Sean Breslin
Amid the usual tsunami of social media misinformation that sweeps through a panicked, exhausted population of survivors, the situation in Louisiana is no different in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida.
One such rumor that quickly gained momentum on social media stated that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was paying for evacuees' hotel rooms if they called FEMA's disaster assistance hotline. According to the rumors page, that is not something that the agency does.
With false rumors quickly spreading on Facebook, TikTok and other social media sites, FEMA launched a page Monday that's aimed at reducing the number of myths being shared among those who are seeking food, water, shelter or are looking to start the recovery process.
There's also the issue of the wrong phone number being circulated via texts and social media posts; FEMA's phone number to apply for disaster assistance is 1-800-621-3362, or you can visit DisasterAssistance.gov.
FEMA's rumor control page is likely to be updated in the coming days as more false reports go viral about the assistance the agency provides. The agency also urged residents to always check local sources before sharing key information through social media or text messages.
The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.
The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.
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