Following last week’s devastation across the southern U.S. by Hurricane Helene, right-wing commentators across X and Instagram have been spreading false claims that the hurricane was “modified” to intentionally inflict “mass damage” on rural counties in Georgia and the Carolinas.
These conspiracy theories emerged as the storm made landfall, causing significant destruction and flooding in several communities. Some commentators baselessly allege that government agencies or private entities manipulated the hurricane’s path and intensity, claiming that this alleged modification aimed to target rural areas, particularly those with fewer resources.
Experts in meteorology and climate science quickly debunked these assertions. They emphasize that hurricanes are natural phenomena influenced by a multitude of environmental factors, including ocean temperatures and atmospheric conditions.
“NOAA confirms that there are no weather modification activities that could have resulted in Hurricane Helene. Hurricanes form on their own given the right conditions and that was the case with Helene,” Monica Allen, director of public affairs for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Research division, told reporters at PolitiFact.
Social media has played a crucial role in the rapid dissemination of these false claims. Many users have shared videos and memes suggesting that the government possesses technology to steer storms. These posts often gain traction in echo chambers,...
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