social media strategy

Rumors and conspiracy theories have been floating around on social media days after Helene brought widespread damage and devastation to Western North Carolina and the Upstate. Local and federal officials debunked various social media claims Monday, saying they can have an effect on first responders looking to help the area recover.Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell called rumors that claimed the agency was hindering supplies from reaching Western North Carolina “absolutely false.”FEMA has created a rumor control web page on its site following Helene.”Frankly, that type of rhetoric is demoralizing to our staff that have left their families to come here and help the people of North Carolina,” she said. “We will be here as long as they are needed.”Meanwhile, at the Greenville Downtown Airport, rumors claim that FEMA helicopter contractors were impeding Helene relief supplies from taking off last week.”The airport made a place for them to land and to stage their helicopters so that they could be responsive when called upon by FEMA,” Director James Stephens said. “That placement of that helicopter on this airport did not impact our airport operations in any way.”Stephens said the airport’s secondary runway, where the helicopters were positioned, is used less than 10% of the year. He added that the social media rumors affected the contractors.”They were put at risk by some social media posts that were put out publicly, and they had to evaluate that risk to see whether or not they needed to stay here,” Stephens said. U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., represents part of Western North Carolina. He also weighed in on the rumors and conspiracy theories floating around.”Those rumors are totally unsubstantiated,” he said. “It’s so unfortunate that at a time like this, where we need to be pulling together and being truthful and working on real solutions, we’ve got some nefarious folks out there.”Stephens said the helicopter contractors have been repositioned to Florida to help with any potential impacts from Hurricane Milton. “It’s unfortunate that the public does not get all the facts before pushing those communications out to their social platforms,” Stephens said. “Had individuals reached out to the operators here and to the airport specifically, we would have not been in the situation today.”FEMA has created a rumor control web page on its site following Helene.