The Blubber

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a warning Tuesday that misinformation surrounding hurricanes is severely hindering their response efforts and endangering hundreds of thousands of lives as Hurricane Milton heads toward Florida, while recovery from Hurricane Helene continues.

Why it matters: With one natural disaster ongoing and another approaching, FEMA paused its preparation and response efforts to address the spread of widespread falsehoods.

Former President Trump and other Republicans have amplified claims that FEMA's response to Hurricane Helene was biased against Republicans and that funds meant for storm victims were diverted to housing for undocumented immigrants.
In response, FEMA launched a fact-checking page to address misinformation about its efforts related to Hurricane Helene.

Driving the news: At a press briefing on Tuesday, FEMA focused specifically on countering the spread of misinformation.

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said the disinformation surrounding hurricane response efforts is unprecedented.
"I expected some level of it, but not to the extent we are witnessing," Criswell remarked.
Later that day, President Biden called the flood of disinformation "un-American," emphasizing that it's happening at a time when "people are terrified. Their lives, their homes, and everything they've worked for are at risk."

State of play: Misinformation is not only affecting the morale of first responders, but it's also discouraging people from seeking vital aid that could support them during and after the storms, Criswell warned.

"If it creates so much fear that my team doesn't want to go into the field, we won’t be able to help people," she explained. "I worry that people won’t apply for aid, which means we can't provide them with the resources they need."

Between the lines: Criswell said FEMA has not yet confirmed whether foreign entities are responsible for spreading false information about Helene, but noted that foreign actors disseminated disinformation after the Maui wildfires last year.