North Carolina lawmakers work to debunk Helene misinformation

(WGHP) — As rumors swirl in the wake of Hurricane Helene’s destruction of western North Carolina, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are working to set the record straight.

U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-District 11) shared a news release on Tuesday in which he voiced concern over the rapid spread of misinformation after the historic flooding of the mountains and pushed back against unsubstantiated rumors by debunking them line by line.

“We have seen a level of support that is unmatched by most any other disaster nationwide; but amidst all of the support, we have also seen an uptick in untrustworthy sources trying to spark chaos by sharing hoaxes, conspiracy theories, and hearsay about hurricane response efforts across our mountains,” Edwards said in his release . “While it is true, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s response to Hurricane Helene has had its shortfalls, I’m here to dispel the outrageous rumors that have been circulated online.”

In his release, Edwards first fired back against claims that Helene was man-made and targeted.

“Hurricane Helene was NOT geoengineered by the government to seize and access lithium deposits in Chimney Rock,” he said.

Similarly, U.S. Rep. Jeff Jackson (D-District 14) said in a video posted on social media , “The government did not create the hurricane. I feel like I shouldn’t have to say that, but here we are.”

Chip Konrad, director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Southeast Regional Climate Center and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill professor, confirmed that no one has the technology to geoengineer a hurricane or other large-scale weather event.

Rutherford County officials have spoken out against false claims that the government was “seizing” Chimney Rock .

“Our focus is solely on recovery, safety, and providing support to those affected by the storm. There have been no discussions or actions taken by the federal, state, or local government related to property seizure in Chimney Rock or any other part of Rutherford County,” Rutherford County Emergency Management said.

Jackson echoed RCEM, saying, “No one’s land is being taken by FEMA. FEMA doesn’t even have the authority to do that. There’s no blockade on private aid. There is an enormous amount of private aid.

Jackson and Edwards both added that FEMA is not stopping vehicles from bringing donations into the area.

“FEMA does not conduct vehicle stops or handle road closures with armed guards,” Edwards said. “All road closures are managed by local law enforcement who are prioritizing getting resources to their fellow community members.”

Jackson said, “Going in, the only people being turned away are the ones headed down a road that’s been destroyed and a checkpoint is telling them, ‘Don’t go that way. The road has been destroyed.'”

In wrapping up their statements, Jackson emphasized all of the real work being done on the ground and Edwards encouraged the public to be cautious of misinformation online.

“People on the Internet can be pretty divisive, but the people on the ground are pulling together and what they have accomplished in the last week is remarkable,” Jackson said. “And the support they’re getting is just the beginning of a long-term commitment.”

Edwards said, “I encourage you to remember that everything you see on Facebook, X, or any other social media platform is not always fact. Please make sure you are fact-checking what you read online with a reputable source.”

This week, the North Carolina State Legislature passed the first Helene relief funding package. Cooper signed it into law on Thursday and they’ll reconvene on Oct. 24 for another round of funding.

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