In the days and weeks after Hurricanes Helen and Milton hit the Southeast, communities are crowdfunding for repairs as conspiracy theories fuel recovery efforts.
Since the storm hit, the Biden administration has sought to refute false accusations that it is diverting federal relief funds to immigrants, a claim that some Republican politicians, including former President Donald Trump, have pressed.
A flurry of dubious crowdfunding petitions, including a viral TikTok video by a man accusing the Federal Emergency Management Agency of evicting him from his business in Asheville, North Carolina, has fueled a vortex of false claims that have led to public outrage. may lose interest. People who actually need help.
Ashley Aldous Pangborn, 35, said she was glad friends convinced her to start a GoFundMe campaign after Helen filled her family’s home in Homosassa, Florida with 28 inches of water. She and her husband had just completed renovations, one year after Hurricane Idalia caused nearly $130,000 in property damage.
In recent weeks, the couple and their two children have been hopping between a series of rental properties booked on Vrbo, and the approximately $12,000 Pangborn has raised through a campaign with a $20,000 goal has helped cover those costs. I am.
Any misinformation muddies the waters. False stories undermine real stories.
Ashley Aldous Pangborn, Homosassa, Florida
The money has provided a critical lifeline as families wait for further government aid. “It gives us peace of mind that we can get through next month before we really know what’s going to happen to us,” Pangborn said.
Still, she worries that the falsehoods could hamper what is expected to be a long recovery process for families and government counterparts alike.
“Any misinformation muddies the waters. Fake stories undermine real stories,” Pangborn said. Conspiracy theories, especially around FEMA, “will limit the people they can help,” she added. “I am concerned that things like this will continue to fan the flames of mistrust and put FEMA employees at risk.”
A GoFundMe spokesperson said the popular crowdfunding platform’s trust and safety team is reviewing requests for assistance related to Helen and Milton “around the clock.” The company has also set up its own relief fund, assuring users that the verification process is sound.
GoFundMe’s Hurricane Helen Relief Hub lists thousands of fundraisers that we’ve determined are genuine. A spokesperson said it covers a range of emergency aid “including temporary shelter, essentials such as food and diapers, and long-term reconstruction.” Nearly 500,000 donors have raised more than $65 million on the platform since Helen landed.
But as time passes, communities still battling severe storm damage are increasingly concerned that they will be overlooked.
In recent weeks, as rebuilding efforts on the ground have received increased public attention, conspiracy theories have emerged as the biggest post-hurricane force, from alleged threats of violence against FEMA workers to fanciful claims that the Biden administration is controlling the weather. is making headlines.
Small businesses in North Carolina’s Great Smoky Mountains are trying to let tourists know they’re open for business, and artists and musicians in creative hub Asheville are trying to make sure many have to spend most of their time. We are preparing for what we expect to be a long-term recovery. own.
Pangborn said she received the first $750 in relief money FEMA provides to disaster survivors. But the agency requires proof of claim denials in order to disburse further funds, and she has not yet received it, so she is in a pattern of withholding further recovery aid. After that, Pangborn said she would still need to raise her home at least a few feet to get a building permit within FEMA’s 50% rule.
While Pangborn is working on next steps, she said she worries about people targeting temporary workers, who are already “inundated” with requests from residents. She noted that many families are facing hurricane damage for the first time. Hurricanes are becoming more powerful and expanding in size due to climate change.
“I have to believe that everyone is doing their best,” she said. Otherwise, “we will lose faith in humanity, which is difficult enough right now.”
GoFundMe said it follows a thorough “due diligence” process to vet fundraisers, but also encourages donors to evaluate campaigns before donating. This includes checking the fundraiser page for clear details, asking questions of the organizer, and scanning comments and past donations for potential red flags. The company added that all donations will be fully refunded if abuse is discovered.
Other platforms such as Indiegogo and the nonprofit organization Mightycause are also hosting calls for hurricane-related relief. Some who have turned to crowdfunding are seeking funding for repairs that federal funds may not be able to cover in the short term or at all. Many households have been affected just outside FEMA-designated disaster areas, and the Small Business Administration’s disaster fund has run out of low-interest loans, but officials are encouraging applicants to continue applying. I am doing it.
Meanwhile, Pangborn worries about her neighbors who don’t have the resources or digital literacy to raise money online.
“I live in an area with a lot of elderly people, and not everyone knows how to use a computer,” she said. “Your entire life is turned upside down and you end up with expenses you don’t even know you have to pay.”
