A Greek meteorologist in the U.S. speaks out about the threats she has been receiving.
Meteorologists monitoring Hurricane Milton’s path have been facing a wave of conspiracy theories and threats, as the extreme weather phenomenon hit Florida and caused significant damage.
At the same time, the flood of misinformation on social media has made the work of specialists and authorities coordinating relief efforts even more difficult.
The attacks on conspiracy theorists intensified after the devastating path of Hurricane Ellen, which occurred two weeks prior, affecting six states and leaving hundreds dead. As Milton followed, misinformation reached unprecedented levels, sparking dangerous reactions.
Conspiracy theories about “artificial hurricanes” and death threats
The situation has become so serious that meteorologists report receiving death threats and being accused of controlling or creating hurricanes.
One of the primary targets of these attacks is meteorologist Kate Nikolaou, who told the Guardian that she and her colleagues have received numerous messages accusing them of creating “Category 6 hurricanes” (a category that doesn’t exist), of “creating” and “directing” the hurricanes, and even of destroying radar equipment.
“I have never seen a storm gather so much misinformation,” Nikolaou stated. “We constantly have to manage the spread of false news.”
In one of the messages Nikolaou received, someone wrote, “Stop the breath of those who create them and their collaborators.” She responded, “Killing meteorologists won’t stop hurricanes.”
She has also received many messages blaming meteorologists for controlling the weather, telling her to “shut up” and “sit quietly,” while others threaten to destroy Doppler radar systems, believing they are responsible for “weather control.”
Nikolaou noted, “It’s very exhausting to deal with this, and it takes up a lot of time from our work and personal lives.”
Dangerous rumors and conspiracy theories
The spread of misinformation began even before Hurricane Milton reached Florida, and it was fueled by political figures. Former President Donald Trump and his supporters contributed to rumors that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had exhausted its funds for hurricane survivors because those funds were diverted to illegal immigrants.
This rhetoric didn’t remain just words. On platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter), videos circulated that called for violence against FEMA workers, claiming that they should be “arrested, beaten, or hanged on the spot.”
Additionally, politicians like Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican congresswoman and Trump ally, spread conspiracy theories, claiming that the government controls the weather. “Yes, they can control the weather,” she posted on X.
Risks to society and rescue operations
This misinformation has created serious problems for authorities and rescue operations. According to the head of FEMA, the spread of false news makes their job difficult and undermines the public’s trust in official authorities.
Such conspiracy theories can delay or hinder rescue efforts, as citizens either do not follow instructions or turn against relief workers.
Alarming increase in fake news
The scale of the phenomenon is so vast that the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) reported that less than three dozen false posts have been viewed more than 160 million times on the X platform. Many of these posts originate from accounts openly supporting Donald Trump, turning hurricane misinformation into a political propaganda tool.
Experts are concerned that this trend could undermine not only trust in emergency services but also the public’s overall perception of truth and reality, especially in light of the upcoming presidential elections.
