GOP Rep Condemns 'Outrageous' Helene Response Myths Spread By His Own Party

The Republican congressman who represents a western North Carolina district badly damaged by the remnants of Hurricane Helene is tired of the conspiracy theories about recovery efforts circulating online.

In a lengthy statement , Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) praised the support his district has received but also noted “an uptick in untrustworthy sources trying to spark chaos by sharing hoaxes, conspiracy theories, and hearsay about hurricane response efforts across our mountains.”

Falsehoods about the recovery effort — including claims that the government engineered the storm in order to seize people’s land — have circulated widely since last week, prompting the Federal Emergency Management Agency to set up a web page devoted solely to combating rumors . North Carolina state officials, too, had to set up their own rumor-busting web page .

Keith Turi, acting director of FEMA’s Office of Response and Recovery, told reporters in a Monday call that misinformation has been “extremely damaging to the response efforts” to Hurricane Helene. He specifically cited false claims about FEMA confiscating people’s possessions or only providing survivors with $750.

“That is absolutely not true,” Turi said. “It is reducing the likelihood that survivors will come to FEMA and register for assistance. It’s important we have those trusted relationships with all of our partners and the public, and that misinformation is directly impacting our ability.”

He added that the agency is stepping up its efforts to combat misinformation ahead of Hurricane Milton’s expected arrival in Florida on Wednesday. He cited the rumor response page on FEMA’s website and said the agency plans to “push that aggressively.” FEMA is also working with local and