On Wednesday afternoon, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation pete buttigieg appeared in MSNBCdateline white house We sat down with Nicole Wallace to discuss the department’s role in preparing for Hurricane Milton and the growing problem of disinformation that has complicated relief efforts in recent disasters.
buttigieg be familiar with The department is preparing ahead of Hurricane Milton’s expected landfall. florida Late Wednesday night, he stressed that the team is actively working to support recovery efforts. “Right now, we have personnel in place from the FAA to the Federal Highway Administration who are ready to help as soon as we get to the affected areas,” Buttigieg said. He emphasized the department’s focus on ensuring clear evacuation routes, especially by utilizing shoulder lanes on major highways such as Interstate 4 and Interstate 75. .
Additionally, Buttigieg noted that the Department of Transportation has approved anticipatory licenses for drone flights to allow Florida power companies to survey potential damage soon after the storm passes. “So whether you’re talking about sea, air or land, we’re doing everything we can to make sure Florida is well-positioned for recovery,” he said. Said.
Buttigieg said what makes the response to this hurricane unique is that it coincides with the ongoing recovery from Hurricane Helen, which hit the Southeast two weeks ago. “We have hundreds of DOT personnel on the ground between these two events,” Buttigieg said, adding that he briefed the president. JOe Biden He spoke about the ministry’s efforts during a recent meeting with several Cabinet agencies. “This is why we had to provide an update in the same meeting on what we were doing to respond to the last disaster and what we were doing to prepare for future disasters. I think it’s just a matter of time,” he reflected.
Buttigieg also addressed the widespread disinformation plaguing disaster relief efforts, particularly in the aftermath of Hurricane Helen. He emphasized the importance of relying on trusted sources such as FEMA and local authorities rather than unverified information on social media.
“Relying on reliable sources of information is so important right now… because listening to what someone on the internet has to say can mean the difference between life and death in a disaster situation,” Buttigieg said. .
The discussion turned to Elon Musk, one of the most prominent figures in the disinformation world. Musk recently accused the FAA of obstructing relief efforts during Hurricane Helen, claiming that FAA regulations “restricted” airspace and prevented helicopters from delivering Starlink internet terminals. was. Musk made these accusations available on his platform “X” (previously known as Twitter), called the government’s actions “belligerent government incompetence.”
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Buttigieg quickly refuted Musk’s claims, responding directly to X and clarifying that FAA regulations are not impeding relief flights. After speaking directly with Musk, Buttigieg explained that the problem was not government interference, but rather logistical difficulties in delivering the satellite equipment, which the FAA helped resolve.
“This was a great example of the difference between humans talking to each other to solve a problem and everyone just saying unverified things behind their Twitter accounts,” Buttigieg said. Ta.
Many on the right, including former presidents, donald trumphas falsely claimed that federal funds are being withheld from Republican-leaning areas.
According to According to CNN, Trump is one of the key figures in spreading misinformation about the federal government’s response to Hurricane Helen. Over six days, President Trump made numerous false claims, including that FEMA was only providing $750 to storm survivors and that federal aid was being diverted to immigrants. FEMA officials have repeatedly made clear that the $750 is just the first round of aid for emergency needs like food and water, with more money available for home repairs and other assistance. President Trump also falsely claimed that the Biden administration was intentionally withholding aid from Republican-leaning areas, a claim that has no basis in fact.
Early Wednesday morning, the Vice President kamala harris made an impromptu telephone appearance on CNNwhere she forcefully condemned the spread of disinformation about the federal response to Hurricanes Helen and Milton. Harris condemned misleading claims being spread online.
“It’s dangerous. Frankly, it’s unconscionable that someone who sees himself as a leader could mislead desperate people so that they don’t get the help they deserve. ,” Harris said. she urged. political Leaders need to put aside partisanship in moments of crisis and focus on helping those affected.
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In addition to the claims surrounding federal aid, another wave of misinformation is emerging. There were false rumors that FEMA was seizing supplies and property, including accusations that it was confiscating homes because of hidden lithium deposits underground.
Buttigieg echoed Harris’ concerns, emphasizing how dangerous misinformation can be during disasters. He explained that such misleading claims could deter people from applying for any benefits they are eligible for, harming those most in need.
“These falsehoods can mean the difference between life and death,” Buttigieg warned. “Especially when life and death decisions depend on people understanding information from trusted, authentic sources.”
Asked about the continuing challenge of combating misinformation, Buttigieg acknowledged the difficulty but stressed the importance of holding those in power accountable and true to their platform.
“With having a platform comes a certain level of responsibility,” Buttigieg said. “Those with platforms have a responsibility to ensure that people have good information and use it to tell the truth.”
Buttigieg also addressed one of the most outlandish conspiracy theories in recent weeks, without directly naming it. republican party georgia U.S. Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. Greene falsely claimed that Democrats controlled the weather and were targeting Republican-leaning areas with hurricanes.
“Many of us have opinions about our congressmen, and some of us believe those things because they’re our congressmen,” Buttigieg said. He stressed that spreading such falsehoods has life-or-death consequences when people rely on accurate information to make important decisions about their safety.
“People deserve support. They need resources. They need good information. And they deserve the truth.” Buttigieg said.
Source: Advocate.com – www.advocate.com
