As Hurricane Milton swept through Florida, causing 16 fatalities and leaving millions without power, a wave of conspiracy theories rapidly spread across social media.
While the storm’s devastation was undeniable, many online claims questioned its origins, with one of the most notable theories alleging that the U.S. government had manipulated the weather.
Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene fueled this narrative by asserting that “the US government can control the weather,” sharing screenshots of “weather modification project reports.”
In response, President Joe Biden dismissed these claims as “beyond ridiculous” and called them “stupid,” urging an end to the speculation.
Another prevalent conspiracy suggested that the hurricane was artificially created through cloud seeding, a technique involving the introduction of “ice nuclei” into clouds to encourage rainfall. Experts like Jill Trepanier, an extreme weather specialist at Louisiana State University, refuted this notion, explaining that hurricanes naturally develop, particularly in regions like the western Gulf of Mexico.
Adding to the misinformation, AI-generated images falsely depicting a flooded Disney World circulated widely, showing the theme park submerged.
While Walt Disney World and other Orlando attractions were temporarily closed due to the hurricane, there were no reports of actual flooding. These images exemplified a troubling trend of fake visuals that have misled many following the storm’s impact.
Additionally, a false narrative emerged regarding the diversion of hurricane relief funds. Former President Donald Trump amplified claims that FEMA’s disaster-relief funds were being misused to shelter illegal migrants instead of supporting hurricane victims. FEMA quickly labeled these assertions as “false,” affirming that no funds were being diverted from disaster response.
Despite the proliferation of these conspiracy theories, officials and experts stress the need to prioritize accurate information during natural disasters. The real devastation left by Hurricane Milton requires focused recovery efforts, and ongoing misinformation only complicates this process.
