Misinformation and conspiracy theories about Hurricane Milton started circulating even before the storm hit. For over a week, former U.S. President Donald Trump has been spreading false claims about the Biden administration's handling of Hurricane Helene. On Wednesday, President Joe Biden criticized Trump concerning the federal response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Hurricanes Milton and Helene Leave Trail of Death and Destruction
According to the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Milton struck near Siesta Key on Florida's central west coast Wednesday night as a "dangerous Category 3" storm.
Siesta Key, just south of Sarasota, saw winds reaching 120 mph at landfall before the storm weakened to a Category 1 as it moved inland.
CBS News reported that at least 16 deaths have been confirmed. Milton continued across the Florida peninsula on Thursday and into the Atlantic.
Over 3.2 million customers were without power early Thursday, according to PowerOutage.us.
On the other hand, Hurricane Helene has claimed over 230 lives, leaving a trail of destruction across Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee.
Making landfall in Florida's Big Bend as a powerful Category 4 storm on September 26, Helene is considered the deadliest mainland hurricane since Katrina in 2005.
President Joe Biden announced plans to visit flood-ravaged areas in North Carolina while aiming to minimize disruptions to recovery efforts.
In a video message, President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden expressed condolences, stating, "we grieve with you" and assuring that "the nation has your back." They also emphasized that FEMA is actively providing assistance to impacted states.
Biden Blasts Trump Over Misinformation on Hurricanes Milton and Helene
On Wednesday, President Joe Biden criticized former President Donald Trump for spreading what he referred to as an "onslaught of lies" regarding the federal response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Speaking at a White House meeting with officials to discuss the storms, Biden condemned the recent "reckless, irresponsible, and relentless promotion of disinformation," which he said was causing public unrest.
"It's undermining confidence in the incredible rescue and recovery work that has already been taken and will continue to be taken, and it's harmful to those who need help the most," Biden continued. "There is simply no place for this to happen."
President Joe Biden targeted specific false claims spread by Donald Trump and his Republican allies, particularly misinformation about FEMA aid distribution.
"Former President Trump has led the onslaught of lies. Assertions have been made that property is being confiscated. That's simply not true," Biden said. "They're saying people impacted by these storms will receive $750 in cash and no more. That's simply not true. They're saying the money needed for this crisis is being diverted to migrants. What a ridiculous thing to say, it's not true."
On Wednesday, Donald Trump once again criticized the Biden administration's response to the crisis. Speaking at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, a key swing state, Trump said, "This administration has not done a proper job at all. Terrible, terrible."
He added, "We just pray for everybody. We hope that God will keep them safe."
During remarks at the White House in the late afternoon, President Biden stated, "It's so stupid. It's got to stop!"
When a reporter asked why he believed Trump was spreading misinformation, Biden replied, "I don't know. I simply don't know. You can speculate, but it – I - I just find it -- and I know I use the phrase more than I've used it ever my whole career -- un-American. It's un-American. It's not who the hell we are. What are they talking about?"
Conspiracy Theories Swirl About Hurricanes Milton and Helene
Recent weeks have seen a surge in baseless conspiracy theories related to Hurricane Milton and its predecessor, Hurricane Helene, particularly surrounding allegations of weather modification and false claims about disaster relief efforts.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has been a prominent voice in this discourse, suggesting that the hurricanes are part of a political conspiracy. She claimed on X that "they can control the weather" and pointed to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as part of this alleged scheme. Biden condemned her remarks as “beyond ridiculous,” emphasizing that such claims must cease.
Experts have refuted the idea that weather modification efforts could lead to hurricanes, with Professor Hugh Willoughby noting that past government projects aimed to weaken storms, not create them.
As Election Day approaches, concerns about misinformation have intensified, particularly regarding its potential impact on voting in areas affected by the storms. A report from the University of Washington's Center for an Informed Public indicated that the uncertainty caused by the hurricanes could lead to further rumors and exploitation of the situation for political gain.
Misinformation on U.S. Hurricanes Go Viral
Misinformation about Hurricanes Milton and Helene has proliferated on social media also, with false claims suggesting that Hurricane Milton was "engineered" and that the weather in Florida is being "manipulated." These claims lack any scientific basis, as there is currently no technology that allows humans to create or control hurricanes.
On platforms like X and TikTok, posts alleging that the U.S. government secretly controls the weather have garnered millions of views, primarily from accounts known for spreading conspiracy theories and misinformation.
The notion that human intervention can create or control hurricanes is unfounded and misrepresents the natural weather systems. “There is no possibility using current knowledge and technology to use geoengineering to modify hurricanes,” says Suzana Camargo from the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University.
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