How FEMA tries to combat rumors and conspiracy theories about Milton and Helene
NPRHow FEMA tries to combat rumors and conspiracy theories about Milton and Helene toggle caption Joe Raedle/Getty Images With a second massive hurricane set to hit the United States in less than two weeks, the Federal Emergency Management Agency also has to contend with a deluge of rumors and conspiracy theories about its response and policies. Baseless stories have swirled on social media since Hurricane Helene made landfall in late September, many framing FEMA’s actions as an instrument of a tyrannical federal government. Ron DeSantis’ press secretary, took to social media to rebuke one viral falsehood that urged people not to evacuate so as to protect their property from FEMA: “Spreading LIES like this could have serious consequences.” She urged people to follow directions to evacuate. “I would say all of FEMA was encouraged to promote folks checking in with that rumor control website,” said Rebecca Rouse, a former FEMA staffer who now teaches emergency and security studies at Tulane University.
History of this topic
Russia, China and Cuba spread misinformation about US hurricane response, US official says
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Hurricane news: Hurricane Milton somehow made the conspiracy theorists more unhinged.
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Hurricane news: Trump, Musk, and Greene’s conspiracy theories about FEMA and Democrats have sinister implications for the election.
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Politically charged rumors and conspiracy theories about Helene flourish on X
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How rumors and conspiracy theories got in the way of Maui's fire recovery
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