### Unprecedented Surge in Misinformation Hampers Hurricane Relief Efforts in Southeast

As Florida and the Southeast grapple with recovery after the devastation of hurricanes Helene and Milton, emergency responders and local officials are confronting an unprecedented wave of conspiracy theories and falsehoods. The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) noted this surge, highlighting how misinformation has hampered aid efforts and complicated the work of first responders, local authorities, and nonprofit organizations.

Officials report that these falsehoods have significant real-world impacts, such as dissuading victims from evacuating, seeking assistance, and diverting attention from essential recovery operations. The pattern of misinformation follows historical trends seen in past natural disasters, marked by exaggerated crime reports, fake visuals, and outright scams.

One widespread rumor after Hurricane Helene claimed that aid trucks' tires were being slashed, a statement categorically denied by local police. This follows a familiar trajectory seen during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 when exaggerated claims of looting, murder, and rape circulated but were later debunked by officials. For instance, the reported murders at the Louisiana Superdome, announced by the Mayor of New Orleans, were later confirmed by the National Guard to be false.

A 2018 Department of Homeland Security report identified that the slow emergence of verified information often fuels rumors and speculation after disasters. Jennie King, Director of Climate Disinformation Research and Policy at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, stressed that conspiracies blaming the government for hurricanes have become routine. Notably, these unfounded claims garnered more than 160 million views online after Helene, despite being debunked by FEMA.

Misleading visuals have repeatedly surfaced during major weather events. Hurricane Dorian in 2019 saw the recirculation of old, false images of looting in Florida. Superstorm Sandy in 2013 resulted in over 10,000 unique Twitter posts containing fake images, including the notorious "street shark" swimming along a highway, which has reappeared in multiple hurricanes since at least 2011.

The misuse of digitally altered images continues to mislead the public. One artist-created image, intended to raise awareness about climate change by depicting planes underwater, was falsely attributed to the effects of the 2017 and 2018 hurricanes. After Hurricane Milton, AI-generated visuals showing Disney World submerged by floodwaters spread across numerous online platforms. Anupam Joshi, director of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County Cybersecurity Institute, emphasizes that the ease of generating misleading visuals necessitates a cautious approach to online content.

Scammers also prey on victims and would-be donors in the wake of hurricanes. Following Hurricane Katrina, fraudulent schemes impersonating charities like the Red Cross proliferated, which led the U.S. Department of Justice to establish the National Center for Disaster Fraud. Researcher Jun Zhuang, who analyzed online misinformation after Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, revealed that scammers solicit funds through fraudulent links.

Fraudulent offers of assistance also target storm victims. After Hurricane Sandy, some fake contractors duped survivors by claiming FEMA would reimburse them for damage assessments and repairs, defrauding 30 people out of approximately $1.9 million. FEMA advises the public to be cautious of unsolicited messages and to verify charities before donating.

The proliferation of misinformation and scams after major hurricanes underscores the need for vigilance and skepticism in the face of disaster-related content online. Understanding and mitigating these falsehoods' spread is crucial to ensuring effective and swift recovery efforts.