Damage from Hurricane Milton in Bradenton Beach on Anna Maria Island, Florida. AP
Damage from Hurricane Milton in Bradenton Beach on Anna Maria Island, Florida. AP
Damage from Hurricane Milton in Bradenton Beach on Anna Maria Island, Florida. AP
Damage from Hurricane Milton in Bradenton Beach on Anna Maria Island, Florida. AP

Hurricane Milton: Conspiracy theories hamper disaster response and sow division


Ellie Sennett
  • English
  • Arabic

Latest updates: Follow our full coverage on the US election

On the difficult road to recovery from devastating back-to-back Hurricanes Helene and Milton, US officials are also fighting a storm of misinformation.

Social media platforms have been deluged by outlandish claims from some right-wing commentators, who claim the mega storms were not fuelled by warming oceans but caused by the government as a way of stopping Republicans from voting in the November 5 presidential election.

Milton tore across the southern state of Florida from the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday morning, leaving millions without power and claiming at least 10 lives. This storm compounded the stress of natural disaster recovery as parts of the East Coast still are reeling from Helene, which hit only one week earlier.

Far-right Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has previously pushed QAnon conspiracy theories, has been chief among elected leaders to promote the false claims. She has claimed that an unidentified “they” are controlling the weather, and pointed to the practice of cloud seeding, which does not create monster storms systems like Helene and Milton.

Ms Greene has previously blamed wildfires on “Jewish space lasers”.

Cloud seeding conspiracies have surfaced before, including outside the US.

Questions about the practice gained traction after severe floods in Dubai this year. When asked if cloud seeding played a role in the Dubai floods, a meteorologist told the Associated Press, “when it comes to controlling individual rain storms, we are not anywhere close to that”.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas warned that anti-government conspiracies are “causing individuals, survivors not to approach the people who are there to help and obtain the relief to which they are entitled and that we have available to them”.

“That false information only is fuel for the criminal element to exploit individuals in positions of vulnerability,” he said at a Wednesday media briefing with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Presidential candidate Donald Trump has spread misinformation about the disaster response too, and Democrats say Republicans are using false claims to undermine Ms Harris and the Biden administration before the election.

“It is deeply concerning that one of our two major political parties is completely denying the fact that the storms are being made much more deadly, much more destructive because of climate change,” Stevie O'Hanlon, communication's director for the progressive climate advocacy group Sunrise Movement, told The National.

The conservative-led House of Representatives this year refused to grant the US disaster response agency, Fema, with its full funding request.

Republicans, Ms O'Hanlon said, “have left Fema year after year with a bare bones budget at a time when we need robust disaster response to save lives”.

Congress recently approved $20 billion for Fema disaster relief fund as part of a short-term funding bill to avoid a government shutdown, leaving out billions in requested supplemental disaster funding.

Despite this, Mr Trump has also touted false claims that the Biden administration is withholding Fema funds and giving it to undocumented migrants.

“The GREAT people of North Carolina are being stood up by Harris and Biden, who are giving almost all of the FEMA money to Illegal Migrants,” Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Joshua Tucker, geopolitical risk adviser at Kroll and a politics professor at New York University, said the divided state of US politics makes the spread of such theories more likely.

“In such a highly polarised political climate, it is likely that a larger subset of people will be willing to accept misinformation as truth because they are more likely to view that information as 'political',” he told The National.

Mr Tucker, an expert on social media's impacts on political discourse, says people can be motivated to spread conspiracy theories for varying reasons.

“Some are probably doing it for economic reasons (to generate greater engagement with their posts); some likely for political reasons; and, especially sadly, some are probably just doing it because it feels like a fun way to get attention,” Mr Tucker told The National.

A resident of South Daytona, Florida on Friday. Reuters
A resident of South Daytona, Florida on Friday. Reuters

Alyssa Batchelor, a Democratic strategist focusing on party opposition tactics, says the only way to combat such claims is to “continue to repeat the truth”.

“Parroting and kind of creating lies and running rampant with these conspiracy theories is ultimately because he's not running a serious campaign,” she said.

The fact checks are not just coming from Democrats, though. Republicans in hurricane-hit areas are calling out the dangerous impact of misinformation and conspiracies.

Republican Representative Chuck Edwards in North Carolina called the claims “outrageous rumours” spread by “untrustworthy sources trying to spark chaos.”

“Nobody can control the weather,” he said. “Please make sure you are fact checking what you read online with a reputable source.”

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who has otherwise aligned with Mr Trump, told reporters on Wednesday: “We live in an era where if you put out crap online you can get a lot of people to share it and you can monetise that. That’s just the way it is.

“But if you are hearing something that’s just outrageous – just know in the state of Florida none of that stuff would ever fly.”

Former president Donald Trump speaks at a temporary relief shelter in Georgia on October 4, 2024. AP
Former president Donald Trump speaks at a temporary relief shelter in Georgia on October 4, 2024. AP

In states like North Carolina, Fema has sent additional staff “because of the level of outreach and misinformation we're going to have to counter,” administrator Deanne Criswell said at a Wednesday briefing hours before Hurricane Milton hit Florida.

She added that the relief agency is “not going to let the misinformation be a distraction to the important work we need to do”./

President Biden on Wednesday called the conspiracy theories “off the wall, like a comic book.”

The White House is taking a new approach in their bid to combat disinformation, launching an official Reddit account aimed at keeping online followers informed about the fallout from the historic hurricane systems.

Ms Batchelor believes Democrats must think about “how do we communicate with people who might be predisposed” to these conspiracies.

A focus on how to navigate this, especially with respect to increasingly severe natural disasters, “is definitely going to have to play a role” in the future for political strategists, she told The National.

For the storms' survivors, the noise of conspiracy is detracting from a limited and precious resource: attention.

Anna Kovacs, a resident of hard-hit Asheville, North Carolina, emphasised that donations to the community are coming in strong now, but Americans need to stay focused on the immediate and long term needs at hand.

“To those outside the devastation area … this is a marathon not a sprint, we're going to need assistance for a long time to come,” she said. “I just don't think people are grasping that we didn't think something like this could happen to us.”

SPECS
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Game Changer

Director: Shankar 

Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram

Rating: 2/5

%20Ramez%20Gab%20Min%20El%20Akher
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStreaming%20on%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMBC%20Shahid%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

Available: Now

Women%E2%80%99s%20Asia%20Cup
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20fixtures%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3ESun%20Oct%202%2C%20v%20Sri%20Lanka%3Cbr%3ETue%20Oct%204%2C%20v%20India%3Cbr%3EWed%20Oct%205%2C%20v%20Malaysia%3Cbr%3EFri%20Oct%207%2C%20v%20Thailand%3Cbr%3ESun%20Oct%209%2C%20v%20Pakistan%3Cbr%3ETue%20Oct%2011%2C%20v%20Bangladesh%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20squad%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EChaya%20Mughal%20(captain)%2C%20Esha%20Oza%2C%20Kavisha%20Kumari%2C%20Khushi%20Sharma%2C%20Theertha%20Satish%2C%20Lavanya%20Keny%2C%20Priyanjali%20Jain%2C%20Suraksha%20Kotte%2C%20Natasha%20Cherriath%2C%20Indhuja%20Nandakumar%2C%20Rishitha%20Rajith%2C%20Vaishnave%20Mahesh%2C%20Siya%20Gokhale%2C%20Samaira%20Dharnidharka%2C%20Mahika%20Gaur%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Jebel Ali results

2pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 50,000 (Dirt) 1,400m

Winner: AF Al Moreeb, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)

2.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,400m

Winner: Shamikh, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard

3pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 64,000 (D) 1,600m

Winner: One Vision, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe

3.30pm: Conditions (TB) Dh 100,000 (D) 1,600m

Winner: Gabr, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson

4pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 96,000 (D) 1,800m

Winner: Just A Penny, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson

4.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,600m

Winner: Torno Subito, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson

5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 76,000 (D) 1,950m

Winner: Untold Secret, Jose Santiago, Salem bin Ghadayer

Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

Fines for littering

In Dubai:

Dh200 for littering or spitting in the Dubai Metro

Dh500 for throwing cigarette butts or chewing gum on the floor, or littering from a vehicle. 
Dh1,000 for littering on a beach, spitting in public places, throwing a cigarette butt from a vehicle

In Sharjah and other emirates
Dh500 for littering - including cigarette butts and chewing gum - in public places and beaches in Sharjah
Dh2,000 for littering in Sharjah deserts
Dh500 for littering from a vehicle in Ras Al Khaimah
Dh1,000 for littering from a car in Abu Dhabi
Dh1,000 to Dh100,000 for dumping waste in residential or public areas in Al Ain
Dh10,000 for littering at Ajman's beaches 

Company profile

Name: Tratok Portal

Founded: 2017

Based: UAE

Sector: Travel & tourism

Size: 36 employees

Funding: Privately funded

ESSENTIALS

The flights 
Fly Etihad or Emirates from the UAE to Moscow from 2,763 return per person return including taxes. 
Where to stay 
Trips on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian cost from US$16,995 (Dh62,414) per person, based on two sharing.

The distance learning plan

Spring break will be from March 8 - 19

Public school pupils will undergo distance learning from March 22 - April 2. School hours will be 8.30am to 1.30pm

Staff will be trained in distance learning programmes from March 15 - 19

Teaching hours will be 8am to 2pm during distance learning

Pupils will return to school for normal lessons from April 5

Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

The%20Color%20Purple
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Spec%20sheet
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ARGYLLE
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Zombieland: Double Tap

Director: Ruben Fleischer

Stars: Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone

Four out of five stars 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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THE%20STRANGERS'%20CASE
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The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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if you go

The flights 

Etihad and Emirates fly direct to Kolkata from Dh1,504 and Dh1,450 return including taxes, respectively. The flight takes four hours 30 minutes outbound and 5 hours 30 minute returning. 

The trains

Numerous trains link Kolkata and Murshidabad but the daily early morning Hazarduari Express (3’ 52”) is the fastest and most convenient; this service also stops in Plassey. The return train departs Murshidabad late afternoon. Though just about feasible as a day trip, staying overnight is recommended.

The hotels

Mursidabad’s hotels are less than modest but Berhampore, 11km south, offers more accommodation and facilities (and the Hazarduari Express also pauses here). Try Hotel The Fame, with an array of rooms from doubles at Rs1,596/Dh90 to a ‘grand presidential suite’ at Rs7,854/Dh443.

Mina Cup winners

Under 12 – Minerva Academy

Under 14 – Unam Pumas

Under 16 – Fursan Hispania

Under 18 – Madenat

TOURNAMENT INFO

Fixtures
Sunday January 5 - Oman v UAE
Monday January 6 - UAE v Namibia
Wednesday January 8 - Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 - Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 - UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia

UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid, Darius D’Silva, Karthik Meiyappan, Jonathan Figy, Vriitya Aravind, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Chirag Suri

FULL%20FIGHT%20CARD
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Company%20profile%20
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How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
  • Submit their request
What are the regulations?
  • Fly it within visual line of sight
  • Never over populated areas
  • Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
  • Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
  • Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
  • Should have a live feed of the drone flight
  • Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
A%20QUIET%20PLACE
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FFP EXPLAINED

What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.

What the rules dictate? 
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.

What are the penalties? 
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.

Civil%20War
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While you're here
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING

Director: Christopher McQuarrie

Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg

Rating: 4/5

THE SPECS

Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine 

Power: 420kW

Torque: 780Nm

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Price: From Dh1,350,000

On sale: Available for preorder now

The White Lotus: Season three

Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
The candidates

Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive

Ali Azeem, business leader

Tony Booth, professor of education

Lord Browne, former BP chief executive

Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist

Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist

Dr Mark Mann, scientist

Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner

Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister

Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster

 

Singham Again

Director: Rohit Shetty

Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone

Rating: 3/5

Updated: October 11, 2024, 6:00 PM`