Thoughts On… Hurricanes, FEMA, and Misinformation in Times of Crisis (Part II)
In this follow-up to our Thoughts On... post on hurricanes, we discuss how recent misinformation has affected response to these disasters, recent congressional action, and what the future may hold.
Introduction
It’s been two days since Hurricane Milton first made landfall on the west coast of Florida. While initial reports out of the state seem to indicate that the hurricane was not as damaging as initially predicted, millions are still without power and the extent of the total damage remains to be seen. However, as Floridians attempt to pick up the pieces–particularly those who already experienced Hurricane Helene’s destruction a couple of weeks ago–misinformation continues to run rampant online, with false rumors about the federal government’s response and the hurricane themselves dominating the discourse.
In this follow up Thoughts On… post, we’ll start by exploring the rumors that have gained the most traction online and debunk them. We’ll also discuss where these claims came from and the individuals who have played a role in their propagation, particularly on social media. Then, we’ll transition into a discussion of what the federal government is currently doing to address the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton back in D.C. Lastly, we’ll discuss what comes next amidst the damage caused by these storms, the uncertainty of whether additional storms will arise during this hurricane season, and the upcoming presidential election.
Debunking The Misinformation
It is undeniably true that we are face-to-face with an increasingly grim reality about the future of hurricanes. However, it is in these moments that opportunities for misinformation run rampant, as some look for people or institutions to blame or others continue to deny the reality of what’s happening. You may have already come across some of these claims on social media. While I’ll only be focusing on debunking some of the most widely shared claims, it is imperative that we continue to identify and combat these claims on and off social media. The importance of knowledge and information, especially in times of fear and uncertainty, is paramount.
Claim #1: The government is performing cloud-seeding or some other form of climate engineering to create hurricanes.
Outlandish as it may seem, this claim has been posted and shared by many on X/Twitter, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene. In a time of political contention, some individuals seem set on sewing discord by implying that the government is somehow responsible for the destruction we’re seeing. Let’s start with the science first. Cloud seeding involves the manipulation of existing clouds to produce more rain, and is typically deployed in places with dry climates. Importantly, this technique is only used when there is not enough water vapor in the atmosphere to create condensation, or rain, which is not the case here. Geoengineering has also been invoked in these conversations. Already a vague claim given that geoengineering encapsulates multiple methods with varying purposes, a tool that can create or alter existing storms simply does not exist. Let’s also consider that hurricanes have been historically documented for hundreds of years, long before we had even achieved the technological advancement necessary to supposedly perform these kinds of climate interventions.
Even if you think about it from a purely abstract perspective–barring the fact that the science doesn’t hold up and that we simply don’t have the technology to do this–this claim still doesn’t make sense. If we had the power to create or change hurricanes, why wouldn’t we just put a stop to hurricanes before they ever struck land? (Ironically, NOAA tried this very experiment between the 1960s and 1980s using cloud seeding, but found that it wasn’t possible.) You could argue that we’d have to let some hurricanes hit the mainland to maintain the illusion, but how does causing millions (if not billions) of damage to local and state infrastructure benefit anyone? At the end of the day, the government is the entity that has to invest in and fund the resources necessary to repair and protect areas struck by hurricanes, meaning that it’s a net loss either way. The truth of the matter is right in front of us, and it’s supported by the data: these hurricanes formed so rapidly and became so powerful because of conditions created by climate change.
Claim #2: FEMA is requiring citizens to pay back $750 loans. / The Biden Administration has not been responsive to states requiring emergency assistance. / FEMA is underfunded because it is diverting disaster money to immigrants.
Many of the other claims circulating online are related to the government’s response to Hurricane Helene. First, let’s start with the misinformation surrounding the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) resources and initiatives. A recent post on X/Twitter claimed that FEMA is requiring citizens affected by recent disasters to pay back the agency’s $750 grant. This post was viewed 5 million times and has been parroted by other accounts on the platform since. This claim is false and has been corrected directly by the agency, which says that their Serious Needs Assistance is an upfront grant given to victims–not a loan. Former President Donald Trump has also perpetrated misinformation, particularly when it comes to the Biden Administration’s response to Hurricane Helene. On Truth Social, he claimed that he was receiving reports that the federal government and Democratic state leaders were “going out of their way to not help in Republican areas.” These claims have been repudiated both by FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell as well as Republican governors, who have praised the government’s response in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
These claims were also amplified by X/Twitter owner Elon Musk, in addition to other false rumors, such as the unsubstantiated rumor that “FEMA used up its budget ferrying illegals into the country instead of saving American lives.” The misinformation that has emerged in recent weeks has been so rampant and disruptive that FEMA administrator Criswell remarked, “It’s absolutely the worst I’ve ever seen.” On the agency’s website, under Hurricane Helene, you can even find a section set aside solely for the purpose of addressing all these rumors entitled Hurricane Rumor Response. Let’s be clear: these attempts to undermine federal institutions will have consequences. They can reduce FEMA’s ability to help victims of natural disasters and threaten the agency’s existence as a whole. We need only look to recent threats against Haitian residents of Springfield, Ohio to see how the rumors perpetuated by political officials can have real-life consequences for those caught in the crosshairs.
The Current State of Federal Responses To Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton
While we’re on the subject of federal involvement in disaster relief, it’s also important to consider what’s currently being done on the Hill to address the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and the impending damage of Hurricane Milton. You may remember hearing about a possible government shutdown a few weeks ago, with representatives from both sides of the aisle working together to pass a continuing resolution (CR) to temporarily fund the government through December 20th. However, while the CR did grant FEMA $20 billion dollars in funding, several representatives were shocked to discover that requested supplemental disaster funding had been left off of the bill, especially blind-siding those whose states had been recently affected by climate disasters or vulnerable to future ones. Behind closed doors, it appears that these supplemental requests were removed to appease fiscally conservative members and secure their vote for the CR. While the bill did pass successfully, many were surprised to see representatives from disaster-prone states vote against it, especially given that it would deny FEMA any additional funding in the first place. Not every representative was supportive of the CR in the first place, however. In Florida’s case, the following House representatives voted against the CR: Rep. Aaron Bean, Rep. Gus Bilirakis, Rep. Kat Cammack, Rep. Byron Donalds, Rep. Matt Gaetz, Rep, Laurel Lee, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, Rep. Cory Mills, Rep. Bill Posey, and Rep. Daniel Webster.
Following the passing of the CR, and in anticipation of Hurricane Milton, President Biden requested that Congress be brought back to session before the election to fast-track approval of supplemental funds for disaster relief. More specifically, Biden aimed to have 1.6 billion dollars in federal funding approved to support the U.S. Small Business Administration’s disaster loan program, which was already running low on funds and will likely run out in the coming weeks. However, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson denied this request, stating that “it takes a while to calculate the actual damages” of a disaster. Congress is currently slated to return on November 12th, following the presidential election. Johnson’s refusal hasn’t stopped other Congressional members from continuing to advocate for a return to session. Sixty-three House Democrats, including Florida’s Rep. Maxwell Frost, Rep. Darren Soto, Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Rep. Jared Moskowitz, and Rep. Frederica Wilson, signed a letter urging Speaker Johnson to immediately call Congress back into session. How Johnson will respond, especially as the damage caused by Hurricane Milton comes to light over the next few days, remains to be seen.
What Happens Next?
It’s hard to say how the next few weeks will unfold, especially in terms of whether Congress will approve additional federal funding for disaster relief. What we can do now is pay close attention to current responses to Hurricane Helene and the reporting coming out of the areas impacted by Hurricane Milton, and assess what these responses may indicate on a broader scale.
While we’re still in the early stages of assessing the damage caused by Hurricane Milton, there are a few developments worth keeping an eye on. First, let’s talk about the initial reports that have come in from Florida so far today. Milton made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane Wednesday night, eventually downgrading to a Category 1 hurricane as it left the state on Thursday. Currently, around three million or so customers are powerless throughout the state. Additionally, seven deaths have been reported, but this count may continue to rise as rescue crews continue to search through impacted areas. While storm surges on the coast did not reach the predicted levels, Sarasota County appears to have experienced the worst storm surge, with levels reaching 8 to 10 feet. However, it might be too soon to fully know the effects of these surges, as Charlotte County also appears to have suffered heavy storm surge damage. In addition to high winds and rain, the hurricane also spawned tornadoes, generating 150 tornado warnings throughout the state. Fort Pierce was particularly hard hit, with most reported deaths coming from tornado events.
So far, federal support seems to be in full swing. In a press briefing, Governor Ron DeSantis has stated that he has been in contact with President Biden and that FEMA has been helpful in arranging expedited funding for debris removal. Despite issues with supplemental funding on the Hill, FEMA Administrator Criswell has also stated that they have enough “funding and sufficient resources to support the ongoing responses to Hurricane Helene as well as Hurricane Milton.” However, the administration may need to switch to other funding mechanisms such as Immediate Need Funding by January if supplemental funding isn’t secured, which brings us to another important question: what does the rest of the hurricane season look like?
According to climatologists, it seems like hurricane activity may not be over yet. While hurricane season officially ends on November 30th, peak activity usually ends in late September. However, with six weeks left in the season, Atlantic hurricane activity is currently at above-average levels, as shown by Colorado State University’s measure of Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE), which takes into account storm frequency, intensity, and direction. While a would-be tropical storm, Nadine, has already fizzled out, the future of the season remains uncertain. Despite what the data is telling us, however, some individuals are still determined to ignore the reality of the situation. When asked to address online rumors about climate engineering, Gov. DeSantis said, “This is on both sides. You kind of have some people think government can do this and then others think it’s all because of fossil fuels,” equating climate change to a form of misinformation. These remarks represent a concerning continuation of the governor’s campaign to discredit and deny climate change–just this past May, Gov. DeSantis signed a law deleting the words “climate change” from the state’s statutes.
The hurricane’s impact will not only be measured in damages and lives lost, but also in the long term influence it could have on the presidential election. With the election less than a month away and with disaster response to Hurricane Helene and Milton still underway, it is unclear how communities will be able to circumnavigate the difficulties imposed by these disasters. Representatives in Florida and Georgia have attempted to file motions or legislation to allow voters more time to register to little avail, as these were rejected by federal judges. It also remains to be seen how these events may affect the presidential candidates’ policies, if at all. Currently, Vice President Kamala Harris advocates for “increasing resilience to climate disasters” and “tackling the climate crisis head on,” according to her website. Former President Donald Trump’s website does not explicitly mention the climate crisis or make mention of any policies geared at natural disasters. However, he does aim to “eliminate the socialist Green New Deal” and refers to the Paris Climate Accord as “unfair and costly.” While Former President Trump does not claim to be affiliated with Project 2025, it is also important to note that the document calls for “the break up” of the National Atmospheric and Ocean Administration (NOAA) and removal of any mention of climate change.
How these issues will continue to evolve remains unclear, but what does remain clear is that these storms are posing greater and greater threats to the coastal states–and if we continue to ignore the realities of climate change, we may not be ready for what the future will bring.
Conclusion
While Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton may be the last major storms of this hurricane season, their rapid emergence, intensification, and impact on the coastal states represents a concerning trend–one we can expect to see continue as the ocean and air continue to grow warmer. These storms have also generated unprecedented amounts of misinformation, particularly on social media platforms like Twitter/X. These claims and rumors have been propagated by multiple political officials and public figures, which has in turn affected the efficacy of the federal government’s response to impacted areas. To use a real life disaster as an excuse to incite divisiveness and promote misinformation is reprehensible, particularly given that the real victims of these claims are the people that have just survived these disasters. Regardless of what side of the aisle you’re on, I think we can all agree that what everyone affected needs is our support and access to accurate information–not to be used as pawns in a political game.
In addition to misinformation, these disasters also pose a prime opportunity for voter disenfranchisement. The state of Florida already holds the unfortunate title of being the leader of voter disenfranchisement in the United States–The Sentencing Project reports that over a million Floridians have been banned from exercising their civic duty, in part due to attempts by Gov. DeSantis and Republican representatives to complicate the rules surrounding a 2018 ballot measure allowing Floridians who have served prison time for a felony to regain their ability to vote. With federal judges already denying an extension on voter registration following Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, it is unclear if and how affected voters will be assisted by the state in getting to the polls. With stronger hurricanes on the way in the years to come, the outcome of this election will have significant impacts on our ability to continue to study and warn against hurricanes, build infrastructure to better withstand hurricanes, and provide disaster-prone states with the federal assistance they need in the wake of these disasters.
While the stakes are high, there is still plenty that you can do as a voter and as a citizen to support your neighbors in the coastal states. In addition to donating to relief efforts (which you can find in Part I of this article), you can help combat misinformation claims online and share accurate information with those affected, making sure that they have access to the resources they need. Additionally, you can contact your local or federal representatives to advocate for approval of supplemental funding for disaster relief. While the future may seem bleak in some respects, it’s up to us to take care of our communities and build the future we want to see as a nation–together, not apart.