The Misinformation Epidemic Is Getting People Killed In Floods
The Misinformation Epidemic Is Getting People Killed In Floods
“I don't need to evacuate! FEMA is the enemy.”
Floods are absolutely terrifying acts of nature. If you really think about it, water is one of the deadliest aspects of our planet. There’s no way to fight water. It just goes where it wants to go.
About two weeks ago, we got that memo through Hurricane Helene. Helene is now considered to be one of the deadliest hurricanes in modern history. With a still-climbing death toll of over 200, entire towns have been wiped off the map by the biblical flooding that hit North Carolina.
And now, Hurricane Milton is just done hitting the shores of Florida. It’s a Category 4 hurricane that has been estimated to have water swells as high as 20 feet in some locations. So, there was a mandatory evacuation order in much of Florida.
While most people are complying with local advisories, some have chosen to stay.
If you go on Reddit, chances are high that you’ll see posts from users who have parents, friends, or relatives in Florida that simply refuse to evacuate. The tone is always exasperated, guilty, and furious.
Almost all of the evacuation refusal posts deal with a mix of bravado and conspiracy theories — such as the post above. The tales often weave Q-Anon conspiracies with a strangely spiritual bent.
So far, I’ve seen the following conspiracy theories hitting message boards regarding people who refused to evacuate:
The Democrats are controlling the weather to boost their election results.
FEMA will take away your home and put you in camps for the New World Order.
The Jews are using lasers to make bad weather happen in a bid to control you.
The weather is made by lasers and technology, not climate change.
The government is trying to control you with vaccines and evacuations.
Yes, there is a pattern here: they’re weaponizing weather against left-leaning groups while absolving the actual perpetrators of climate change of guilt.
Many of these theories also downplay the danger of hurricanes and inclement weather, often going so far as to dissuade people from following safety protocols.
Listening to these conspiracy theories can get you killed.
At the time of this writing, Hurricane Milton only claimed a handful of lives. However, the damage is massive and it’s not entirely accounted for. This particular hurricane,
Remember the pandemic’s wave of misinformation about the vaccine? Yep. We’re still paying for it today. People who could be alive and thriving opted out of the vaccine and died as a result of their stupidity.
Senator Jeff Jackson wrote an entire article on Medium, regaling the world with tales about people who regretted not getting the vaccine. I have heard from people in passing that it’s not uncommon for antivaxxers dying of COVID to ask for the vaccine right before they’re intubated.
What started the antivaxx crusade? Honestly, a debunked scientific test followed up with conspiracy theories about vaccines causing autism. Antivaxxing is heavily linked to anti-science movements as well as conspirational thinking.
Now, it’s no longer just a matter of vaccines. Conspiracy theories are seeping into almost every corner of major safety protocols, including water fluoridation and emergency response systems.
Safety measures and standards were put there for a reason: to keep you safe.
Contrary to popular belief, the government generally does not want large swaths of its population to die. Or at the very least, a sane government that corporations and foreign interests didn’t buy will want citizens to be healthy and safe.
Our country still has rational people who believe in science and are not bought by foreign agents. They are the ones who are constantly working to expand medical care access, improve water quality standards, and fund infrastructure.
However, we have a growing number of politicians who are willing to let Americans die if it means their wallets get fattened — and they often use baseless conspiracy theories to justify their votes.
At this point, many community leaders are getting tired of people believing randos on the net over scientific boards. That’s why sheriffs are beginning to ask people to carry IDs on their bodies or write their names on their bodies when they refuse to evacuate.
After all, their decision to stay is going to be a lethal one in many cases.
Hurricane Milton petered out unusually quickly, but it could have been far worse.
The people who didn’t evacuate during Hurricane Milton are lucky that the weather changed as rapidly as it did. They might not be as lucky next time — but the bravado from Milton might make them think otherwise.
This is going to lead to them dying in the inevitable, and likely fast-approaching, next “100-year hurricane.” (We seem to be having 100-year storms every five years these days, so that’s a thing.)
The misinformation doesn’t just affect evacuation and preparation, either.
Politicians like Marjorie Taylor Green and Ron DeSantis became famous for pushing conspiracy theories as part of their campaigns. Most of the time, it’s because of a wealthy lobbyist (erm professional bribester) with a “special interest.”
I’m not shocked to find out that Big Oil’s donations have been booming for GOP politicians. More specifically, the donations have been funneled into the pockets of GOP politicians who are working to repeal climate change protections.
These politicians don’t care that their constituents will die. They don’t care that they are knowingly pushing lies — lies they generally do not believe themselves. They are selling America and American lives down the river, and they know it.
The worst problem with misinformation is that it’s getting harder and harder to get away from it.
At first, it was mostly jokes on 4Chan propelling conspiracy theories forward. Then, it turned into fodder for Russian troll farms during the 2016, 2020, and now 2024 election.
Eventually, trolls like Alex Jones started to spout them, giving them more mainstream media credence. By now, conspiracy theories are being spouted by politicians, medical professionals, and businesses looking to have a quick buck.
We’re at a near-constant barrage of misinformation from people and groups we used to trust. It’s normal to start to question reality. A good rule of thumb is to trust science, err on the side of caution, and to avoid voting for people who lie about things like climate change.
Until America starts making laws against misinformation, we’re at the mercy of liars and people will continue to die needless deaths because of it. Thankfully, a pinch of common sense will help us overcome much of the danger…if we allow it to, anyway.
I've reached the point that I only care about these people's innocent children or frail elderly relatives and their animals. Screw these crazy-ass people who are determined to put themselves in danger. We've done all we can for them. We've provided vaccines and emergency warnings and all the rest, and there's not much else we can do. They're simply too stupid to be saved, and I no longer give one fuck.
I do very much care about the other people they are endangering, though.
I find myself being constantly furious at how Mule Headed the folks that should know better have become. Clearly the years of brain-washing of the Far "Right" is deeply embedded. You have done an excellent job explaining the results, if only it could reach the folks that really need to hear it.