View source for Conspiracy theories about the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season

{{Short description|none}}
{{Use mdy dates |date=October 2024}}
{{Use American English |date=October 2024}}
[[File:EF3 damage in Wellington, Florida, along Deer Path Lane, in October 2024.jpg|thumb|Devastation in [[Wellington, Florida]], caused by Hurricane Milton]]
The previously quiet [[2024 Atlantic hurricane season]] began experiencing a surge in activity in late September. With [[Hurricane Helene]] and [[Hurricane Milton]], two extremely damaging and deadly major hurricanes, impacting the United States in just two weeks, it led to heightened attention by the media and on social media.
During this late-season surge, [[conspiracy theories]] spread about the nature of Helene and Milton, and about the post-storm disaster recovery. Numerous falsehoods and conspiracies were spread by several [[American far-right]] influencers, [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] politicians, and [[Donald Trump]], the [[Donald Trump 2024 presidential campaign|2024 Republican presidential candidate]]. These widespread rumors caused significant difficulties for first responders and official recovery workers, hampering rescue efforts, and some officials were subject to threats of violence. The [[White House Office|White House]] and [[Federal Emergency Management Agency]] issued statements in response to these claims.
== Background ==
{{main|2024 Atlantic hurricane season}}
In early 2024, hurricane forecasters predicted a highly-active season, citing the [[El Niño–Southern Oscillation|La Niña effect]] and warm [[Sea surface temperature|sea surface temperatures]].<ref>{{harvnb|Rajalakshmi|2024}}: "This year's hurricane season, which runs from June&nbsp;1 to Nov.&nbsp;30 is going to be even worse, according to a University of Arizona hurricane prediction model."</ref> After the exceptionally early [[Hurricane Beryl]], the U.S. [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] maintained this prediction through August.<ref>{{harvnb|NOAA|2024}}: {{" '}}The hurricane season got off to an early and violent start with Hurricane Beryl, the earliest category-5 Atlantic hurricane on record,' said NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D. "NOAA's update to the hurricane seasonal outlook is an important reminder that the peak of hurricane season is right around the corner, when historically the most significant impacts from hurricanes and tropical storms tend to occur.{{' "}}</ref> In what was expected to be the peak season, however, there were few storms<ref>{{harvnb|Koren|2024}} "Then, what should have been the busiest part of the season was instead eerily quiet. It was 'fairly surprising,' Emily Bercos-Hickey, a research scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, told me."</ref> and some called the season a "bust".<ref>{{harvnb|Lowry|2024}}: "Back around the traditional ramp up to the hurricane season peak in early September, lots was written about the hurricane season 'bust' – alluding to what forecasters predicted to be one of the busiest hurricane seasons on record.</ref>
In late September and early October, Hurricanes Helene and Milton surprised onlookers, breaking the lull and causing massive devastation.<ref>{{harvnb|Koren|2024}}: "Then, beginning late last month, came a tremendous burst of activity: Hurricane Helene, which broke storm-surge records in Florida and dropped devastating rains far inland; a flurry of named storms that spun up in quick succession; and now Milton."</ref> Helene caused massive damage across the [[Southeastern United States]], and in particular caused exceptional flooding in inland [[North Carolina]], far from the coast.<ref>{{harvnb|Sommer|2024}}: "Hurricane Helene's destructive path tore across several states, causing the ocean surge on the Florida coast and cutting off power supplies in Georgia. But the heaviest rainfall, and some of the worst damage, was hundreds of miles from where the storm made landfall."</ref> Milton broke records in [[rapid intensification]], strengthening to a Category 5 and increasing its wind speeds by 90&nbsp;mph in 24&nbsp;hours.<ref>{{harvnb|Harvey|2024}}: "The storm underwent an extremely rapid intensification as it churned across the Gulf, gaining more than 90 mph in wind speeds over the course of just 24 hours. It shattered the scientific definition of rapid intensification, which the National Weather Service describes as an increase of 35 mph in a single day."</ref> Measured by [[accumulated cyclone energy]] through early October, the season is currently the eighth-most-active on record.<ref>{{harvnb|Lowry|2024}}: "The past 3 weeks of gangbusters activity, however, have catapulted the 2024 hurricane season not only to above average levels, but to the 8th busiest season on record through today, slingshotting past last season's levels and even 2020, which ended as one of the most active hurricane seasons on record."</ref>
== Claims ==
=== Weather modification ===
{{see also|High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program#Conspiracy theories}}
Congresswoman [[Marjorie Taylor Greene]] of [[Georgia's 14th congressional district]] claimed in a [[tweet (social media)|tweet]] on October 3 that it is possible to use [[weather modification]] to influence hurricanes.<ref>{{harvnb|Owen|2024}}: "Greene, after spending years trying to distance herself from her infamous 2018 remarks on social media blaming wildfires on 'Jewish Space Lasers,' is now using this climate emergency to double down on weather conspiracies and lasers. While Greene stopped short of blaming Jews for the hurricanes, she has promoted conspiracies that have a history of being steeped in antisemitism. 'Yes they can control the weather,' Greene wrote on X on October 3 about the hurricanes, without specifying who 'they' are. 'It's ridiculous for anyone to lie and say it can't be done.{{' "}}</ref> Three days later, Greene made another post claiming weather modification was possible and in use.<ref>{{harvnb|Dunbar|2024}}: "She appeared to double down on these comments with a post on Saturday, sharing a clip from a 2013 CBS News broadcast about experimental efforts to induce rain and lightning using lasers. 'CBS, nine years ago, talked about lasers controlling the weather,' Greene wrote, apparently mistaking the year of the broadcast."</ref> Prominent right-wing conspiracy theorist [[Alex Jones]] made claims that Hurricanes Milton and Helene were "weather weapons" created by the U.S. government.<ref>{{harvnb|Warzel|2024}}: "The posts would be laughable if they weren't taken by many people as gospel. Among them: Infowars' Alex Jones, who claimed that Hurricanes Milton and Helene were 'weather weapons' unleashed on the East Coast by the U.S. government"</ref> Meteorologists Matthew Cappucci, Katie Nickolaou, and [[James Spann]] received threats, accusing them of concealing that the U.S. government was controlling the hurricane.<ref>{{unbulleted list citebundle|1='''Cappucci:''' {{harvnb|Selig|2024}}: "Matthew Cappucci, a D.C.-based meteorologist for MyRadar and The Washington Post, said he received hundreds of comments and dozens of messages during the storms about how the government had modified the weather and that accused him of helping cover it up."|2='''Nickolau:''' {{harvnb|Selig|2024}}: "And a meteorologist for a television station in Lansing, Mich., said she had received death threats. 'Murdering meteorologists won’t stop hurricanes,' wrote the forecaster in Michigan, Katie Nickolaou, in a social media post."|3='''Spann:''' {{harvnb|Dupré|2024}}: {{" '}}I've been doing this for 46 years and it's never been like this,' Alabama meteorologist James Spann told the magazine, adding that he's been 'inundated' with eerie messages telling him to 'stop lying about the government controlling the weather or else.{{' "}}}}</ref>
{{Tweet
| name = Marjorie Taylor Greene
| username = mtgreenee
| date = October 3, 2024
| text = Yes they can control the weather.
It’s ridiculous for anyone to lie and say it can’t be done.
| ID = 1842039774359462324
| url-status = live
| reference = {{sfn|Greene|2024}}
}}
Claims that the [[High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program|HAARP]] research project has the ability to modify the weather have been popular for years.<ref>{{unbulleted list citebundle|1={{harvnb|Dumé|2021}}: "HAARP has previously been the subject of conspiracy theories"|2={{harvnb|Selig|2024}}: "Dr.&nbsp;[Marshall] Shepherd said that such false claims about outside forces controlling the weather have always existed, recalling how similar assertions emerged during Hurricane Sandy in 2012. 'The difference is that they were always out there in 'fringe-world,' but now I’ve seen them become almost mainstream,' he said."}}</ref> Despite claims that its transmissions were involved in Hurricane Helene,<ref>{{harvnb|Burns|2024}}: "Meanwhile, other users claimed that 'HAARP transmissions' were similarly involved."</ref> the project is extremely low-powered and does not have the ability to control weather.<ref>{{harvnb|Fournier|2017}}: "HAARP cannot control the weather, contrary to one conspiracy theory."</ref> Likewise, the [[weather radar]] system known as [[NEXRAD]] was the subject of claims that it could be used to control weather patterns.<ref>{{harvnb|Burns|2024}}: "For example, on 30 September 2024 a video was shared on Facebook, gathering over 27,000 interactions after claiming that 'Hurricane Helene's path and behavior could have been manipulated by NEXRAD frequency transmissions'."</ref> As a radar system it emits only a small amount of energy and is not capable of influencing weather.<ref>{{harvnb|Burns|2024}}: "The amount of energy sent out by NEXRAD radars is vanishingly small compared to the amount of energy expended in a hurricane.  The hurricane consists solely of air and water and the beam either just passes through or is partially reflected back by small water drops. It doesn’t have enough energy to move even those tiny drops."</ref>
Proposals for weather modification to redirect hurricane paths have been found to induce feelings of anger in Florida residents.<ref>{{harvnb|Klima|de Bruin|Morgan|Grossmann|2012|p=1203}}: "Third, more anger was evoked when a hurricane was described as having changed from the initially forecasted path or strength after an attempted modification"</ref> Regardless, the U.S. government retired [[Project Stormfury|hurricane seeding experiments]] in 1963 after attempts proved futile<ref>{{harvnb|Willoughby|Jorgensen|Black|Rosenthal|1985|p=513}}: "STORMFURY itself, however, had two fatal flaws: it was neither microphysically nor statistically feasible. Observational evidence indicates that seeding in hurricanes would be ineffective because they contain too little supercooled water and too much natural ice. Moreover, the expected results of seeding are often indistinguishable from naturally occurring intensity changes."</ref> and meteorologists no longer consider it feasible.<ref>{{harvnb|American Meteorological Society|1998|p=2771}}: "No sound physical hypotheses exist for the modification of hurricanes, tornadoes, or damaging winds in general, and no related scientific experimentation has been conducted in the past 20 years."</ref>
=== Land acquisition ===
One common belief is that the U.S. government is using the disaster to [[Eminent domain|seize land]], in particular destroyed homes.<ref>{{harvnb|Kayyem|2024b}}: "One very harmful lie that is being spread is that the government — this is the opportunity for the government to take your house."</ref> Following Hurricane Helene, rumors spread that [[Chimney Rock, North Carolina|Chimney Rock]], North Carolina, had been intentionally abandoned so that the federal government could mine [[lithium]] after evacuating the residents<ref>{{harvnb|Brady|Baker|2024}}: "Perhaps no area in North Carolina has been the subject of more blatant false online rumors than Chimney Rock — including the persistent untrue claim that FEMA abandoned the village so that the Biden administration can mine lithium there."</ref> or even leaving the residents for dead.<ref>{{harvnb|Kelly|2024}}: "Others … suggest officials are deliberately abandoning bodies in the cleanup."</ref> County officials denied any plans of the sort.<ref>{{harvnb|Ferris|2024}}: "Rutherford County Emergency Management said claims of a government seizure of Chimney Rock 'are entirely false,' adding that no 'special meeting' was held to discuss seizing the town. Rutherford County Emergency Management clarified that North Carolina lawmakers met with local officials to request federal and state support."</ref> Similar rumors spread in the days leading to Hurricane Milton's landfall in Florida, leading to the governor's office to rebut claims of FEMA seizing Floridians' homes.<ref>{{harvnb|Jingnan|2024}}: "As Hurricane Milton approaches Florida, Christina Pushaw, Florida Gov. 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."</ref>
=== AI-generated images ===
[[File:AI-generated Donald Trump wading through floodwaters.jpg|thumb|AI-generated image of Donald Trump assisting in disaster relief, shared online in September 2024]]
Social media featured many [[Slop (artificial intelligence)|viral AI-generated images]] supposedly depicting the hurricane and its response. One image of a flooded town was claimed to be [[Gatlinburg, Tennessee|Gatlinburg]], Tennessee, prompting a response from town officials that the town was not flooded and safe to visit.<ref>{{harvnb|Kiehl|2024}}: "The reality is that the City of Gatlinburg is inviting tourists back to the area. "We are welcoming anyone who can safely travel here," the Gatlinburg Convention and Visitors Bureau said on X."</ref>
After Helene, an AI-generated image of a girl holding a puppy while sitting in a boat floating on flooded waters circulated among Republicans, who used it as evidence of failures of the Biden administration to respond to the disaster.<ref>{{harvnb|Kayyem|2024a}}: "To illustrate claims that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris had abandoned Helene's victims, right-wing influencers shared an AI-generated image of a weeping child holding a wet puppy. Another fake viral image showed Donald Trump wading through floodwaters."</ref> Some sources did not retract the image after learning it was fake.<ref>{{harvnb|Warzel|2024}}: "Similarly, those sharing the lies are happy to admit that they do not care whether what they're pushing is real or not. Such was the case last week, when Republican politicians shared an AI-generated viral image of a little girl holding a puppy while supposedly fleeing Helene. Though the image was clearly fake and quickly debunked, some politicians remained defiant. 'Y'all, I don’t know where this photo came from and honestly, it doesn't matter,' Amy Kremer, who represents Georgia on the Republican National Committee, wrote after sharing the fake image. “I’m leaving it because it is emblematic of the trauma and pain people are living through right now.{{' "}}</ref> Another image depicted Donald Trump wading through floodwaters to rescue people, despite Trump not performing any hands-on relief work.<ref>{{harvnb|Hudnall|2024}}: "There are no credible reports of the former president wading through flood waters while visiting Georgia. Pictures captured during his trip show him wearing a black suit with a red tie, not the blue long-sleeve shirt shown in the viral image."</ref> Following Milton's track across Florida, AI-generated images depicting flooding in [[Walt Disney World]] posted to [[Telegram (software)|Telegram]] by Russian state news agency [[RIA Novosti]] were quickly republished by numerous Russian news networks<ref>{{harvnb|VOA News|2024}}: "Numerous Russian news outlets republished the images with catchy headlines, with the topic trending on Yandex Dzen, the Russia's ''[sic]'' version of Google News, at the time of this writing. … The images are fake, likely AI generated, as an inspection of their properties reveals an apparent digital alteration of basic elements, including false autofocus, false background and other indicators."</ref> and spread widely online on the English-speaking Internet.<ref>{{harvnb|Makuch|2024}}: {{" '}}Hurricane Milton has flooded Disney World in Orlando,' wrote one known vector of disinformation on X, with the photos, which X users immediately noted was probably created using an automated AI image creator. The post has already been viewed over 300,000 times."</ref> AI-generated and CG images supposedly documenting the [[List of United States tornadoes from August to October 2024#October 9 event|October 9 tornado outbreak]] were widely shared, including by British tabloid [[Daily Mirror|''The Mirror'']].<ref>{{harvnb|McCarthy|2024}}: "The Mirror, a British tabloid, also shared several screenshots from the montage in an article. Hurricane Milton did churn up a spate of deadly tornadoes as it ripped across Florida on October&nbsp;9 as a powerful Category&nbsp;3 storm, leaving at least ten people dead and millions without power as it barrelled through communities still recovering from Hurricane Helene two weeks earlier. But each of the visuals in the viral compilation predates the storm – and one appears to be the product of computer-generated imagery."</ref> Chinese influence operations have also spread AI-generated misinformation related to said hurricanes.{{sfn|Shalal|2024}}
=== Expenditure of relief funds on migrants ===
On October 3, Donald Trump accused the Biden administration of spending FEMA disaster relief funds on housing for "illegal immigrants", and claimed that the agency had run out of funding for disaster recovery efforts.<ref>{{harvnb|Rodriguez|McDaniel|2024}}: {{" '}}Kamala has spent all her FEMA money, billions of dollars, on housing for illegal migrants,' Trump said at a rally Thursday. Harris does not disburse FEMA funding as vice president. The claim about using disaster relief funding to house immigrants is false, a Washington Post fact check found."</ref> Ohio Representative [[Jim Jordan]] similarly claimed that disaster funds had gone to house migrants.<ref>{{harvnb|Strickler|Alexander|Guilfoil|2024}}: "Some, like Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, falsely claimed on X that FEMA had used disaster funds to house migrants and that the government had 'abandoned' hard hit areas. X owner Elon Musk, among Trump's most vocal backers, reposted Jordan's false claim and a variety of others about FEMA."</ref> [[Elon Musk]] amplified the claim, indicating that he viewed FEMA's actions as "treason" and endorsing a call for Homeland Security Secretary [[Alejandro Mayorkas]] to be arrested.<ref>{{harvnb|Joselow|Oremus|De Vynck|Berman|2024}}: "He labeled FEMA's actions 'treason' and sent a reply indicating agreement with a post from another user who said Harris and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas 'should be jailed for life for spending FEMA money on illegal aliens and not Americans.{{' "}}</ref> FEMA has not redirected any disaster relief funding to migrant resettlement,<ref>{{harvnb|Hennessy-Fiske|Joselow|Morse|Oremus|2024}}: "During a rally Thursday in Saginaw, Mich., former president Donald Trump suggested without evidence that FEMA had used some disaster relief money to help immigrants who are in the country illegally to resettle in the United States. There is no evidence that FEMA has diverted any disaster relief funding for this purpose."</ref> and FEMA has continued to spend money towards relief efforts.<ref>{{Unbulleted list citebundle|1={{harvnb|Joselow|Oremus|De Vynck|Berman|2024}}: "FEMA also said in a news release Saturday that federal aid provided had topped $110 million so far."|2={{harvnb|Criswell|2024}}: "We absolutely have the funding that we need to support the ongoing response to Helene and the response that we're preparing for Hurricane Milton. There has been no money diverted from the disaster relief fund to go support any other requirements across the federal government."}}</ref>
=== FEMA blocking aid ===
Rumors began circulating that FEMA officials were confiscating aid and intentionally restricting volunteer efforts in Republican areas of North Carolina. Multiple viral posts on social media claimed that local and state law enforcement in North Carolina sought to arrest FEMA staff for allegedly hindering relief work,<ref>{{Unbulleted list citebundle|1={{harvnb|Byik|2024}}: {{" '}}NC State Police just sent a warning to FEMA that they will arrest any FEMA agent who tries to prevent aid or rescue,' reads the post"|2={{harvnb|Pascone|2024}}: "A post on the social media platform X is claiming the 'North Carolina State Police' issued a statement threatening the arrest of any federal employees that hinders rescue operations."}}</ref> a claim denied by state officials.<ref>{{Unbulleted list citebundle|1={{harvnb|Byik|2024}}: "Anjanette Grube, a spokesperson for the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, likewise said the bureau is 'not aware of any such warnings' and is working closely with FEMA."|2={{harvnb|Pascone|2024}}: "Check Your Fact was unable to find any official government statement that threatened any federal employees with arrest at all."}}</ref> Elon Musk faced criticism for amplifying false claims that FEMA had been expropriating aid shipments,<ref>{{harvnb|Warzel|2024}}: "Elon Musk, who owns X, claimed—without evidence—that FEMA was 'actively blocking shipments and seizing goods and services locally and locking them away to state they are their own. It's very real and scary how much they have taken control to stop people helping.{{' "}}</ref> blocking private citizens from rendering aid,<ref>{{harvnb|Brady|Baker|2024}}: "Musk fed into a common complaint online that governments are preventing private citizens from offering help to people in need. Musk wrote that his 'blood is boiling' after engineers from his company SpaceX tried to offer help via helicopter but '@FEMA wouldn't let them land to deliver critical supplies.{{' "}}</ref> and that sheriffs in North Carolina had threatened to arrest FEMA staff.<ref>{{harvnb|Aton|Waldman|2024}}: "On his social network, X, Musk also amplified rumors that authorities in North Carolina had 'taken control to stop people helping' stricken residents and accusations that sheriffs were threatening to arrest FEMA staff 'if they hinder rescue and aid work.{{' "}}</ref> [[Real Raw News]] falsely claimed that the [[United States Marine Corps]] were using [[sniper|snipers]] to kill FEMA employees.<ref>{{harvnb|Thalen|2024}}: {{" '}}We have spoken to a Marine sniper who reportedly now has 5 confirmed FEMA kills in North Carolina,' the account alleged. 'He has told us "it's the fight of our lives.{{" ' "}}</ref> DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, FEMA director of public affairs Jaclyn Rothenberg, and Asheville mayor [[Esther Manheimer]] received [[Antisemitism|antisemitic]] attacks online<ref>{{harvnb|Medina|2024}}: "The antisemitic attacks have been lobbed mainly at the mayor of Asheville, Esther Manheimer, as well as at the secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency's director of public affairs, Jaclyn Rothenberg."</ref> and as a result have feared for their safety in response work.<ref>{{harvnb|Oremus|Joselow|2024}}: "Manheimer, who surveyed the damage from Helene during a flight on Marine One with Biden last week, said she worries about her safety and that of other Jewish officials in the hard-hit region."</ref> FEMA has received credible threats directed at its staff, including calls for militias to shoot emergency responders.<ref>{{unbulleted list citebundle|1={{harvnb|Institute for Strategic Dialogue|2024}}: "Falsehoods around hurricane response have spawned credible threats and incitement to violence directed at the federal government – this includes calls to send militias to face down FEMA for the perceived denial of aid, or to shoot and/or harm FEMA officials and the agency’s emergency responders."|2={{harvnb|Selig|2024}}: "Calls were made for residents to form militias to defend against those workers, who also faced antisemitic and misogynistic threats."}}</ref> A report of militias hunting FEMA staff led aid workers to pause or relocate their work in [[Rutherford County, North Carolina|Rutherford County]], North Carolina; one armed man acting alone was arrested on October 14, 2024.<ref>{{harvnb|Sacks|Lamothe|2024}}: "On Monday, the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office said in a statement that it had arrested [a man]<!-- do not include suspect info in quote, see WP:SUSPECT --> on charges of making threats against Federal Emergency Management Agency employees."</ref>
=== Risk of dam collapse in Cuba ===
The [[Cuban Revolutionary Army|Cuban Army]] reported that false rumors were spreading online surrounding the collapse of the Pozo Azul Dam in [[San Antonio del Sur]] after [[Hurricane Oscar (2024)|Hurricane Oscar]]. The dam never reached full capacity nor sustained any damage from the hurricane.{{sfn|Aguilar|2024}}
== Effects ==
[[File:President Joe Biden speaks with Governor Roy Cooper, Mayor Esther Manheimer, and FEMA Director Deanne Criswell during an aerial tour aboard Marine One to assess areas impacted by Hurricane Helene (54038650418).jpg|thumb|Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer, FEMA director Deanne Criswell, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, and President Joe Biden speak during an aerial tour to survey damage caused by Hurricane Helene aboard [[Marine One]] on October 2, 2024]]
Multiple commentators alleged that Republican politicians' promotion of these claims was intended to gain an advantage in the [[2024 United States presidential election]]. Jim Puzzanghera in ''The Boston Globe'' claimed that the GOP was "seeking an edge" in hurricane-battered Georgia because it is a [[swing state]], using claims about the [[Presidency of Joe Biden|Biden administration]]'s response efforts to reduce support for the [[Kamala Harris 2024 presidential campaign|Kamala Harris's campaign]].<ref>{{harvnb|Puzzanghera|2024}}: "Republicans have tried to shift the focus in Georgia to the federal government's hurricane response, which they claim has been grossly inadequate."</ref> ''The Guardian'' misinformation reporter Rachel Leingang noted that misinformation was likely so prevalent due to the proximity to the election, quoting a fellow at the [[American Immigration Council]] who claimed that "there's no question that this level of falsehoods would not be spread were there not an election a month away."{{sfn|Leingang|2024}}
Local officials and relief workers have had to expend resources combatting misinformation that might otherwise be used toward first response work.<ref>{{harvnb|Godfrey|2024}}: "The practical effect of these falsehoods is that local officials have to spend precious time and energy combatting misinformation, rather than recovery efforts."</ref> FEMA and White House officials have expressed concern that survivors and others impacted by the storms may be less likely to seek relief from the agency due to the misinformation.<ref>{{harvnb|Aton|Waldman|2024}}: {{" '}}The misinformation is extremely damaging to the response efforts from Helene and from any disaster,' [Keith Turi, FEMA's acting associate administrator for response and recovery] said. 'It is reducing the likelihood that survivors will come to FEMA in a trusting way to register for assistance.{{' "}} (for the official statement, see {{harvnb|LaBolt|2024}}: "In fact, disinformation after a hurricane or other natural disaster can discourage people from seeking critical assistance when they need it most.")</ref> In response, the White House directed federal agencies to engage with the public on social media with evidence the government was on the ground helping relief efforts.<ref>{{harvnb|Alvarez|Lyngaas|Tausche|Muntean|2024}}: "Senior US officials have also instructed public affairs teams at federal agencies to ramp up social media posts from government accounts with photos that illustrate how federal workers are clearing debris and dispensing aid, the first US official familiar with the effort said."</ref> FEMA added a page on its website to rebut viral falsehoods.<ref>{{harvnb|Raby|Angueira|2024}}: "FEMA has dedicated part of its website to providing accurate answers to questions and addressing rumors on its response to Helene." (see {{harvnb|FEMA|2024}})</ref> Congressman [[Chuck Edwards]], whose district was heavily affected by Hurricane Helene, released a statement to his constituents rebutting many false claims.<ref>{{harvnb|Doty|2024}}: "Edwards, whose district encompasses much of the western counties, released a statement on Oct.&nbsp;8, 2024, saying there's been an uptick in 'untrustworthy sources trying to spark chaos' with hoaxes." (for the official statement, see {{harvnb|Edwards|2024}})</ref> Particular criticism was given to [[Twitter under Elon Musk]], where recent changes to content moderation had made it more difficult to discern reliable sources.<ref>{{harvnb|Kayyem|2024a}}: "But under its current owner, Elon Musk, the platform, renamed X, has changed its algorithms, account-verification system, and content-moderation approach in ways that make the platform less reliable in a crisis."</ref>
== See also ==
* {{annotated link|Chemtrail conspiracy theory}}
* {{annotated link|Climate engineering}}
* {{annotated link|Cloud seeding}}
* {{annotated link|Cloudbuster}}
* {{annotated link|Fake news in the United States}}
* {{annotated link|FEMA camps conspiracy theory}}
* {{annotated link|List of conspiracy theories promoted by Donald Trump}}
* {{annotated link|Post-truth politics}}
* {{annotated link|QAnon}}
* {{annotated link|Weather modification in North America}}
== References ==
{{reflist}}
=== Bibliography ===
==== Academic works ====
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite journal
| date			= 1998
| title			= Policy statement
| language		= en
| journal		= Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society
| volume		= 79
| issue			= 12
| pages			= 2771–2772
| doi			= 10.1175/1520-0477-79.12.2771
| doi-access	= free
| bibcode		= 1998BAMS...79.2771.
| ref			= {{harvid|American Meteorological Society|1998}}
}}
* {{cite journal
| author1-first	= Kelly
| author1-last	= Klima
| author2-first	= Wändi Bruine
| author2-last	= de Bruin
| author3-first	= M. Granger
| author3-last	= Morgan
| author4-first	= Iris
| author4-last	= Grossmann
| date			= 2012
| title			= Public perceptions of hurricane modification
| language		= en
| journal		= Risk Analysis
| volume		= 32
| issue			= 7
| pages			= 1194–1206
| doi			= 10.1111/j.1539-6924.2011.01717.x
| doi-access	= free
| pmid	= 22050325
| bibcode		= 2012RiskA..32.1194K
}}
* {{cite journal
| author1-first	= H. E.
| author1-last	= Willoughby
| author2-first	= D. P.
| author2-last	= Jorgensen
| author3-first	= R. A.
| author3-last	= Black
| author4-first	= S. L.
| author4-last	= Rosenthal
| date			= 1985
| title			= Project STORMFURY: A scientific chronicle 1962–1983
| language		= en
| journal		= Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society
| volume		= 66
| issue			= 5
| pages			= 505–514
| doi			= 10.1175/1520-0477(1985)066<0505:PSASC>2.0.CO;2
| doi-access	= free
| bibcode		= 1985BAMS...66..505W
}}
{{refend}}
==== Newspapers ====
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| language		= en
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* {{cite news
| author1-first	= Hannah
| author1-last	= Aguilar
| date			= 2024-10-26
| title			= Cuban government claims Guantánamo dam remained intact during Hurricane Oscar
| language		= en
| newspaper		= CubaHeadlines
| url			= https://www.cubaheadlines.com/articles/290844
| access-date	= 2024-10-26
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20241106052358/https://www.cubaheadlines.com/articles/290844
| archive-date	= 2024-11-06
| url-status	= live
}}
* {{cite news
| author1-first	= Priscilla
| author1-last	= Alvarez
| author2-first	= Sean
| author2-last	= Lyngaas
| author3-first	= Kayla
| author3-last	= Tausche
| author3-link	= Kayla Tausche
| author4-first	= Pete
| author4-last	= Muntean
| date			= 2024-10-09
| title			= Inside the White House's desperate scramble to swat down hurricane misinformation
| language		= en
| newspaper		= CNN
| url			= https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/09/politics/white-house-hurricane-helene-misinformation/index.html
| access-date	= 2024-10-09
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20241010013752/https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/09/politics/white-house-hurricane-helene-misinformation/index.html
| archive-date	= 2024-10-10
| url-status	= live
}}
* {{cite news
| author1-first	= Adam
| author1-last	= Aton
| author2-first	= Scott
| author2-last	= Waldman
| date			= 2024-10-08
| title			= Elon Musk is piling onto all the hurricane disinformation, hampering relief efforts
| language		= en
| newspaper		= Politico
| url			= https://www.politico.com/news/2024/10/08/elon-musk-hurricane-disinformation-trump-00182769
| access-date	= 2024-10-09
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20241008232721/https://www.politico.com/news/2024/10/08/elon-musk-hurricane-disinformation-trump-00182769
| archive-date	= 2024-10-08
| url-status	= live
}}
* {{cite news
| author1-first	= Jeff
| author1-last	= Brady
| author2-first	= Liz
| author2-last	= Baker
| date			= 2024-10-07
| title			= Helene recovery is more political online than on the ground
| language		= en
| newspaper		= NPR
| url			= https://www.npr.org/2024/10/07/g-s1-26584/helene-recovery-north-carolina-tennessee-flooding-fema
| access-date	= 2024-10-09
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20241007115708/https://www.npr.org/2024/10/07/g-s1-26584/helene-recovery-north-carolina-tennessee-flooding-fema
| archive-date	= 2024-10-07
| url-status	= live
}}
* {{cite news
| author1-first	= Andre
| author1-last	= Byik
| date			= 2024-10-10
| title			= No, North Carolina police didn't threaten FEMA arrests
| language		= en
| newspaper		= USA Today
| department	= Fact Check
| url			= https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2024/10/10/north-carolina-threatened-fema-arrests-fact-check/75561543007/
| access-date	= 2024-11-14
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20241115023213/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2024/10/10/north-carolina-threatened-fema-arrests-fact-check/75561543007/
| archive-date	= 2024-11-15
| url-status	= live
}}
* {{cite news
| author1-first	= Kelly
| author1-last	= Doty
| date			= 2024-10-09
| title			= Republican lawmaker rejects 'outrageous' conspiracy theories about Helene response in NC
| language		= en
| newspaper		= [[WLOS]]
| url			= https://www.wlos.com/news/local/republican-lawmaker-reject-outrageous-rumors-north-carolina-helene-response-fema-chuck-edwards-thom-tillis-mountains-flooding-landslides-chimney-rock
| access-date	= 2024-10-09
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20241010013750/https://www.wlos.com/news/local/republican-lawmaker-reject-outrageous-rumors-north-carolina-helene-response-fema-chuck-edwards-thom-tillis-mountains-flooding-landslides-chimney-rock
| archive-date	= 2024-10-10
| url-status	= live
}}
* {{cite news
| author1-first	= Marina
| author1-last	= Dunbar
| date			= 2024-10-07
| title			= Marjorie Taylor Greene condemned over Helene weather conspiracy theory
| language		= en
| newspaper		= The Guardian
| url			= https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/07/marjorie-taylor-greene-hurricane-helene
| access-date	= 2024-10-09
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20241007190422/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/07/marjorie-taylor-greene-hurricane-helene
| archive-date	= 2024-10-07
| url-status	= live
}}
* {{cite magazine
| author1-first	= Maggie Harrison
| author1-last	= Dupré
| date			= 2024-10-10
| title			= Meteorologists are getting death threats from insane hurricane conspiracy theorists
| language		= en
| magazine		= Futurism
| url			= https://futurism.com/conspiracy-meteorologists-hurricanes
| access-date	= 2024-10-15
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20241106052406/https://futurism.com/conspiracy-meteorologists-hurricanes
| archive-date	= 2024-11-06
| url-status	= live
}}
* {{cite news
| author1-first	= Layla
| author1-last	= Ferris
| date			= 2024-10-07
| title			= Hurricane Helene conspiracy theories about lithium mining, weather control spread widely
| language		= en
| newspaper		= CBS News
| url			= https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hurricane-helene-conspiracy-theories-lithium-mining-weather-control-fact-check/
| access-date	= 2024-10-09
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20241007231533/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hurricane-helene-conspiracy-theories-lithium-mining-weather-control-fact-check/
| archive-date	= 2024-10-07
| url-status	= live
}}
* {{cite magazine
| author1-first	= Elaine
| author1-last	= Godfrey
| date			= 2024-10-09
| title			= November will be worse: Hurricane disinformation was just the start
| language		= en
| magazine		= The Atlantic
| url			= https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/10/november-election-hurricane-disinformation/680202/
| url-access	= subscription
| access-date	= 2024-10-09
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20241009203655/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/10/november-election-hurricane-disinformation/680202/
| archive-date	= 2024-10-09
| url-status	= live
}}
* {{cite news
| author1-first	= Chelsea
| author1-last	= Harvey
| date			= 2024-10-11
| title			= All the ways Hurricane Milton made history
| language		= en
| newspaper		= Scientific American
| agency		= Climatewire
| url			= https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/hurricane-miltons-rain-and-tornadoes-in-florida-broke-records/
| url-access	= subscription
| access-date	= 2024-10-13
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20241106052436/https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/hurricane-miltons-rain-and-tornadoes-in-florida-broke-records/
| archive-date	= 2024-11-06
| url-status	= live
}}
* {{cite news
| author1-first	= Molly
| author1-last	= Hennessy-Fiske
| author2-first	= Maxine
| author2-last	= Joselow
| author3-first	= Clara Ence
| author3-last	= Morse
| author4-first	= Will
| author4-last	= Oremus
| date			= 2024-10-04
| title			= FEMA deploys to rough terrain after Helene as it faces criticism, fights misinformation
| language		= en
| newspaper		= The Washington Post
| url			= https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2024/10/04/fema-hurricane-helene-relief-money-misinformation-conspiracies/
| url-access	= subscription
| access-date	= 2024-10-09
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20241004233547/https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2024/10/04/fema-hurricane-helene-relief-money-misinformation-conspiracies/
| archive-date	= 2024-10-04
| url-status	= live
}}
* {{cite news
| author1-first	= Hannah
| author1-last	= Hudnall
| date			= 2024-10-03
| title			= Image of Donald Trump wading through flood water is AI-generated
| language		= en
| department	= Fact check
| newspaper		= USA Today
| url			= https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2024/10/03/ai-image-trump-hurricane-helene-fact-check/75483588007/
| access-date	= 2024-10-09
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20241004001054/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2024/10/03/ai-image-trump-hurricane-helene-fact-check/75483588007/
| archive-date	= 2024-10-04
| url-status	= live
}}
* {{cite news
| author1-first	= Huo
| author1-last	= Jingnan
| date			= 2024-10-09
| title			= How FEMA tries to combat rumors and conspiracy theories about Milton and Helene
| language		= en
| newspaper		= [[WUSF (FM)|WUSF]]
| url			= https://www.wusf.org/2024-10-09/how-fema-tries-to-combat-rumors-and-conspiracy-theories-about-milton-and-helene
| access-date	= 2024-10-09
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20241010013832/https://www.wusf.org/2024-10-09/how-fema-tries-to-combat-rumors-and-conspiracy-theories-about-milton-and-helene
| archive-date	= 2024-10-10
| url-status	= live
}}
* {{cite news
| author1-first	= Maxine
| author1-last	= Joselow
| author2-first	= Will
| author2-last	= Oremus
| author3-first	= Gerrit
| author3-last	= De Vynck
| author4-first	= Mark
| author4-last	= Berman
| date			= 2024-10-05
| title			= Helene response hampered by misinformation, conspiracy theories
| language		= en
| newspaper		= The Washington Post
| url			= https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2024/10/05/hurricane-helene-conspiracy-theories-rumors/
| url-access	= subscription
| access-date	= 2024-10-09
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20241005194628/https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2024/10/05/hurricane-helene-conspiracy-theories-rumors/
| archive-date	= 2024-10-05
| url-status	= live
}}
* {{cite magazine
| author1-first	= Juliette
| author1-last	= Kayyem
| author1-link	= Juliette Kayyem
| date			= 2024-10-05
| year			= 2024a
| title			= The fog of disaster is getting worse
| language		= en
| magazine		= The Atlantic
| url			= https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/10/hurricane-helene-misinformation-ai/680160/
| url-access	= subscription
| access-date	= 2024-10-09
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20241007104515/https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/10/hurricane-helene-misinformation-ai/680160/
| archive-date	= 2024-10-07
| url-status	= live
}}
* {{cite interview
| author1-first	= Juliette
| author1-last	= Kayyem
| author1-link	= Juliette Kayyem
| interviewer	= [[Geoff Bennett (journalist)|Geoff Bennett]]
| date			= 2024-10-07
| year			= 2024b
| title			= Helene recovery complicated by lies, hoaxes and conspiracy theories
| language		= en
| work			= [[PBS News Hour|News Hour]]
| publisher		= PBS
| url			= https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/helene-recovery-complicated-by-lies-hoaxes-and-conspiracy-theories
| access-date	= 2024-10-09
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20241008014340/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/helene-recovery-complicated-by-lies-hoaxes-and-conspiracy-theories
| archive-date	= 2024-10-08
| url-status	= live
}}
* {{cite news
| author1-first	= Stephanie
| author1-last	= Kelly
| date			= 2024-10-06
| title			= US officials struggle to quash Hurricane Helene conspiracy theories
| language		= en
| newspaper		= Reuters
| url			= https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-officials-struggle-quash-hurricane-helene-conspiracy-theories-2024-10-05/
| access-date	= 2024-10-09
| archive-url	= <!-- At time of access Internet Archive could not access Reuters. Check again later. -->
}}
* {{cite news
| author1-first	= Allison
| author1-last	= Kiehl
| date			= 2024-10-09
| title			= Image showing Gatlinburg flooded debunked: Why the widely circulated image is not real
| language		= en
| newspaper		= Knoxville News Sentinel
| url			= https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/2024/10/09/real-or-ai-picture-gatlinburg-flood-image-debunked/75587337007/
| access-date	= 2024-10-09
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20241010015207/https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/2024/10/09/real-or-ai-picture-gatlinburg-flood-image-debunked/75587337007/
| archive-date	= 2024-10-10
| url-status	= live
}}
* {{cite magazine
| author1-first	= Marina
| author1-last	= Koren
| date			= 2024-10-09
| title			= Hurricane Milton made a terrible prediction come true
| language		= en
| magazine		= The Atlantic
| url			= https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2024/10/hurricane-milton-season-predictions-climate-change/680205/
| url-access	= subscription
| access-date	= 2024-10-13
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20241010012946/https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2024/10/hurricane-milton-season-predictions-climate-change/680205/
| archive-date	= 2024-10-10
| url-status	= live
}}
* {{cite news
| author1-first	= Rachel
| author1-last	= Leingang
| date			= 2024-10-04
| title			= Hurricane Helene conspiracy theories collide with election misinformation
| language		= en
| newspaper		= The Guardian
| url			= https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/04/hurricane-helene-conspiracy-theories-election-misinformation
| access-date	= 2024-10-11
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20241004204645/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/04/hurricane-helene-conspiracy-theories-election-misinformation
| archive-date	= 2024-10-04
| url-status	= live
}}
* {{cite news
| author1-first	= Michael
| author1-last	= Lowry
| date			= 2024-10-11
| title			= Checking back on the state of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season
| language		= en
| newspaper		= [[WPLG]]
| url			= https://www.local10.com/weather/hurricane/2024/10/11/checking-back-on-the-state-of-the-2024-atlantic-hurricane-season/
| access-date	= 2024-10-12
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20241106052438/https://www.local10.com/weather/hurricane/2024/10/11/checking-back-on-the-state-of-the-2024-atlantic-hurricane-season/
| archive-date	= 2024-11-06
| url-status	= live
}}
* {{cite news
| author1-first	= Ben
| author1-last	= Makuch
| date			= 2024-10-10
| title			= Russia shares AI images of Hurricane Milton as disinformation abounds in US
| language		= en
| newspaper		= The Guardian
| url			= https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/10/russia-ai-hurricane-milton-disinformation
| access-date	= 2024-10-12
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20241106052458/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/10/russia-ai-hurricane-milton-disinformation
| archive-date	= 2024-11-06
| url-status	= live
}}
* {{cite news
| author1-first	= Bill
| author1-last	= McCarthy
| date			= 2024-10-10
| title			= Clips in widespread tornado compilation video predate Hurricane Milton
| language		= en
| newspaper		= AFP
| department	= Fact Check
| url			= https://factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com.36JR2RG
| access-date	= 2024-10-12
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20241106052517/https://factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com.36JR2RG
| archive-date	= 2024-11-06
| url-status	= live
}}
* {{cite news
| author1-first	= Eduardo
| author1-last	= Medina
| date			= 2024-10-08
| title			= Antisemitism and threats directed at officials over storm response
| language		= en
| newspaper		= The New York Times
| url			= https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/08/us/north-carolina-floods-antisemitic-social-media.html
| url-access	= subscription
| access-date	= 2024-10-10
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20241009003110/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/08/us/north-carolina-floods-antisemitic-social-media.html
| archive-date	= 2024-10-09
| url-status	= live
}}
* {{cite news
| author1-first	= Will
| author1-last	= Oremus
| author2-first	= Maxine
| author2-last	= Joselow
| date			= 2024-10-08
| title			= Officials face antisemitic attacks over Hurricane Helene response
| language		= en
| newspaper		= The Washington Post
| url			= https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/10/08/hurricane-helene-antisemitic-misinformation-x/
| url-access	= subscription
| access-date	= 2024-10-10
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20241008151612/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/10/08/hurricane-helene-antisemitic-misinformation-x/
| archive-date	= 2024-10-08
| url-status	= live
}}
* {{cite magazine
| author1-first	= Tess
| author1-last	= Owen
| date			= 2024-10-08
| title			= Right-wing influencers claim 'they' defeated physics, geoengineered Hurricane Milton
| language		= en
| magazine		= Wired
| url			= https://www.wired.com/story/hurricane-milton-geoengineer-lasers-fema-conspiracy-theories-debunk/
| access-date	= 2024-10-09
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20241008213853/https://www.wired.com/story/hurricane-milton-geoengineer-lasers-fema-conspiracy-theories-debunk/
| archive-date	= 2024-10-08
| url-status	= live
}}
* {{cite news
| author1-first	= Jim
| author1-last	= Puzzanghera
| date			= 2024-10-10
| title			= GOP seizes on hurricane misinformation, seeking edge in battleground Georgia
| language		= en
| newspaper		= The Boston Globe
| url			= https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/10/10/nation/trump-harris-hurricane-aid/
| access-date	= 2024-10-11
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20241106052640/https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/10/10/nation/trump-harris-hurricane-aid/
| archive-date	= 2024-11-06
| url-status	= live
}}
* {{cite news
| author1-first	= John
| author1-last	= Raby
| author2-first	= Gabriella Aoun
| author2-last	= Angueira
| date			= 2024-10-07
| title			= FEMA administrator continues pushback against false claims as Helene death toll hits 230
| language		= en
| newspaper		= Associated Press
| url			= https://apnews.com/article/hurricane-helene-fema-826effecab238ff0acf0556ad64b0df2
| access-date	= 2024-10-09
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20241007215225/https://apnews.com/article/hurricane-helene-fema-826effecab238ff0acf0556ad64b0df2
| archive-date	= 2024-10-07
| url-status	= live
}}
* {{cite news
| author1-first	= Sabrina
| author1-last	= Rodriguez
| author2-first	= Justine
| author2-last	= McDaniel
| date			= 2024-10-04
| title			= As Trump makes false claims about hurricane relief, White House calls it 'poison'
| language		= en
| newspaper		= The Washington Post
| url			= https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/10/04/trump-hurricane-helene-fema-money-misinformation/
| url-access	= subscription
| access-date	= 2024-10-09
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20241004195400/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/10/04/trump-hurricane-helene-fema-money-misinformation/
| archive-date	= 2024-10-04
| url-status	= live
}}
* {{cite news
| author1-first	= Brianna
| author1-last	= Sacks
| author2-first	= Dan
| author2-last	= Lamothe
| date			= 2024-10-14
| title			= North Carolina authorities arrest armed man after threats against FEMA workers
| language		= en
| newspaper		= The Washington Post
| url			= https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2024/10/13/federal-officials-nc-temporarily-relocated-amid-report-armed-militia-email-shows/
| url-access	= subscription
| access-date	= 2024-10-15
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20241106052704/https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2024/10/13/federal-officials-nc-temporarily-relocated-amid-report-armed-militia-email-shows/
| archive-date	= 2024-11-06
| url-status	= live
}}
* {{cite news
| author1-first	= Kate
| author1-last	= Selig
| date			= 2024-10-14
| title			= Meteorologists face harassment and death threats amid hurricane disinformation
| language		= en
| newspaper		= The New York Times
| url			= https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/14/us/meteorologists-threats-conspiracy-theories-hurricanes.html
| url-access	= subscription
| access-date	= 2024-10-18
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20241106052805/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/14/us/meteorologists-threats-conspiracy-theories-hurricanes.html
| archive-date	= 2024-11-06
| url-status	= live
}}
* {{Cite news
| author1-first	= Andrea
| author1-last	= Shalal
| date			= 2024-10-28
| title			= Russian, Chinese and Cuban accounts are amplifying hurricane misinformation, US official says
| language		= en
| newspaper		= Reuters
| url			= https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/russian-chinese-cuban-accounts-are-amplifying-hurricane-misinformation-us-2024-10-28/
| access-date	= 2024-10-28
| archive-url	= <!-- At time of access Internet Archive could not access Reuters. Check again later. -->
}}
* {{cite news
| author1-first	= Lauren
| author1-last	= Sommer
| date			= 2024-10-02
| title			= Hurricanes are dangerous far from the coast. Communities are struggling to prepare
| language		= en
| newspaper		= NPR
| url			= https://www.npr.org/2024/10/01/nx-s1-5133530/hurricane-helene-rain-flooding-climate-change
| access-date	= 2024-10-13
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20241002165442/https://www.npr.org/2024/10/01/nx-s1-5133530/hurricane-helene-rain-flooding-climate-change
| archive-date	= 2024-10-02
| url-status	= live
}}
* {{cite news
| author1-first	= Laura
| author1-last	= Strickler
| author2-first	= Peter
| author2-last	= Alexander
| author2-link	= Peter Alexander (journalist)
| author3-first	= Kyla
| author3-last	= Guilfoil
| date			= 2024-10-04
| title			= False claims about FEMA disaster funds and migrants pushed by Trump
| language		= en
| newspaper		= NBC News
| url			= https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/false-claims-fema-disaster-funds-migrants-pushed-trump-rcna173955
| access-date	= 2024-10-10
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20241004212126/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/false-claims-fema-disaster-funds-migrants-pushed-trump-rcna173955
| archive-date	= 2024-10-04
| url-status	= live
}}
* {{cite news
| author1-first	= Mikael
| author1-last	= Thalen
| date			= 2024-10-08
| title			= Verified X accounts spread tales of U.S. Marines killing FEMA officials in wake of Helene
| language		= en
| newspaper		= Daily Dot
| url			= https://www.dailydot.com/debug/real-raw-news-marine-sniper-fema-mock/
| access-date	= 2024-10-09
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20241008163834/https://www.dailydot.com/debug/real-raw-news-marine-sniper-fema-mock/
| archive-date	= 2024-10-08
| url-status	= live
}}
* {{cite news
| date			= 2024-10-11
| title			= Russian state media uses AI-generated images of Florida's Disney World flooded by Milton
| language		= en
| newspaper		= VOA News
| url			= https://www.voanews.com/a/russian-state-media-uses-ai-generated-images-of-florida-s-disney-world-flooded-by-milton/7819396.html
| access-date	= 2024-10-12
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20241106053023/https://www.voanews.com/a/russian-state-media-uses-ai-generated-images-of-florida-s-disney-world-flooded-by-milton/7819396.html
| archive-date	= 2024-11-06
| url-status	= live
| ref			= {{harvid|VOA News|2024}}
}}
* {{cite magazine
| author1-first	= Charlie
| author1-last	= Warzel
| date			= 2024-10-10
| title			= I'm running out of ways to explain how bad this is
| language		= en
| magazine		= The Atlantic
| url			= https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/10/hurricane-milton-conspiracies-misinformation/680221/
| url-access	= subscription
| access-date	= 2024-10-12
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20241104190211/https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/10/hurricane-milton-conspiracies-misinformation/680221/
| archive-date	= 2024-11-04
| url-status	= live
}}
{{refend}}
==== Web sources ====
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite web
| date			= 2024-10-04
| title			= HAARP and NEXRAD cannot create or modify weather events, including storms such as Hurricane Helene
| language		= en
| website		= Science Feedback
| editor1-first	= Darrik
| editor1-last	= Burns
| url			= https://science.feedback.org/review/mass-bird-migration-during-hurricane-helene-triggers-blue-radar-blooms-no-evidence-of-weather-modification-haarp-nexrad/
| access-date	= 2024-10-09
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20241010015805/https://science.feedback.org/review/mass-bird-migration-during-hurricane-helene-triggers-blue-radar-blooms-no-evidence-of-weather-modification-haarp-nexrad/
| archive-date	= 2024-10-10
| url-status	= live
}}
* {{cite web
| date			= 2021-03-02
| title			= The scientific research facility HAARP cannot create natural disasters or influence human thoughts and movements, contrary to online claims
| language		= en
| website		= Science Feedback
| editor1-first	= Isabelle
| editor1-last	= Dumé
| url			= https://science.feedback.org/review/the-scientific-research-facility-haarp-cannot-create-natural-disasters-or-influence-human-thoughts-and-movements-contrary-to-online-claims/
| access-date	= 2024-10-09
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20240223002310/https://science.feedback.org/review/the-scientific-research-facility-haarp-cannot-create-natural-disasters-or-influence-human-thoughts-and-movements-contrary-to-online-claims/
| archive-date	= 2024-02-23
| url-status	= live
}}
* {{cite web
| author1-first	= Elle
| author1-last	= Fournier
| date			= 2017-05-24
| title			= HAARP research attracts conspiracies, misunderstandings
| language		= en
| website		= UAF News
| publisher		= University of Alaska Fairbanks
| url			= https://www.uaf.edu/news/archives/news-archives-2010-2021/haarp-research-attracts-conspiracies-misunderstandings.php
| access-date	= 2024-10-09
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20221023200822/https://www.uaf.edu/news/archives/news-archives-2010-2021/haarp-research-attracts-conspiracies-misunderstandings.php
| archive-date	= 2022-10-23
| url-status	= live
}}
* {{cite web
| date			= 2024-10-08
| title			= Hurricane Helene brews up storm of online falsehoods and threats
| language		= en
| website		= Digital Dispatches
| publisher		= Institute for Strategic Dialogue
| url			= https://www.isdglobal.org/digital_dispatches/hurricane-helene-brews-up-storm-of-online-falsehoods-and-threats/
| access-date	= 2024-10-09
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20241008140037/https://www.isdglobal.org/digital_dispatches/hurricane-helene-brews-up-storm-of-online-falsehoods-and-threats/
| archive-date	= 2024-10-08
| url-status	= live
| ref			= {{harvid|Institute for Strategic Dialogue|2024}}
}}
* {{cite web
| author1-first	= Anthony
| author1-last	= Pascone
| date			= 2024-10-08
| title			= Fact check: Did the North Carolina State Police issue a statement threatening the arrest of FEMA employees?
| language		= en
| website		= Check Your Fact
| url			= https://checkyourfact.com/2024/10/08/fact-check-did-the-north-carolina-state-police-issue-a-statement-threatening-the-arrest-of-fema-employees/
| access-date	= 2024-10-09
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20241008190626/https://checkyourfact.com/2024/10/08/fact-check-did-the-north-carolina-state-police-issue-a-statement-threatening-the-arrest-of-fema-employees/
| archive-date	= 2024-10-08
| url-status	= live
}}
{{refend}}
==== Primary sources ====
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite interview
| author1-first	= Deanne
| author1-last	= Criswell
| author1-link	= Deanne Criswell
| interviewer	= [[Steve Inskeep]]
| date			= 2024-10-07
| title			= As Florida braces for Milton's impact, FEMA chief says hurricane aid isn't political
| language		= en
| work			= [[Morning Edition]]
| publisher		= NPR
| url			= https://www.npr.org/2024/10/08/nx-s1-5144720/fema-prepares-for-hurricane-milton-while-managing-the-massive-response-to-helene
| access-date	= 2024-10-09
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20241009122652/https://www.npr.org/2024/10/08/nx-s1-5144720/fema-prepares-for-hurricane-milton-while-managing-the-massive-response-to-helene
| archive-date	= 2024-10-09
| url-status	= live
}}
* {{cite press release
| author1-first	= Chuck
| author1-last	= Edwards
| author1-link	= Chuck Edwards
| date			= 2024-10-08
| title			= Debunking Helene Response Myths
| language		= en
| url			= https://edwards.house.gov/media/press-releases/debunking-helene-response-myths
| access-date	= 2024-10-09
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20241008202241/https://edwards.house.gov/media/press-releases/debunking-helene-response-myths
| archive-date	= 2024-10-08
| url-status	= live
}}
* {{cite tweet
| first			= Marjorie Taylor
| last			= Greene
| author-link	= Marjorie Taylor Greene
| user			= mtgreenee
| date			= 2024-10-03
| title			= Yes they can control the weather. It's ridiculous for anyone to lie and say it can't be done.
| number		= 1842039774359462324
| language		= en
| access-date	= 2024-10-09
| archive-url	= <!-- At time of access Internet Archive returned blank page. Check again later. -->
}}
* {{cite press release
| author1-first	= Ben
| author1-last	= LaBolt
| author1-link	= Ben LaBolt
| publisher		= White House
| date			= 2024-10-08
| title			= Interested Parties Memo: Fighting Hurricane Helene Falsehoods with Facts
| language		= en
| url			= https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/10/05/interested-parties-memo-fighting-hurricane-helene-falsehoods-with-facts/
| access-date	= 2024-10-09
| archive-url	= <!-- will be archived by NARA after Biden leaves office – on January 20 2025 insert NARA archive site URL here and set url-status to dead -->
}}
* {{cite press release
| date			= 2024-08-08
| title			= Highly active hurricane season likely to continue in the Atlantic
| language		= en
| publisher		= National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| url			= https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/highly-active-hurricane-season-likely-to-continue-in-atlantic
| access-date	= 2024-10-12
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20240808172153/https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/highly-active-hurricane-season-likely-to-continue-in-atlantic
| archive-date	= 2024-08-08
| url-status	= live
| ref			= {{harvid|NOAA|2024}}
}}
* {{cite press release
| author1-first	= Niranjana
| author1-last	= Rajalakshmi
| date			= 2024-04-29
| title			= Brace for a very active hurricane season this year, warn UArizona forecasters
| language		= en
| publisher		= University of Arizona
| url			= https://news.arizona.edu/news/brace-very-active-hurricane-season-year-warn-uarizona-forecasters
| access-date	= 2024-10-12
| archive-url	= https://web.archive.org/web/20240501122025/https://news.arizona.edu/news/brace-very-active-hurricane-season-year-warn-uarizona-forecasters
| archive-date	= 2024-05-01
| url-status	= live
}}
{{refend}}
== External links ==
* {{cite web
| title			= Hurricane Rumor Response
| language		= en
| publisher		= Federal Emergency Management Agency
| url			= https://www.fema.gov/disaster/current/hurricane-helene/rumor-response
| ref			= {{harvid|FEMA|2024}}
}}
* {{cite web
| title			= Hurricane Helene: Fact vs. Rumor
| language		= en
| publisher		= North Carolina Department of Public Safety
| url			= https://www.ncdps.gov/our-organization/emergency-management/hurricane-helene/hurricane-helene-fact-vs-rumor
| ref			= {{harvid|NCDPS|2024}}
}}
{{Conspiracy theories}}
[[Category:2024 Atlantic hurricane season]]
[[Category:2024 controversies in the United States]]
[[Category:2024 natural disasters in the United States]]
[[Category:Conspiracy theories in the United States]]
[[Category:Conspiracy theories promoted by Donald Trump]]
[[Category:Earth science conspiracy theories]]
[[Category:Hurricane Helene]]
[[Category:Hurricane Milton]]
[[Category:Presidency of Joe Biden|Hurricane season 2024]]
[[Category:Right-wing politics in the United States]]
[[Category:Weather modification in North America]]