Misinformation hurting Hurricane Helene efforts as thousands provide aid

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- As thousands of people are helping those who've lost so much from Hurricane Helene, extremist groups, disinformation agents and politicians are exploiting the devastation, making false claims and spreading misinformation.

"We saw this hurricane being so devastating that we knew we needed to act up and send a team," said Doug Vrechek a rescue team manager with Wisconsin Task Force 1.

Vrechek is one of 16 members with Wisconsin Task Force 1's swiftwater rescue team that returned home on Saturday, Oct. 5. The team spent a week assisting with Hurricane Helene search efforts in hard-hit Western North Carolina.

"We were able to help some people down there, I know we made a positive impact," said Vrechek.

This, while hundreds of false and misleading claims are being made on social media about hurricane recovery efforts.

False statements claiming FEMA is seizing peoples land and blocking relief supplies, with many of these posts receiving thousands of likes. This caused FEMA to launch a Hurricane Helene Rumor Response page with the facts.

Former President Trump also accused FEMA of spending its money to help immigrants in the country illegally, causing President Biden to clap back on social media.

Voces de la Frontera, a non-partisan group who works to eliminate discrimination against immigrants says these claims are unacceptable.

"The whole framing of this discussion is scapegoating immigrants for something they have nothing to do with and they in themselves are victims of this recent tragedy," said Christine Neumann-Ortiz the Executive Director of Voces De La Frontera Action.

The American Red Cross posted on X saying the spread of misinformation "disrupts our ability to deliver critical aid and affects the disaster workers who have put their own lives on hold to assist those in need."