Sunday, October 06, 2024

Helene Response Hurt by Misinformation, Conspiracy Theories

False claims are adding to the chaos and confusion in many storm-battered communities. Social media platforms such as X have allowed the falsehoods to spread.

Posted by tonyroma at 07:31 AM | 17 COMMENTS | permalink

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Across the Southeast, false rumors and conspiracy theories are flying about Helene, which made landfall as a major hurricane about a week ago, causing at least 229 deaths in six states. The misinformation is adding to the chaos and confusion in many storm-battered communities, including many rural areas that lack power and cell service, leading locals to rely on word of mouth.

In western North Carolina this week, some residents shared false information that a dam was about to burst, prompting hundreds of people to unnecessarily evacuate and diverting the attention of first responders. In eastern Tennessee, some locals spread a hoax about federal officials seizing and bulldozing a town hall. And in many parts of the Southeast, a debunked conspiracy theory has circulated about FEMA spending disaster relief money on helping migrants who are in the country illegally.

In places with internet access, such falsehoods have flourished on social media platforms such as X. The tech company has pulled back on efforts to combat misinformation after its takeover by billionaire Elon Musk, prompting concern from many disaster experts.

Election-year politics has also played a role. Former president Donald Trump has amplified the false claim about migrants during campaign rallies and on his platform, Truth Social. And Mark Robinson, the embattled Republican nominee for governor of North Carolina, has repeatedly alleged that there has been no state government response to Helene, even though Cooper has traversed the affected areas, visiting emergency operations centers and meeting with storm survivors.

"We're in an election year where misinformation and deliberate attempts to sow chaos are certainly part of the strategies being utilized," said Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, a Democratic commissioner in Buncombe County, N.C., which includes Asheville.

The Republicans and trolls intentionally doing this are scum,.... pure unadulterated scum.

#1 | Posted by tonyroma at 2024-10-05 06:45 PM

Republicans want people to die so they can't vote for Harris.

#2 | Posted by johnny_hotsauce at 2024-10-06 12:50 AM

Social media is a lot of things - but as a reliable source of news? Fuhgedaboudit.

#3 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2024-10-06 05:40 AM

Helene Response Hurt by Misinformation, Conspiracy Theories

Thats-what-they-want-you-to-think

#4 | Posted by censored at 2024-10-06 07:41 AM

Let me get this straight- saying that relief is not being delivered makes it to where relief doesn't get delivered.

#5 | Posted by commnotes at 2024-10-06 03:15 PM

Social media Washington Post is a lot of things - but as a reliable source of news? Fuhgedaboudit.

#6 | Posted by commnotes at 2024-10-06 03:17 PM

"No, Biden didn't take FEMA relief money to use on migrants " but Trump did"

www.fema.gov
April 12, 2024
Department of Homeland Security Announces $300 Million in Direct Funding to Communities Receiving Migrants and $340 Million for a New Competitive Awards Process

BTW, if we want to know "Is there adequate relief?", the ones to ask are the disaster victims, not the bureaucrats.

#7 | Posted by commnotes at 2024-10-06 03:28 PM

@#1 ... The Republicans and trolls intentionally doing this are scum,.... pure unadulterated scum. ...

Fact-checking scam claims about Hurricane Helene
www.newsnationnow.com

... The federal government has poured more than $110 million into assistance for the victims of Hurricane Helene, with more to come, according to the White House. It's also trying to call out the many lies about federal hurricane help popping up online.

"A number of scam artists, bad-faith actors, and others who want to sow chaos because they think it helps their political interests are promoting disinformation about the recovery," said White House Communications Director Ben LaBolt and Director of Digital Strategy Christian Tom in a lengthy statement issued on Saturday.

"Disinformation after a hurricane or other natural disaster can discourage people from seeking critical assistance when they need it most," the statement added.

The White House and the Federal Emergency Management Agency listed several "falsehoods" that have spread online and countered each with facts.

Claim: Disaster relief funds used on immigrants in the US illegally
Fact-check: False...

Claim: FEMA is confiscating Helene survivors' property
Fact-check: False ...

Claim: FEMA, FAA restricting North Carolina airspace
Fact-check: False...

Claim: FEMA no longer accepting housing assistance applications
Fact-check: False...

Claim: FEMA running out of Helene disaster assistance money
Fact-check: False...

Claim: FEMA is asking for Helene donations, turning away volunteers
Fact-check: False ...

...


[see the article for the explanations]


#8 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-10-06 03:30 PM

@#7 ... if we want to know "Is there adequate relief?", the ones to ask are the disaster victims, not the bureaucrats. ...

What FEMA is saying is that there currently is enough money for fund the relief requests. FEMA also said that the misinformation is turning people away from applying for assistance.

#9 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-10-06 03:32 PM

Released yesterday, the video - KJP September 2022 on illegals: "FEMA Regional Administrators have been meeting with city officials on site to coordinate " to coordinate available federal support from FEMA and other federal agencies".

#10 | Posted by gracieamazed at 2024-10-06 03:32 PM

After the deluge, the lies: Misinformation and hoaxes about Helene cloud the recovery
apnews.com

... Disinformation campaigns by China and Russia amplify the misleading claims

State-run media and disinformation campaigns run by China and Russia have amplified false and misleading claims about the response to the storm. Both countries have used social media and state news stories to criticize responses to past U.S. natural disasters, part of a larger effort to stoke division and distrust among Americans.

State and local officials from both parties have condemned the conspiracy theories as rumors, saying the focus should be on recovery, not political division and hearsay.

Responding to the hoaxes is taking up time that should go toward assisting victims, said North Carolina state Sen. Kevin Corbin, a Republican who urged his constituents not to give into hoaxes.

"Friends can I ask a small favor?" Corbin posted Thursday on Facebook. "Will you all help STOP this conspiracy theory junk that is floating all over Facebook and the internet... Please don't let these crazy stories consume you."

After Robinson, the GOP candidate for North Carolina governor, posted that state officials had not prepared for the storm, a spokesman for the governor accused Robinson of mounting "an online disinformation campaign." North Carolina officials say the response to Helene is the largest in state history, including thousands of members of the National Guard and other recovery workers, millions of meals, dozens of aircraft and more than 1,000 chainsaws. ...


#11 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-10-06 03:38 PM

For the third time on different threads:

A Trump campaign spokesman pointed to FEMA's Shelter and Services Program, which gives grants to local governments and nonprofits to take care of undocumented immigrants. Congress boosted the budget from $360 million in fiscal year 2023 to $650 million in fiscal year 2024. The program's 2023 annual report says it provides shelter, such as hotel/motel services, food and transportation, including plane tickets up to $700 a person.
As we said, Congress appropriated this money, just as it did the disaster fund.

The Shelter and Services Program (SSP) is a completely separate, appropriated grant program that was authorized and funded by Congress and is not associated in any way with FEMA's disaster-related authorities or funding streams.

FEMA's disaster response efforts and individual assistance is funded through the Disaster Relief Fund, which is a dedicated fund for disaster efforts. Disaster Relief Fund money has not been diverted to other, non-disaster related efforts." ...

www.washingtonpost.com

#12 | Posted by tonyroma at 2024-10-06 03:40 PM

Thom Tillis calls out MAGAts for conspiracy theories.

x.com

#13 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2024-10-06 03:42 PM

@#10 ... "FEMA Regional Administrators have been meeting with city officials on site to coordinate " to coordinate available federal support from FEMA and other federal agencies" ,,,

... and?

#14 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-10-06 04:02 PM

Fact checks are fine, but let's hear from some victims that say there's enough help.

These type of arguments remind me of the man that says he's a good husband, or a good father. The only valid opinions are those of his wife or child.

How about the administration that says they're great, while in fact
"Americans Deeply Dissatisfied with Government and Both Parties: Study"
www.newsweek.com

#15 | Posted by commnotes at 2024-10-06 04:59 PM

@#13 ... [NC Sen] Thom Tillis calls out MAGAts for conspiracy theories. ...

Yeah, and the surprising aspect is that those who continue to propagate those conspiracy theories are hurting those who need the help by encouraging them to distrust FEMA to the point they do not ask for help.

#16 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-10-06 05:38 PM

Yeah, and the surprising aspect is that those who continue to propagate those conspiracy theories are hurting those who need the help by encouraging them to distrust FEMA to the point they do not ask for help.

It's not surprising with Trumpists, it's expected. They have no compassion for the suffering - unless they can benefit politically by showing what looks like empathy but then turns to scorn for their political opposition who is always to blame for whatever happens that ends tragically.

They raise money off misery and death like ghouls even when the misery and deaths are tied to decisions (or lack thereof) they made when in power. And then they expect everyone else to forget their fingerprints figure prominently in most every thing they rail against one way or another.

I read somewhere from a person with decades in emergency relief efforts state that every person who hasn't yet been reached by government response people think they've been overlooked when the reality is the responses are initially focused where they can reach the most people first, and then work their way towards less dense areas as time passes.

So yes, folks in hard to reach areas where roads have been destroyed didn't find someone from FEMA at their door hours after the rains passed. That doesn't mean anyone did anything wrong and certainly doesn't mean the response was inadequate or poorly organized. Responders cannot beam into troubled areas where there are no roads, electricity, and no cell phone service. They have to reach remote areas as their ability to do so allows them to.

#17 | Posted by tonyroma at 2024-10-06 07:19 PM

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