychological impact of the experience didn’t hit her until months later. “In hindsight, the incident was probably more traumatizing than it felt in the moment, because I think I was in shock,” she reflected, adding that being unable to help people due to security concerns was particularly difficult for her.
Her story highlights an alarming trend where government officials and civil servants face increased personal risk simply for performing their duties during crisis situations, especially in a polarized political climate.
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11 Comments
This is a deeply troubling situation. Public officials like Jaclyn Rothenberg should be able to do their jobs without facing such unwarranted attacks and harassment. Misinformation can have serious consequences, particularly during emergency response efforts. We need stronger safeguards to protect against these kinds of damaging campaigns.
I agree. Protecting officials and ensuring accurate, timely communication during crises should be a top priority. Misinformation and harassment of public servants is unacceptable and undermines our ability to respond effectively to natural disasters.
This is a stark reminder of the very real dangers posed by the spread of misinformation, especially during times of crisis. Attacks on public officials like Jaclyn Rothenberg undermine our ability to respond effectively to natural disasters. Stronger measures are needed to address this growing problem.
Agreed. Misinformation can have devastating impacts, particularly when it interferes with emergency response efforts. Protecting officials and ensuring the public has access to accurate information should be a top priority.
The targeting of this FEMA official with harassment and antisemitic attacks is truly appalling. Spreading misinformation and undermining public trust in critical institutions like FEMA is extremely harmful, especially during natural disasters. More must be done to combat these dangerous trends.
This highlights the urgent need to address the spread of misinformation, particularly around major events like natural disasters. Targeted harassment of public servants is unacceptable and undermines the public good. More must be done to combat these dangerous trends.
You’re right. Misinformation and harassment can have severe consequences, as this case demonstrates. Protecting officials and ensuring accurate, timely communication during emergencies should be a top priority.
This is a concerning example of how misinformation and targeted harassment can undermine critical emergency response efforts. Public officials like Jaclyn Rothenberg should be able to do their jobs without facing such attacks. Addressing the spread of misinformation and protecting officials must be a priority.
It’s deeply troubling to see a FEMA official facing such threats and abuse while trying to provide critical disaster response information. Spreading misinformation and targeting public servants in this way is reprehensible and counterproductive. We need greater accountability and safeguards to prevent these kinds of incidents.
This is a concerning situation. Misinformation can have serious consequences, especially during critical emergency response efforts. It’s troubling to see public officials targeted and harassed in this way. Transparency and accurate communication are so important in times of crisis.
I agree. Disinformation campaigns that undermine public trust and hamper emergency response efforts are truly harmful. Officials like Jaclyn Rothenberg should be able to do their jobs without facing such unwarranted attacks.