The American administration expresses significant apprehension towards falsified news reports.
After Hurricane "Milton" wreaked havoc in Florida, claiming numerous lives, rescue and cleanup operations are in full swing. Concurrently, the U.S. government is urging caution against the spread of misinformation, which is obstructing aid efforts. According to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, at least 10 individuals have lost their lives in Florida due to the hurricane.
Mobile as a Category 3 hurricane, "Milton" made landfall in Florida near Tampa, Siesta Key, with winds reaching 120 mph (193 km/h) late Wednesday evening (local time). Post-landfall, the storm weakened and moved back into the sea. Mayorkas confirmed a minimum of 27 tornadoes linked to "Milton".
In the aftermath of the storm, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis acknowledged substantial damage but thankfully avoided the catastrophic scenario. U.S. Defense Ministry spokesperson Pat Ryder credited evacuation orders for saving lives. Five fatalities have been confirmed in storm-related incidents, all arising from tornadoes that struck the Fort Pierce area, according to St. Lucie County Sheriff Keith Pearson and DeSantis. The death toll may change as the day progresses, DeSantis added.
Misleading Information and Threats
Prior to the arrival of "Milton", Hurricane "Helene" ravaged several southeastern U.S. states, causing over 200 fatalities.
This spate of destructive storms coincides with an intensely competitive presidential campaign. The U.S. presidential election is just around the corner, on November 5. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris is striving to prevent Republican Donald Trump's re-election to the White House.
Mayorkas expressed concern about the spread of misleading information, which is affecting the survivors psychologically. There have been allegations of federal staff seizing people's land during relief efforts, he pointed out. "We've seen people refusing and reluctant to accept help due to these misconceptions," he stated.
Vitriolic Speech and Threats
Mayorkas also raised concerns about threats against Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) personnel. He mentioned that vile speech was being disseminated online. During a speech, Biden echoed these concerns, expressing outrage that aid workers were receiving death threats as a result of false claims and lies.
For several days, Mayorkas and his deputy, Harris, have been warning about misleading information. They have leveled accusations at Republican Donald Trump for intentionally spreading false information. Trump, a contender for the Republican presidential nomination, uploaded a video to the X platform, promising "unprecedented aid". Trump also mentioned that he would visit the disaster area again, reassuring his supporters that someone would be in office on January 20 who would genuinely assist. This is a reference to the presidential election outcome.
Trump reiterated his intention to visit the affected region again, claiming that he would arrive "very soon". Post-Hurricane "Helene", Trump had visited the affected locations twice. Both Biden and Harris have paid visits to crisis areas. However, Trump criticized their responses to the storm.
In response to the ongoing misinformation surrounding Hurricane "Milton", U.S. Vice President Joe Biden expressed concern about the threats against aid workers. He criticized those spreading false claims and lies, which have led to death threats against relief personnel. Furthermore, the spread of misinformation has negatively impacted the survivors, causing them to refuse aid due to misconceptions.
