Helene fact check: Here are the rumors and the reality in western North Carolina

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Emergency officials responding to the Hurricane Helene disaster in western North Carolina say false rumors on social media are impeding 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,” N.C. Department of Public Safety officials said in a statement. ”Nefarious actors and those with ill intent may be taking advantage of this situation by spreading false information.”

False rumors even spread claiming the government had created 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 social media Friday, the American Red Cross said misinformation is hurting its 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’re seeing this during our response to Hurricane Helene.”

Here are rumors being spread on social media and the facts offered in response by government agencies:

Rumor: Governments aren’t responding to the disaster.

Facts: The N.C. State Emergency Response Team is working 24/7 to save lives and provide Helene relief. The team includes local, state, federal and military units; power and cell phone companies and other businesses; and volunteer organizations.

Rumor: Donations, volunteers turned away at checkpoints.

Facts: Western N.C. roads are still dangerous and impassible in many places, and landslides remain a threat. Traffic is being rerouted on some roads so emergency vehicles, disaster relief efforts and local traffic can still access them.

Rumor: Governments are discouraging and confiscating donations.

Facts: The state encourages financial donations to the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund and to N.C. volunteer organizations responding to the disaster. The state is working with the organizations to collect and distribute physical donations coming in from across the state and country.

Coordinated volunteer disaster relief efforts are needed in western North Carolina, according to the N.C. Department of Public Safety.

“We strongly encourage neighbors to continue helping neighbors in impacted areas,” department officials said. “Those wishing to volunteer should register at www.nc.gov/volunteer,” and not “self-deploy” to the region.

Rumor: The government created the hurricane

Facts: Helene formed from an organized band of showers and thunderstorms in the Gulf of Mexico, the National Hurricane Center in Miami reported.

Rumors that the government created the storm were fueled by a tweet late Thursday from U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., that “Yes they can control the weather. It’s ridiculous for anyone to lie and say it can’t be done.”

Rumor: The FAA is restricting access to the airspace.

Facts:The FAA is not restricting access for recovery operations.

“The FAA is coordinating closely with state and local officials to make sure everyone is operating safely in very crowded and congested airspace,” according to a statement by the N.C. Department of Public Safety.

Rumor: “The Red Cross isn’t here.”

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 across the Southeast.

Rumor: The Red Cross is confiscating or discarding donated items.

Facts: The Red Cross is not “confiscating, removing or discarding donated items,” Red Cross officials said in a statement Friday. The Red Cross focuses on providing shelter, food and relief after disasters.

“While we don’t accept physical donations, as managing them takes time and resources away from our mission, we work with community partners who are better equipped with these resources to handle and distribute these items,” Red Cross officials said.

Call 211 to find out where donated goods are available.

Rumor: The Red Cross is taking over shelters.

Facts: The Red Cross does not take over shelters. Rather, it provides management support at the request of local partners.

Rumor: The Red Cross is taking over volunteer groups.

Facts: While the Red Cross is working alongside other volunteer groups, the Red Cross is not taking over their efforts or services.

Rumors and disinformation about FEMA

Former President Donald Trump’s campaign has issued a series of claims targeting the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

We fact-checked their claims. Here’s a look:

Rumor: FEMA does not have enough money to provide disaster assistance for Helene.

Facts: FEMA has enough money right now for immediate response and recovery needs.

In North Carolina alone, FEMA has provided more than $26 million in housing and other types of assistance to over 25,000 households, it said in an Oct. 5 release.

More than 700 FEMA staff and over 1,200 urban search and rescue personnel are on the ground. Over 1,000 National Guard troops have also been deployed to the state.

Rumor: FEMA is no longer accepting applications for housing assistance.

Facts: FEMA is still accepting assistance applications throughout areas affected by Helene, it said.

Over 800 people who cannot return home are currently staying in safe and clean lodging through FEMA’s Transitional Shelter Assistance program.

FEMA said residents in declared 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 need to request this assistance. FEMA will notify them of their eligibility through an automated phone call, text message, and/or email, depending upon the method of communication they selected at the time of application for disaster assistance.

Twenty-two shelters are housing just over 1,000 people, FEMA said. Mobile feeding operations continue to help survivors in hard-hit areas, including three mass feeding sites in Buncombe, McDowell and Watauga counties.

For current application timelines, visit disasterassistance.gov or FEMA’s state-specific Helene disaster site for North Carolina.

Rumor: Funding for FEMA disaster response was diverted to support international efforts or border-related issues.

Facts: This is false, FEMA said. No money is being diverted from disaster response needs. FEMA’s disaster response efforts and individual assistance is funded through the Disaster Relief Fund, which is a dedicated fund for disaster efforts.

Commodity distribution, mass feeding and hydration operations are underway in areas of western North Carolina, FEMA said. Commodity shipments are also en route.

“The agency is on track to meet requested delivery timelines for meals and water,” it said in a statement released Oct 5. “Voluntary organizations are supporting feeding operations with bulk food and water deliveries coming via truck and aircraft.”

In North Carolina alone, the Salvation Army has nine mobile feeding units and has served over 7,100 meals, 6,600 drinks, and 3,700 snacks, it said.

Resources:

—Residents can visit: ncdps.gov/helene to get information and additional assistance.

—Residents should not travel to western North Carolina to keep the roadways clear for search and rescue teams and utility crews.

—Residents can get in touch with loved ones by calling 2-1-1 or visiting unitedwaync.org to add them to search and rescue efforts.

Rumor: FEMA is in the the process of confiscating Helene survivor property. If I apply for disaster assistance 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 grant FEMA or the federal government authority or ownership of your property or land, FEMA said.

When you apply for disaster assistance, FEMA said an inspector may be sent to verify the damage on your home. “This is one of many factors reviewed to determine what kind of disaster assistance you may be eligible for,” it said. If the results of the inspection deem your home uninhabitable, that information is “only used to determine the amount of FEMA assistance you may receive to make your home safe, sanitary and functional,” it said.