How FEMA tries to combat rumors and conspiracy theories about Milton and Helene

With a second massive hurricane set to hit the United States in less than two weeks, the Federal Emergency Management Agency also has to contend with a deluge of rumors and conspiracy theories about its response and policies.

Baseless stories have swirled on social media since Hurricane Helene made landfall in late September, many framing FEMA’s actionsas an instrument of a tyrannical federal government. On X, formerly Twitter, the same rumors and narratives are following the agency as it prepares for Milton.

“Although the rumors are rampant — they are totally rampant — I hadn't heard any of that impacting our response here yet,” Willie Nunn told NPR on Tuesday. Nunn, the FEMA administrator for the Pacific Northwest and Alaska and the tribal nations in that area, is currently serving as the senior FEMA official in Florida to support the response and recovery efforts for Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

One challenge for FEMA and local first responders is that prominent political figures, including former President Donald Trump, have amplified falsehoods, politicizing the storm response less than a month ahead of the presidential election. Without naming Trump and his allies, local Republican officials have pushed back against some of the false narratives that have been spreading.

As Hurricane Milton approaches Florida, Christina Pushaw, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ press secretary, took to social media to rebuke one viral falsehood that urged people not to evacuate so as to protect their property from FEMA: “Spreading LIES like this could have serious consequences.” She urged people to follow directions to evacuate.

“The basic thing you should understand about disasters is they are the most political thing that happens in a