How conspiracy theories hijacked hurricane recovery

Hurricanes Helene and Milton left a trail of destruction through the southeastern United States, one that will take years to overcome. Yet even as communities struggle to rebuild, they face an additional challenge in the form of false narratives and conspiracy theories that threaten to undermine recovery efforts and public safety.

 Recent scientific studies have unequivocally linked the intensity of Hurricanes Helene and Milton to human-caused climate change. Researchers found that warming ocean water caused by climate change boosted Helene’s wind speeds by about 21 kilometres per hour and increased its rainfall by approximately 10 per cent. 

According to World Weather Attribution, an international scientific collaborative that quantifies how climate change influences the intensity and likelihood of an extreme weather event, Milton’s destructive power was also amplified by exceptionally warm ocean temperatures, which were made “200 to 500 times more likely due to the burning of fossil fuels.”

And it could soon get significantly worse. Indeed, a just-released report from the Centre for International Governance Innovation posits accelerated climate change as one among several of the likeliest data-based scenarios we’ll face in the decades ahead. “In this pathway, climate change accelerates rapidly as high emissions continue unabated, resulting in significant deviations beyond the targets of the Paris Agreement,” the report notes, which could propel extreme weather events to currently unimaginable levels.

Such findings again underscore the urgent need for climate action. But instead, in the wake of these hurricanes, social media platforms have been flooded with false claims and conspiracy theories.

Some of these narratives suggest that the government is intentionally mishandling the disaster for political gain. Many of these falsehoods can be traced back to high-profile figures, including former President Donald Trump and his supporters, who have falsely accused federal responders of diverting disaster money to immigrants. Claims like these, amplified by influential figures such as Elon Musk, have gained traction despite being false.

The consequences of these disinformation campaigns are far-reaching and potentially life-threatening. When disaster victims are discouraged from seeking federal aid due to unfounded fears or mistrust, they may miss out on critical resources needed for survival and recovery. The Biden-Harris administration has already approved USD $1.8 billion in federal assistance to survivors though the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), but the spread of false information threatens to undermine these efforts.

To combat this wave of disinformation, we need a multi-pronged approach that involves government agencies, media organizations, tech companies and individual citizens. The Biden-Harris administration has taken steps in the right direction by leveraging official digital channels to dispel myths and provide accurate information about response and recovery efforts. FEMA has established a rumour control page to combat scams and false information that often proliferate after disasters.

However, more needs to be done. Social media platforms must take more aggressive action to curb the spread of false information, especially during times of crisis. Such steps could include implementing stricter fact-checking protocols, enhancing the visibility of authoritative sources and swiftly removing content that could lead to immediate harm.

With each passing year, it seems the worst-case scenario, accelerated climate change, is increasingly likely. However, whether the world blows through its current fallback target of limiting warming to two degrees Celsius or not, (1.5 degrees Celsius warming is already all but certain), our ability to respond effectively will depend not only on our physical infrastructure, but also on our information ecosystem. The experiences with Hurricanes Helene and Milton serve as a stark warning of the problems we face in an era of accelerating climate change alongside rampant misinformation.

To build true climate resilience, we must address both the physical impacts of extreme weather events and the informational challenges that follow. This means investing in climate adaptation and mitigation strategies, while simultaneously strengthening our defences against disinformation.

In the face of this dual challenge, we must stand united in our commitment to truth, science and compassion. Only by working together to build resilience against both physical storms and storms of disinformation can we hope to weather the climate challenges that lie ahead.

The devastation wrought by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, exacerbated by climate change and compounded by disinformation, should serve as a wake-up call. As we rebuild our communities, we must also rebuild trust in our institutions and in each other. Our future depends on our ability to face the reality of climate change head-on, armed with facts, empathy and a shared commitment to the truth.

Andrew Heffernan is a former post-doctoral fellow at CIGI’s Digital Policy Hub. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Ottawa, where he completed a Ph.D. in political science. He is also a climate associate at the university’s Information Integrity Lab.