Debunking or confirming the Hurricane Milton conspiracy theories

As Hurricane Milton advanced toward Florida’s Gulf Coast, a new storm brewed online: the swell of conspiracy theories. While over a million people packed their bags under evacuation orders, some stayed busy feeding digital wildfires, claiming everything from weather control to FEMA loans.

Let’s break down the most persistent – and puzzling - myths circulating about Hurricane Milton.

Are hurricanes really under human control?

One of the most far-fetched but surprisingly popular theories is the idea that hurricanes, including Milton, are being “controlled.” Republican US Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene fanned the flames with an X post claiming, “Yes they can control the weather.” Bold words, but meteorologists would beg to differ. Experts in the field, like those at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), have consistently said it’s impossible to control hurricanes. Sure, the US dabbled with cloud seeding back in the day – between the 1960s and 1980s – but the experiments flopped harder than a bad summer blockbuster.

In short, even with decades of scientific research and fanciful Hollywood imagination, no one’s figured out how to manipulate something as powerful and chaotic as a hurricane, although there is this. So, unless you think Mother Nature is secretly working for the government, Milton’s wrath was all-natural.

FEMA’s $750 aid: gift or loan?

As with any crisis, misinformation can move fast. One viral claim suggested FEMA’s emergency $750 payments were actually loans in disguise, leaving disaster victims trapped in debt. But FEMA was quick to debunk this one.

According to Jaclyn Rothenberg, the agency’s spokesperson, the $750 is an upfront payment to help folks stock up on essentials like food, baby supplies, and medication – no strings attached. The FEMA website even called the loan rumors a “myth.” So, rest easy, the government isn’t coming for your wallet after your house.

The HAARP theory: more fiction than fact

HAARP, a research program out of Alaska, is no stranger to conspiracy theories. Some believe it’s the covert culprit behind natural disasters, including hurricanes. The idea that HAARP could whip up a storm like Milton has been making the rounds, but experts are firm: HAARP can’t create, modify, or manipulate hurricanes.

In fact, the science behind HAARP has more to do with studying the upper atmosphere than wreaking weather havoc. As NOAA’s Howard Diamond put it, there’s no technology on Earth that can steer or stop a hurricane. So, no, Milton wasn’t remote-controlled. What did Forrest Gump say about stupid?

Did Biden really suggest vaccinations for hurricane protection?

Another snippet making the rounds online is a video of President Joe Biden suggesting vaccinations as a crucial part of hurricane prep. This one is a classic case of context-clipping.

The clip in question dates back to 2021, when Biden urged people in hurricane-prone states to get vaccinated against covid-19 – not to protect them from the storm, but to avoid serious illness if they had to shelter with others. It might sound ridiculous at first, but when you consider the realities of crowded shelters during a pandemic, the message becomes clearer.

Vice President Kamala Harris: silent on Hurricane Helene?

After Hurricane Helene swept through the Southeast, another online narrative emerged, claiming Vice President Kamala Harris had stayed mum about the disaster. A far-right account on X claimed she hadn’t tweeted a single word. But the truth? Harris did post about Helene, stating that she was working with President Biden to support affected communities. As with most things on the internet, a little fact-checking goes a long way.

In the age of viral misinformation, it’s easy to get swept up in the storm. But when it comes to Hurricane Milton – and all the theories swirling around it – the truth, as it turns out, is far less dramatic than the fiction.