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No, the Department of Defense Isn’t Controlling Our Weather
Retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn ignited controversy this week by sharing a video on social media that wrongly suggested the Department of Defense was conducting “weather modification operations” to exacerbate Hurricane Helene’s impact on the Carolinas. His post attracted significant attention, racking up over half a million views in just 15 hours.
Flynn’s claims coincided with alarming assertions made by alt-right Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, further fueling baseless conspiracy theories about government control over weather. In stark contrast, a video from the Poynter Institute’s PolitiFact, which debunked this notion and received a low “Pants on Fire!” rating, garnered merely 11,400 views—a small fraction of Flynn’s reach.
As the Southeast anticipates another storm, the dual threats of extreme weather and rampant misinformation are compounding challenges faced by government officials and relief workers. According to Josephine Lukito, a journalism professor at the University of Texas, the uptick in misinformation is notable: “There’s more misinformation, and people seem to be falling for it more.”
The narratives surrounding Hurricane Helene have cast the military in a dubious light, with claims suggesting that the military is withholding aid and may even aim to harm citizens. As the hurricane struck, false social media posts accused the military of intentionally failing to aid affected communities, despite the activation of over 6,000 National Guardsmen for rescue operations.
In North Carolina, criticisms emerged regarding the mobilization of troops, particularly from Fort Liberty, the region’s largest military base. However, military protocols do not typically involve active-duty personnel as first responders to natural disasters. Misconceptions proliferated as people questioned the absence of visible military support in their areas, leading to rampant social media conspiracy theories about the government diverting resources elsewhere.
Such misinformation was exacerbated by remarks made by former President Trump at a rally, where he claimed that military rescue efforts were nonexistent in North Carolina. This assertion was quickly debunked, as the North Carolina National Guard confirmed they had made numerous rescues and delivered significant supplies.
Pablo Breuer, a Navy veteran and counter-disinformation advocate, highlighted the detrimental effects of distrust in government institutions. “It’s easy to stir up fear by suggesting that the military is not protecting you,” he said. An analysis revealed a spike in comments linking military involvement with weather manipulation just before Greene’s viral posts, evidencing a growing conspiracy mindset.
Despite the chaos online, organized military response efforts have been underway. Governors from affected states have mobilized National Guard units, with North Carolina’s Governor Roy Cooper expressing frustration over the misinformation undermining their relief work. “It can hurt our relief efforts,” Cooper stated, underscoring the morale impact on responders working tirelessly to aid those in need.
Breuer emphasized the complexity of disaster response, which requires coordination between local, state, and federal agencies. Recently, the Biden administration announced the deployment of additional troops to support recovery in North Carolina, reiterating the role of state authorities in authorizing military aid.
The convergence of misinformation and disaster response, especially so close to an election, is concerning. Katherine Keneally from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue noted the ease with which such narratives can spread within a hyperpoliticized environment, particularly when individuals purport to have military connections.
Ultimately, while the military maintains a high level of public trust, misinformation can exploit this credibility. As disaster recovery efforts continue, experts emphasize the importance of rooting out false claims and focusing on factual information for effective responses to natural disasters.