By Hardik Vyas and Esther Chan
As Hurricane Milton approaches Florida's Gulf Coast, misinformation about relief efforts and weather control conspiracies have flooded the internet.
Over 1 million people are evacuating the Gulf Coast, still recovering from Hurricane Helene in September.
Key Misinformation:
CLAIM: Hurricanes are controlled by "weather control"
Online posts, including one from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, claim weather control influences hurricanes. Experts say this is impossible due to the storms' size and power.
CLAIM: FEMA's $750 aid is a loan
An online post falsely claims FEMA gives $750 as a loan to hurricane victims. FEMA clarifies it is an upfront payment for essential items and not a loan.
CLAIM: HAARP program manipulates weather
Conspiracy theories link HAARP to weather manipulation, but experts say it cannot affect hurricanes.
CLAIM: President Biden links vaccination to hurricanes
A video clip of Biden mentioning vaccination before a hurricane is taken out of context. He was urging vaccination against COVID-19 for hurricane preparedness.
CLAIM: VP Kamala Harris's silence on Hurricane Helene
A false claim about Harris not addressing Hurricane Helene on social media was debunked when her official account posted about the storm.
This misinformation can impact financial markets as false narratives may create panic among investors. It is crucial to verify information before making investment decisions during natural disasters.