Emergency officials responding to the Hurricane Helene disaster in Western North Carolina say false rumors on social media are hampering their efforts to help tens of thousands of people in need.
“False information is being widely shared on social media channels, including AI-generated content and images,” NC Department of Public Safety officials said in a statement. “Nefarious actors and people with malicious intent can take advantage of this situation by spreading false information.”
False rumors even spread claiming that the government had caused the hurricane.
The public should find and share information from trusted sources and discourage others from spreading information from unverified sources, NCDPS officials said.
On Friday, the American Red Cross said on social media that misinformation is hurting Hurricane Helene relief efforts.
“Misinformation can spread quickly after a disaster, causing confusion and distrust within communities struggling to recover,” the Red Cross said in a statement. “Unfortunately, we are seeing this during our response to Hurricane Helene.”
Here are the rumors spread on social media and the facts offered by government agencies in response:
Rumor: Governments do not respond to the disaster.
Facts: The NC State Emergency Response Team works 24/7 to save lives and get Helene help. The team consists of local, state, federal and military units; energy and cell phone companies and other businesses; and volunteer organizations.
Rumor: Donations, volunteers turned away at checkpoints.
Facts: Roads in Western NC are still dangerous and impassable in many places, and landslides remain a threat. Traffic is being diverted on some roads so that emergency vehicles, disaster response services and local traffic can still access them.
Rumor: governments discourage and to confiscate donations.
Facts: The state is encouraging financial donations to the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund and to NC volunteer organizations responding to the disaster. The state is working with the organizations to collect and distribute physical donations from across the state and country.
According to the NC Department of Public Safety, coordinated voluntary emergency response efforts are needed in Western North Carolina.
“We strongly encourage neighbors to continue to assist neighbors in affected areas,” department officials said. “Those wishing to volunteer should register at www.nc.gov/volunteer” and not “self-deploy” in the region.
Rumor: The government caused the hurricane
Facts:Helene formed from an organized group of showers and thunderstorms in the Gulf of Mexico, the National Hurricane Center in Miami reported.
Rumors that the government caused the storm were fueled late Thursday by U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s tweet: “Yes, they can control the weather. It’s ridiculous when someone lies and says it’s not possible.”
Rumor: The FAA restricts access to airspace.
Facts:The FAA does not restrict access for recovery operations.
“The FAA is working closely with state and local officials to ensure everyone operates safely in the very busy and congested airspace,” said a statement from the N.C. Department of Public Safety.
Rumor: “The Red Cross is not there.”
Facts: At least 1,300 Red Cross disaster responders are helping people in the Carolinas, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia with safe shelter, food, hygiene items, medications and emotional support.
Before Helene made landfall, the Red Cross positioned hundreds of disaster responders and thousands of relief supplies in the southeast.
Rumor: The Red Cross confiscates or throws away donated items.
Facts:The Red Cross “does not confiscate, remove or dispose of donated items,” Red Cross officials said in a statement Friday. The Red Cross focuses on providing shelter, food and assistance after disasters.
“While we are not accepting physical donations because managing them takes time and resources away from our mission, we are working with community partners who are better equipped with these resources to process and distribute these items,” Red Cross officials said.
Call 211 to find out where donated goods are available.
Rumor: The Red Cross takes over shelters.
Facts:The Red Cross does not take over shelters. Instead, it provides management support upon request from local partners.
Rumor: The Red Cross is taking over volunteer groups.
Facts:Although the Red Cross collaborates with other volunteer groups, the Red Cross does not adopt their efforts or services.
Rumors and misinformation about FEMA
Former President Donald Trump’s campaign has filed a series of claims against the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
We fact-checked their claims. Here’s a closer look:
Rumor: FEMA doesn’t have enough money to help Helene during disasters.
Facts:FEMA currently has enough funding for immediate response and recovery needs.
In North Carolina alone, FEMA has provided more than $26 million in housing and other assistance to more than 25,000 households, the Oct. 5 report said.
More than 700 FEMA employees and more than 1,200 city search and rescue personnel are on scene. More than 1,000 National Guard troops have also been deployed in the state.
Rumor: FEMA is no longer accepting applications for housing assistance.
Facts:FEMA is still accepting applications for assistance in the areas affected by Helene, the report said.
More than 800 people who cannot return home are currently staying in safe and clean accommodations through FEMA’s Transitional Shelter Assistance program.
FEMA said residents of designated counties who have applied for disaster assistance may be eligible to stay temporarily in a hotel or motel paid for by FEMA while they work on their long-term housing plan. People do not have to apply for this help. FEMA will notify them of their eligibility via an automated phone call, text message and/or email, depending on the communication method they selected at the time of applying for disaster assistance.
Twenty-two shelters house just over 1,000 people, FEMA said. Mobile feeding operations continue to assist survivors in hard-hit areas, including three large-scale feeding sites in Buncombe, McDowell and Watauga counties.
For current application timelines, visit disasterassistance.gov or FEMA’s state-specific disaster site Helene for North Carolina.
Photos: Surrounded by water, a small NC community had to wait for rescuers to travel safely
Rumor: FEMA’s disaster response funding was used to support international efforts or border-related issues.
Facts:This is incorrect, FEMA said. No funds are diverted from disaster response needs. FEMA’s disaster response efforts and individual assistance are funded through the Disaster Relief Fund, a special fund for disaster efforts.
In areas of western North Carolina, commodity distribution, mass feeding and hydration operations are underway, FEMA said. Goods shipments are also on their way.
“The agency is on track to meet requested delivery times for meals and water,” it said in an Oct. 5 statement. “Volunteer organizations support food operations with bulk deliveries of food and water via trucks and aircraft.”
In North Carolina alone, The Salvation Army has nine mobile food units and has served more than 7,100 meals, 6,600 drinks and 3,700 snacks.
Sources:
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Residents can visit: ncdps.gov/helene for information and additional assistance.
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Residents are not allowed to travel into western North Carolina to keep roads clear for search and rescue teams and utility workers.
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Residents can connect with loved ones by calling 2-1-1 or visiting unitedwaync.org to add them to search and rescue efforts.
Rumor: FEMA is Seizing Helene Survivor’s Assets. If I apply for disaster relief and my land is deemed unlivable, my property will be seized.
Facts:FEMA cannot seize your property or land. Applying for disaster assistance does not give FEMA or the federal government authority or ownership of your property or land, FEMA said.
When you apply for disaster assistance, FEMA says an inspector can be sent to verify the damage to your home. “This is one of many factors assessed to determine what type of disaster assistance you may qualify for,” the report said. If the results of the inspection deem your home uninhabitable, that information “will only be used to determine the amount of FEMA assistance you may receive to make your home safe, sanitary and functional,” the report says.
If you have been affected by Helene, please apply for disaster assistance. The fastest way is through DisasterAssistance.gov. You can also apply through the FEMA mobile app or by calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. If you use a video relay service, closed captioning telephone service, or other communications services, please provide FEMA with the specific number assigned to that service.
