In the wake of hurricane helenthere are false rumors about the federal government’s response. spread rapidly on social media. More extreme conspiracy theories have also taken hold, including claims that politicians are manipulating the weather to target Republican areas and that the government is seizing land in North Carolina for lithium mining.
False claims are amplified by prominent politicians and social media influencers with large followings. Despite receiving millions of views online, these claims have been debunked by officials and experts, and the government’s response remains limited to the hardest-hit areas. It emphasizes that it is focused on recovery efforts. Below are two fact checks regarding the main claims.
False claim: Government is seizing land in North Carolina town to allow lithium mining
False claims that authorities are attempting to seize Chimney Rock, North Carolina to rob a lithium mine have gone viral on social media platforms including X, TikTok and Facebook.
Some rumors cite an alleged “town meeting” in which authorities said they would bulldoze Chimney Rock and the government would take possession of the land. One post about X spreading false claims received more than 6 million views.
The Rutherford County Emergency Management Agency said claims that the government had seized Chimney Rock are “absolutely false,” adding that no “special meeting” was held to discuss the town’s seizure. The Rutherford County Emergency Management Agency said North Carolina lawmakers met with local officials and requested federal and state assistance.
Some social media users promoting the claim cited Kings Mountain, North Carolina, where a lithium mine is scheduled to reopen. Some articles mention specific companies, such as Piedmont Lithium, which is seeking to build a lithium mine in Gaston County, North Carolina.
The proposed locations for these lithium mines are approximately 130 to 160 miles from Chimney Rock.
Local authorities are actively working to rebuild damaged infrastructure in the town. Chimney Rock has been posting updates online about recovery efforts, including rebuilding Main Street, restoring power and clearing debris.
In a new “Responding to Rumors” page, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said the agency cannot seize property or land.
False claim: The government controlled the weather to make Helen hit Republican areas
False claims that the government manipulated the weather to manipulate Helen’s path and hit Republican-majority areas drew millions of views on social media.
Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene posted on The post, which had been viewed more than 40 million times at the time of writing, was debunked through a community note on X.
Greene also cited maps of areas affected by Helen in states like Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas, with overlays showing where the majority of Republican voters live. Also posted.
Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones amplified this claim, saying, “In short, the federal government could have quelled the storm in the Gulf of Mexico.” Both Green and Jones pointed to cloud seeding as evidence that the government controlled Hurricane Helen.
Cloud seeding is a type of weather modification that can improve clouds’ ability to produce rain and snow, according to the Nevada-based Desert Research Institute, which has its own cloud seeding program. Cloud seeding has been around since the 1940s, and dozens of countries have implemented weather modification programs.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, cloud seeding to modify hurricanes was considered from 1962 to 1983, but the project was ended when seeding was found to be ineffective compared to the natural forces of hurricanes.
Cloud seeding conspiracies regularly appear after major weather events such as floods. dubai And the California storm. Asked whether cloud seeding had an impact on Dubai’s flooding, one meteorologist told The Associated Press: “In terms of controlling individual storms, we’re a long way from that.”
Federal and state officials said misinformation and conspiracy theories were hampering efforts to provide aid and accurate information to victims.
Deanne Criswell, who heads FEMA, said: said False claims are “demoralizing” aid workers. said Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina.Let’s face the nation” on Sunday claimed the claims were hampering rescue efforts.
