While Millions Are Left Without Power, CNN Host Asks FEMA Administrator About ‘Misinformation’ Surrounding Hurricane

CNN host Kate Bolduan asked Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administrator Deanne Criswell Thursday about alleged misinformation surrounding Hurricane Milton in the aftermath of the storm.

Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key, Florida, Wednesday night and knocked out power for 3 million residents and caused mass flooding in several communities. Bolduan asked about misinformation regarding “false rumors being spread” about Hurricanes Helene and Milton and the response by FEMA to combat the so-called false claims.

“Last time, we spoke earlier in the week, we were talking about one of the things that FEMA was forced to fight against is misinformation with regard to false rumors being spread, and that had to do with Hurricane Helene and the impacts of that. It’s early on, but are your teams seeing that level of misinformation continue to spread in regard to any difference with the impacts of Hurricane Milton? What would you say is the status report of the battle you all have been needing to wage against this misinformation?” Bolduan asked.

“Well I think as we’ve looked from Hurricane Helene, we’ve had great support from governors and congressional members, local leaders, really helping to push back on that misinformation and we did see a decrease even though there were still some voices out there that are still  trying to spread these lies, which is really unfortunate and just a distraction to our ability to support the state and locals with what they’re doing. I have not had any reports yet of an increase in misinformation as a result from Milton, but I do have a team that watches this closely and if we find that we need to get out there and be proactive in our messaging to help dispel these rumors, we’ll certainly do that,” Criswell replied.

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Bolduan also asked about Criswell’s assessment of the damage done by the storm and mentioned the roof of the Tampa Bay Rays’ Tropicana Field