NPR: Politically charged rumors and conspiracy theories about Helene flourish on X

[DBoon]

https://www.npr.org/2024/10/03/nx-s1-5134866/rumors-conspiracy-theories-helene-social-media

...
People like Dull, as well as those still in their storm-damaged communities, are hungry for reliable information. When they turn to social media, they're finding mixed results. Some platforms don't have much news at all. Other platforms have enabled them to form groups that provide information and companionship.

And then there is X, formerly known as Twitter, where politically charged rumors flow freely. Emergency management researchers lament that the platform owned by Elon Musk, which was once considered a useful source of information in a disaster, is instead contributing to the chaos in Helene's wake.
...
Other videos on X made wilder claims.

“Don’t worry guys, weather modification isn’t real! It’s just a coincidence that Hurricane Helene is one of the most devastating ‘inland damage storms’ in history and that hundreds of pro-Trump counties are being massively impacted during the most important election of our lifetimes,” influencer Matt Wallace posted alongside video footage of flooding. The post received 11 million views.

False claims about weather-altering tools have become common in the aftermath of major storms, said Amber Silver, who teaches emergency management at the University of Albany. “And there's always questions about … is this storm, you know, man-made or is it natural?”

“But the scale of that amount of chatter with Helene was unexpected for this event,” she said.

my bolding

[NewHendoLib]

1. We are observing that once again a disaster like this

Brings out the best in most, and the worst in a very few.

Plus your OP makes me happy we left Twit and FB years ago.

[FirstLight]

2. Even something as "harmless" as AI pics of kids and puppies

is floating around out there. I just called out a friend of mine on FB for posting a pic of a little girl and puppy all wet in a raft... it was really good AI.

Now that might seem like nothing, but it still clogs up the communications, IMO.

found this as a quick AI checker... if anyone is interested. https://sightengine.com/detect-ai-generated-images

[mjvpi]

3. Ironically, consumption of fossil fuels is the "weather altering tool" that they are talking about.

[Voltaire2]

4. GTFO Shitter. NT.

[Island Blue]

5. If Democrats had the power to weaponize

the weather, wouldn’t we have made the storm miss Asheville, a reliably blue city?

[misanthrope]

6. Apparently some don't realize that Asheville

is a blue bubble inside North Carolina.

[Deep State Witch]

7. Rumors of "Looters"

I saw something about "looters" and "scavengers" going around. Of course, people were getting out their guns and threatening to shoot them. Especially because they're "illegals."

Gee, maybe if y'all used some of that Christian kindness and didn't immediately assume that the brown people were coming to steal your (now worthless) stuff, you would help the situation.

[Johnny2X2X]

8. FB running wild too

And it's not as much kooky stuff like that, but rather "Beaurocrats are stopping the help from arriving for those in need!"

Really? It's like 5 days since it hit these remote mountain regions and towns. The amount of aid that has arrived to those in need is staggering and this is a remarkable and fast relief effort. Some of these small towns have only one road in and out of them and those roads are simply gone. They're airlifting supplies in. They're using muless to pack in relief. It's amazing what is happening. 5 days and the vast majority of the communties affected have seen significant aid arrive.

Notice that it's off front pages today, probably because the relief effort has been so swift and effective and there are less people in dire straights to find and interview.

And this doesn't mean that there isn't still a crisis, there is, there are people who need help who haven't gotten it. It's terrifying for them not knowing where their next meal will come from or when they'll have clean water. This was an historic event that will take months and year to recover from. But the effort to help 5 days in has been nothing short of remarkable.

[DBoon]

9. It takes the mules a while to get there

https://www.axios.com/2024/10/01/hurricane-helene-north-carolina-mules-aid

Mules appear to be the best way to deliver goods given the state of the roads.

Sorry, but FEMA does not have a Star Trek transporter to make instantaneous deliveries

[Johnny2X2X]

10. People think

I think people are expecting to look at the horizon wherever they are and see a swarm of relief helicoptors coming within hours, probably blaring Flight of the Valkyries through giant speakers.

There's a reason why they tell you to have a week of food and water stored in your home. Help can take days.

And these people should be thanking god that Joe Biden is in charge right now and they don't have to worry about Federal agencies checkinig which way their county voted in the last election before helping.

[DET]

12. Flight of the Valkyries

Sometimes I wish I could recommend a post more than once.

[Volaris]

11. Yes it was manmade, because climate change is real (and then we get to watch some infowarriors heads explode)