Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) tried to debunk some of the misinformation that has proliferated on social media following the government’s response to Hurricane Helene in the southeastern U.S., saying the tropical cyclone was “NOT geoengineered by the government.”
“Over the past 10 days, I have been proud of how our mountain communities have come together to help one another,” Edwards said in a Tuesday press release aimed at his constituents.
“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,” he added.
Edwards, who represents North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District, joined local officials in calling out false and misleading information circulating online in Helene’s aftermath, urging his constituents to “make sure you are fact-checking what you read online with a reputable source.”
“Hurricane Helene was NOT geoengineered by the government to seize and access lithium deposits in Chimney Rock,” Edwards said. “Nobody can control the weather,” adding that the current geoengineering technology can mitigate some negative consequences, “but it cannot be used to create or manipulate hurricanes.”
The North Carolina Republican emphasized that the government is not seizing Chimney Rock. Conspiracy theories online claimed that the federal government was trying to capture the mountain town for the sake of mining lithium.
Edwards also shut down the rumors that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was preventing donations from reaching the state’s residents and said the agency “has NOT diverted disaster response funding to the border or foreign aid.”
The House member stated that FEMA is not running out of money and that the government agency cannot seize his constituent’s property or land.
“Applying for disaster assistance does not grant FEMA or the federal government authority or ownership of your property or land,” Edwards said.
The North Carolina Republican also stressed that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was not restricting airspace access for rescue and recovering missions. Instead, he said North Carolina residents might be able to secure more than the original $750 “Serious Needs Assistance” that is meant for people to purchase “essential items like food, water, baby formula and medication.”
Last week, FEMA created a “rumor response” page that warned the public to be wary of misinformation surrounding Helene relief efforts. Federal, state and local leaders have sounded the alarm that the spread of false information is complicating an already difficult recovery process.
