Amid Hurricane Helene, false information about the federal response has quickly spread on social media, some of which claims that the government is attempting to seize land in North Carolina for lithium mining.
One of the more implausible rumours is that Helene was a manufactured storm to enable corporations to mine local lithium deposits.
Others accuse Joe Biden's administration of using federal disaster funds to assist undocumented migrants, or suggest that officials are intentionally leaving behind bodies during the clean-up.
Broadcasting company CBS reported that false claims about authorities trying to take control of Chimney Rock, North Carolina, for a lithium mine have circulated on social media platforms such as X, TikTok and Facebook.
Some rumours refer to an alleged "town meeting" where officials supposedly said they would demolish Chimney Rock and the government would take ownership of the land. A post on X spreading this false claim garnered more than six million views.
In response, Rutherford County, North Carolina emergency management stated that “there was no ‘special meeting’ held in Chimney Rock on 2 October involving discussions of the federal, state, or local governments seizing the town. These claims are entirely false.”
Some social media users spreading the claim referenced the North Carolina city of Kings Mountain, where a lithium mine is expected to reopen. Others mentioned companies such as Piedmont Lithium, which plans to establish a lithium mine in Gaston County, North Carolina.
These proposed lithium mines are approximately 80–100 miles from Chimney Rock. Chimney Rock has also posted recovery updates online, including revamping the Main Street, restoring power and clearing debris.
“There have been no discussions or actions taken by the federal, state, or local government related to property seizure in Chimney Rock or any other part of Rutherford County,” the emergency management added.
White House officials on Friday accused some Republican leaders and conservative media of intentionally peddling rumours to divide Americans in a way that could harm disaster relief efforts.
