PolitiFact | Natural Disasters

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Mostly True

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Pants on Fire

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All Fact-checks for Natural Disasters

Brian Tyler Cohen

stated on April 12, 2025 in an X post

Trump “just denied North Carolina’s request for FEMA relief from Hurricane Helene.”

true

half-true

stated on January 26, 2025 in an interview on NBC's Meet the Press

“As a Californian, we have given more to the recovery of other states than any other state in the union.”

true

mostly-true

stated on January 24, 2025 in a video on TikTok

“JD Vance is in North Carolina, and he’s found furnished apartments to put the people in that have been living in tents.”

true

false

stated on January 24, 2025 in remarks in North Carolina

"The Biden administration kicked 2,000 displaced North Carolinians out of their temporary housing into freezing 20-degree weather," earlier in January.

true

barely-true

stated on January 21, 2025 in a Facebook post

“FEMA has been directed back to North Carolina with $2 billion in emergency funds: ‘We transferred it from the programs that fund welfare for illegals. They don’t be needing it.’”

true

false

stated on January 6, 2025 in an X post

Buncombe County “is still demanding property taxes on homes destroyed by Hurricane Helene based on pre-Helene assessments that no longer apply.”

true

half-true

stated on January 10, 2025 in a post on Facebook

“So (Los Angeles), Hollywood, and California (get) 100% aid for the next 180 days while Western North Carolina got $750.”

true

false

Instagram posts

stated on January 14, 2025 in a post on Instagram

The Biden administration is offering only “$770 for people who lost everything” in the Los Angeles wildfires.

true

false

Instagram posts

stated on January 10, 2025 in a post

The Los Angeles wildfires were planned in preparation for the 2028 Olympics.

true

false

stated on January 8, 2025 in a post

“FEMA spent billions on illegal immigrants and now has no money for California!”

true

pants-fire

stated on January 8, 2025 in a post

The Los Angeles Police Department is “looking for three ‘persons of interest’ all tied to a MAGA website who were spotted at the source of all three major LA fires.”

true

false

stated on November 20, 2024 in an X post

FEMA delivered “only four” temporary housing units to Helene victims in North Carolina as of Nov. 20.

true

half-true

stated on November 12, 2024 in a video

FEMA brought 300 semi trucks to Michigan’s Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport

true

false

stated on October 31, 2024 in a Facebook post

Video shows floods in Valencia, Spain.

true

false

Instagram posts

stated on October 16, 2024 in una publicación en Instagram

“El gobernador de la Florida dice que por el momento va a pausar” la ley S.B. 1718 porque necesitan que los hispanos reconstruyan el estado tras la destrucción del huracán Milton.

true

false

stated on October 8, 2024 in una publicación en Facebook

Estas son imágenes del huracán Milton en Florida.

true

false

Instagram posts

stated on October 14, 2024 in an Instagram post

Fox News reported Donald Trump donated $1,300 for hurricane relief.

true

false

stated on October 9, 2024 in social media posts

“FEMA helicopters caught disrupting North Carolina supplies by using a ‘rotor wash’.”

true

false

Instagram posts

stated on October 7, 2024 in una publicación en Instagram

La administración de Joe Biden tomó dinero de ayudas de FEMA para usarlo en inmigrantes.

true

pants-fire

Instagram posts

stated on October 9, 2024 in an Instagram post

Video shows footage of Hurricane Milton in Florida.

true

false

Killing chickens, banning TikTok: Six times Trump criticized Democrats for things he also supported

Killing chickens, banning TikTok: Six times Trump criticized Democrats for things he also supported

By Amy Sherman • February 3, 2025

Verificamos lo que Donald Trump dijo en su inauguración presidencial

Verificamos lo que Donald Trump dijo en su inauguración presidencial

By Maria Briceño • January 20, 2025

What to know about the LA fire department’s budget and whether Mayor Karen Bass cut funding

What to know about the LA fire department’s budget and whether Mayor Karen Bass cut funding

By Samantha Putterman • January 14, 2025

2 weeks, 450+ posts: How Elon Musk uses his X profile to push FEMA, immigration, voting falsehoods

By Madison Czopek • October 23, 2024

FEMA conspiracy theories have existed for decades. Here's how the internet has amplified them.

FEMA conspiracy theories have existed for decades. Here's how the internet has amplified them.

By Jeff Cercone • October 22, 2024

Ron DeSantis dismisses climate change link to stronger hurricanes. Here’s what the science says.

Ron DeSantis dismisses climate change link to stronger hurricanes. Here’s what the science says.

By Samantha Putterman • October 17, 2024

Are foreign adversaries China and Russia amplifying hurricane misinformation? Early signs say yes

Are foreign adversaries China and Russia amplifying hurricane misinformation? Early signs say yes

By Jeff Cercone • October 14, 2024

PolitiFact: Donald Trump returns to Butler, Pennsylvania, site of first assassination attempt

PolitiFact: Donald Trump returns to Butler, Pennsylvania, site of first assassination attempt

By Loreben Tuquero • October 6, 2024

Fact-checking 5 misleading claims about Helene relief efforts in North Carolina

Fact-checking 5 misleading claims about Helene relief efforts in North Carolina

By Paul Specht • October 5, 2024

Fact-checking DeSantis’ first TV ad about Israel evacuations, hurricane recovery and the border

Fact-checking DeSantis’ first TV ad about Israel evacuations, hurricane recovery and the border

By Maria Ramirez Uribe • November 6, 2023

How climate change is making wildfires worse

How climate change is making wildfires worse

By Sara Swann • June 9, 2023

The Ohio train derailment: What we know about health, environmental concerns

The Ohio train derailment: What we know about health, environmental concerns

By Louis Jacobson • February 15, 2023

Ohio derailment is just the latest serious industrial accident in the U.S.

Ohio derailment is just the latest serious industrial accident in the U.S.

By Louis Jacobson • February 15, 2023

Trump Administration Approves California Fire Assistance, One Day After Rejecting It

Trump Administration Approves California Fire Assistance, One Day After Rejecting It

By Chris Nichols • October 16, 2020

Latest promises about Natural Disasters

Help victims of superstorm Sandy 'rebuild their lives'

Direct revenues from offshore oil and gas drilling to increased coastal hurricane protection

Include humanitarian international missions in long-term budgeting

Improve communications systems for first responders

Create a national catastrophe insurance reserve

Improve emergency response plans

Appoint a Chief Financial Officer to oversee the rebuilding following national disasters

Direct rebuilding efforts from the White House after a catastrophe

Increase funding for local emergency planning

Ensure the Guard and Reserves can meet their homeland security missions

Appoint experienced disaster official to head FEMA

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