Lawmaker on Helene conspiracy theories: 'PLEASE help stop this junk'

(The Hill) -- North Carolina State Sen. Kevin Corbin (R) denounced what he described as "conspiracy theory junk" circulating about flooding in western North Carolina from Hurricane Helene, referring to allegations about the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) stealing money from donations, among several others.

"PLEASE help stop this junk. It is just a distraction to people trying to do their job. Folks, this is a catastrophic event of which this country has never known," Corbin wrote Thursday in a post on Facebook.

CBS News on Friday reported satellite images showing washed-out streets and buildings. One image shows an empty space where homes once were, along with downed trees and power lines.

In an effort to curb misinformation surrounding Hurricane Helene, FEMA launched a "rumor response" page, where the agency asks the public to find and share information from trusted sources and to discourage others from sharing details from unverified sources. It also seeks to dispel rumors as the search for storm victims continues across multiple states and authorities contend with blocked roads and power outages.

On the page, FEMA addressed the rumor about asking for cash donations and turning away volunteers, saying the agency "does not ask for or generally accept any cash donations or volunteers for disaster response."

"We do encourage people who want to help to volunteer with or donate cash to reputable voluntary or charitable organizations," the page reads. "After a disaster, cash is often the best way to help as it provides the greatest flexibility for these reputable organizations working on the ground to purchase exactly what is needed."

FEMA also denied that allegations regarding the agency confiscating donations, diverting funding to support international and border-related efforts instead, and only providing up to $750 million to disaster survivors are all false.

The Associated Press reported Friday that at least 215 people have been killed by Hurricane Helene, making it the deadliest hurricane to hit the mainland since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Dozens or possibly hundreds of people are still unaccounted for, according to the news wire.

The Biden administration announced Friday that another $45 million would be granted to survivors of the hurricane.

Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to travel to North Carolina over the weekend to assess the damage and get an update on recovery efforts from local officials.