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Mike Stewart/AP
- Authorities are urging individuals to refrain from spreading false information during the recovery from Hurricane Helene.
- Bipartisan leaders have condemned misinformation and unfounded rumors.
- High-profile figures like Donald Trump and Elon Musk have propagated misleading claims.
As emergency responders work tirelessly to address the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene in North Carolina, officials from both political parties are calling for an end to misinformation that complicates recovery efforts.
The hurricane’s impact has not only affected communities but has also become entangled in the heated political climate as America approaches a presidential election year. Since making landfall in Florida and moving northward into the Carolinas, social media platforms have seen a surge of unverified claims—some even featuring fabricated AI-generated images—that criticize FEMA’s response and indirectly target President Joe Biden’s administration.
Mekela Panditharatne, senior counsel at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, remarked on this phenomenon: “While it’s common for emergencies to be breeding grounds for misinformation, we are witnessing an unprecedented level of falsehoods circulating right now. The timing is particularly notable given its proximity to a significant national election.”
Elon Musk has taken to his platform X (formerly Twitter) asserting that “FEMA is failing both in providing assistance and preventing others from helping” while sharing similar sentiments voiced by others online. He also claimed that airspace over Asheville was closed off to hinder recovery operations—a statement refuted by Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg who clarified that no such restrictions were imposed. After their conversation on this matter,Musk acknowledged that flights were indeed operational and expressed gratitude towards Buttigieg.
Meanwhile, former President Trump has leveraged this disaster as an opportunity to criticize Biden’s administration along with Vice President Kamala Harris. He accused them of misappropriating FEMA funds intended for disaster relief towards aiding undocumented immigrants—a claim investigated by The Washington Post which found no evidence supporting Trump’s assertions. Notably though, during his own presidency in 2019 Trump authorized $155 million from disaster relief funds for immigration detention purposes at the border according to reports.
Bipartisan Efforts Against Misinformation
The rise in false narratives prompted FEMA to launch a dedicatedfact-checking resource, aimed at dispelling myths surrounding their relief initiatives. In addition, North Carolina’s Department of Public Safety actively shared fact-checks on social media platforms which Democratic Governor Roy Cooper endorsed through reposts.
Republican leaders have joined forces against these misleading claims as well; Kevin Corbin—a Republican state senator—took it upon himself viaFacebook—to urge constituents against disseminating “conspiracy theory nonsense.” He highlighted bizarre allegations he encountered including accusations about FEMA misappropriating donation funds or government weather manipulation originating from Antarctica.
“These distractions hinder those working diligently,” Corbin stated emphatically.
Chris Carlson/AP
Sitting Senator Thom Tillis echoed these sentiments during an appearance on CBS News’ “Face The Nation,” stating many circulating claims originate not even from eyewitnesses but rather complicate ongoing rescue missions.
“This undermines our first responders’ hard work,” Tillis asserted. “Much of what I’ve observed serves merely as distractions rather than contributing positively toward saving lives or rebuilding.”
Panditharatne further emphasized how misinformation can deter individuals seeking necessary aid amidst crises: “While it’s valid for people express opinions or critique responses’ adequacy; many current assertions lack foundation—they contradict verified facts.” She added such disinformation diverts public resources away while demoralizing ground-level officials engaged directly with affected communities.
In times like these where information gaps exist creating opportunities ripe for deception; she noted there remains no justification: “Individuals like Musk wielding substantial influence should feel accountable promoting accurate data—not undermining access needed assistance nor hampering official crisis responses,” she concluded.
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