In a troubling development, U.S. meteorologists monitoring Hurricane Milton are receiving death threats and facing a barrage of conspiracy theories, including unfounded claims that they are manipulating the weather. This unprecedented wave of misinformation has intensified as two major hurricanes, Helene and Milton, have wreaked havoc across the nation.
Since Hurricane Helene devastated six states, resulting in hundreds of fatalities, the spread of false narratives has escalated dramatically. Meteorologists, including Michigan-based Katie Nickolaou, report a surge in aggressive messaging, with individuals claiming the existence of “category 6 hurricanes” and accusing meteorologists and the government of deliberately directing storm paths.
“I’ve never seen a storm generate so much misinformation,” Nickolaou stated. “We’ve been battling rampant falsehoods and even threats of violence. It’s exhausting.”
“I have had a bunch of people saying I created and steered the hurricane, there are people assuming we control the weather. I have had to point out that a hurricane has the energy of 10,000 nuclear bombs and we can’t hope to control that. But it’s taken a turn to more violent rhetoric, especially with people saying those who created Milton should be killed,” she added.
One particularly alarming message she received read, “Stop the breathing of those that made them and their affiliates.” In response, she remarked, “Murdering meteorologists won’t stop hurricanes. I can’t believe I just had to type that.”
The misinformation has been amplified by prominent figures, including former President Donald Trump, who erroneously claimed that FEMA has run out of funds for hurricane survivors because of financial allocations to undocumented immigrants. Additionally, inflammatory posts on platforms like TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) have incited violence against FEMA workers, suggesting they should be harmed or executed.
Trump’s allies, such as former national security advisor Michael Flynn, have further propagated the narrative that the government is orchestrating hurricanes. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a congresswoman, echoed this sentiment, claiming that the Biden administration is controlling the storms to affect red states.
In light of these developments, President Joe Biden has condemned the spread of misinformation, attributing it to Trump and urging him to “get a life.” “It’s beyond ridiculous,” Biden stated, emphasizing the danger of such baseless claims.
Experts warn that this surge in misinformation not only endangers public safety but also complicates the response efforts in affected areas.
Chris Gloninger, a former TV meteorologist, highlighted the broader trend of misinformation permeating public discourse, particularly among extremist figures on social media.
“Meteorologists are facing unprecedented threats simply for doing their jobs,” he noted. “We’re here to protect lives during extreme weather.”
As the situation unfolds, the safety and well-being of those dedicated to forecasting and responding to natural disasters hang in the balance, overshadowed by a growing tide of falsehoods and hostility.
