TRUE: The Biden administration is deploying ample federal resources to impacted areas

The Biden administration has approved federal assistance for multiple states, including Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Virginia, and Georgia. On September 29, the White House released an updated fact sheet detailing the administration's “continued response efforts to Hurricane Helene,” noting that tens of thousands of state and federal personnel are helping victims across several states. This includes 50,000 personnel helping to fix power outages, 3,300 personnel allocating federal resources and helping with search and rescue operations, and 200 medical responders providing health services. On October 2, Biden “directed the Department of Defense to deploy up to 1,000 active-duty soldiers to support the delivery of food, water, and other critical commodities to communities impacted by Hurricane Helene.”

FALSE: The federal government has failed to mobilize resources in response to Hurricane Helene

Right-wing media figures have falsely claimed that the Biden administration is neglecting those affected by Hurricane Helene. For example, Newsmax host and MAGA influencer Todd Starnes repeatedly claimed that the federal government has abandoned those impacted by Hurricane Helene, saying that “many towns and cities have yet to see any disaster relief.”

TRUE: Federal assistance includes substantial aid beyond the initial $750 payment

While it's true that FEMA is providing a one-time $750 payment for immediate needs, this is just the beginning of available assistance. As Vice President Kamala Harris clarified during her visit to Georgia, “FEMA is also providing tens of thousands more dollars for folks to help them be able to deal with home repair, to be able to cover a deductible when and if they have insurance, and also hotel costs.” The White House has confirmed that victims can qualify for “disaster-related financial assistance to repair storm-related damage to homes and replace personal property” in addition to the initial $750 payment.

FALSE: Federal assistance is limited to $750 per affected individual

Right-wing media outlets have dishonestly claimed that the federal aid available to hurricane victims is limited to the initial $750 payment. Fox News hosts Sean Hannity, Jesse Watters, and Laura Ingraham misleadingly cut off a speech by Vice President Kamala Harris to suggest that a $750 payment was the only benefit survivors were entitled to.

TRUE: FEMA has adequate funds for disaster relief, which are separate from immigrant assistance programs

FEMA's budget includes billions of dollars for disaster relief, and the agency maintains separate funding for its Shelter and Services Program. The FEMA funds allocated for helping asylum seekers constitute approximately 2% of FEMA's annual budget, which totals over $30 billion. The agency's website directly addresses this concern, stating, “FEMA has enough money right now for immediate response and recovery needs. If you were affected by Helene, do not hesitate to apply for disaster assistance as there is a variety of help available for different needs.”

FALSE: FEMA lacks funds due to spending on immigrant assistance

Right-wing media figures and Republican politicians, including former President Donald Trump, have falsely claimed that FEMA lacks funds to assist Hurricane Helene victims because the agency spent its resources on migrants. At a Michigan rally on October 3, Trump alleged that the Biden-Harris administration “stole the FEMA money like they stole it from a bank so they could give it to their illegal immigrants who they want to have vote for them.”

This claim is entirely baseless. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson categorically debunked this accusation, as reported by The Washington Post, stating, “These claims are completely false.” They clarified that the Shelter and Services Program (SSP), which provides assistance to migrants, “is a completely separate, appropriated grant program that was authorized and funded by Congress and is not associated in any way with FEMA's disaster-related authorities or funding streams.”

TRUE: Hurricane relief funding requires congressional approval and is separate from foreign aid spending

Biden has called for Congress to pass more funding for the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) disaster loan program, which is running low on resources and needs congressional approval that Congress failed to pass in September. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has not committed to reconvening Congress before the election. Biden administration officials told CBS News, “There is not sufficient money to last until Congress' scheduled return to Washington after the November elections.”

The Biden administration announced that nearly $157 million will be sent via USAID to help with humanitarian needs in Lebanon. USAID’s budget is determined by Congress and the organization operates under the guidance of the executive branch, meaning this funding is budgeted in and it is not being taken from the federal disaster relief budget. 

FALSE: The Biden administration gave $157 million to Lebanon that could've been used for hurricane relief

Right-wing media figures have complained about the Biden administration’s pledge to give $157 million to Lebanon, incorrectly claiming that the humanitarian aid for Lebanon is being taken from funds that would otherwise be used for disaster relief assistance. Fox News host Sean Hannity misleadingly suggested U.S. foreign aid is competing with disaster relief for funding, and falsely stated that Congress doesn’t need to reconvene to appropriate more money to areas impacted by hurricanes. Another Fox News host, Jesse Watters, incredulously asked, “How is it that Biden and Harris can send money overseas faster than they can send it to our own citizens?”

TRUE: Hurricanes like Milton and Helene occur naturally, but climate change is making them more dangerous

Burning fossil fuels is making oceans warmer, and is predicted to create storms with heavier rainfall and more severe flooding. The National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration writes that sea level rise caused by warming oceans will lead to more flooding during storms. Around the Atlantic Ocean, according to the administration, we’ll likely see “increased hurricane rain rates and wind intensities,” and a larger proportion of storms could reach Categories 4 or 5. This is because as the air warms, it holds more moisture that can be released as rainfall. 

Recent attribution studies have also allowed scientists to draw connections between climate change and specific storms. Other studies suggest that man-made climate change has contributed to the rapid intensification of Atlantic hurricanes. For example, Hurricane Milton’s sustained wind speed increased by 90 mph in approximately 25 hours.

FALSE: The government used weather manipulation techniques to create or intensify Hurricanes Milton and Helene and target civilians in specific areas

Conspiracy theorists are doing mental gymnastics to avoid acknowledging the role of climate change in these intense storms and to sow distrust in scientific institutions, particularly government agencies. Conspiracy theories about the origin of Hurricane Milton proliferated on X, YouTube, and TikTok. 

Some social media users claimed that the storm was created by the government using geoengineering techniques like cloud seeding. On TikTok, users posted videos of Amazon’s Alexa incorrectly answering questions about Hurricane Milton before it made landfall, sparking unfounded suspicions. Widespread claims that Hurricane Helene was engineered in order to devastate North Carolina and create access to the land for lithium mining have also proliferated on the app. 

On YouTube, videos containing weather manipulation conspiracy theories about Hurricane Helene have earned millions of views, and several have been monetized. These claims have been amplified by political figures like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), who was called out by Biden for claiming that the government uses lasers to control the weather.

 

These false narratives pushed by right-wing media don’t just mislead the public — they can also discourage hurricane victims from seeking much-needed assistance from the federal government. As federal, state, and local authorities work to provide aid and support recovery efforts, it's crucial for accurate information to reach those affected by Hurricane Helene. The spread of misinformation during times of crisis can have real and harmful consequences for vulnerable communities struggling to rebuild.