Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers pushes back on lies and disinformation about the hurricane relief effort in western North Carolina. (Screenshot via @cardinalandpine on Instagram)
There’s been a wave of disinformation and lies following Hurricane Helene’s devastating impact in western North Carolina. Locals are pushing back.
Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers has a message to those spreading lies, rumors, and conspiracies about the government’s response to Hurricane Helene: Cut it out.
The federal, state, and local governments have been working day and night to help communities affected by Helene, Smathers said, and those politicians spreading lies and trying to create divison are “not helpful” and are making things worse for survivors.
Related: ‘Truly dangerous narrative’: Lies about NC’s Helene response cause a second wave of harm
“If I did not think the services were on the ground and we were not getting the help that we needed, I would be the first out of the gate, raising Cain about it. But they’re here,” Smathers said. “Yes, there’ll be ups and downs. I don’t agree with all the procedures. But to say they’re not here and they don’t care, that is absolutely 100% not true.”
Watch below.
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