As Hurricane Milton barrels toward Florida with the strength of a Category 4 storm, misinformation swirling online threatens to compound the destruction already wrought by its predecessor, Hurricane Helene. In the midst of recovery efforts, former President Donald Trump has spread false claims regarding FEMA and the Biden administration’s response—claims that are not only incorrect but dangerous for those most in need of critical relief. Both President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have forcefully responded, warning that such disinformation is putting lives at risk.

In a rally, Trump alleged without evidence that the Biden administration had “stolen” FEMA money to fund programs for undocumented immigrants. Despite the clear falsehoods—since undocumented immigrants cannot vote, and disaster funds are not being diverted—these claims have spread like wildfire across social media platforms, aided by key Trump allies like Elon Musk and Donald Trump Jr.

In response to these lies, President Biden condemned the spread of misinformation, stating at a White House briefing, “People are scared to death… They think we’re not taking care of them, when we are. It’s un-American to spread these lies, especially in times of crisis.” He emphasized that such falsehoods don’t hurt his administration but do mislead vulnerable citizens who rely on FEMA for life-saving aid.

Vice President Harris echoed Biden’s concern, highlighting the gravity of the situation during an interview on The View: “Lives are literally at stake right now. The idea that somebody would be playing political games for the sake of himself—it’s profound, and it is the height of irresponsibility.” She emphasized that the priority must be the people who have lost everything and are in desperate need of government assistance. “It’s about leadership. Leaders are supposed to lift people up in times of crisis, not tear them down.”

FEMA officials, meanwhile, have had to divert resources from relief efforts to debunk the claims, creating a dedicated page on their website to correct the disinformation. One of the falsehoods circulating online is that hurricane victims are limited to just $750 in aid, which has caused widespread confusion. In reality, the $750 limit only applies to immediate emergency needs, such as food, water, and baby formula. Additional funds are available for long-term recovery, including temporary housing and home repair costs.

With Hurricane Milton poised to make landfall, the potential for further chaos is mounting. Officials fear that this new wave of misinformation will result in residents failing to seek aid, thinking it’s either unavailable or insufficient. FEMA’s Homeland Security Secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, lamented that “disinformation harms survivors of a disaster because they lose trust in their government and they don’t seek the assistance that they need.”

In areas devastated by Helene, officials are still in recovery mode, grappling with the storm’s deadly toll of 235 lives. Communities in Florida now face a critical juncture as Milton rapidly intensifies. State officials have warned citizens to stay vigilant and avoid turning to social media for information. Instead, they urge residents to rely on FEMA’s official channels or statements from local governments.

The role of accurate information in disaster response cannot be overstated. As Biden noted, misleading hurricane survivors into thinking they are unsupported is tantamount to undermining the entire relief effort. In a moment when lives hang in the balance, disinformation sows confusion and mistrust, potentially causing victims to forgo aid that could save their homes—or even their lives.

In times of crisis, every minute counts. The spread of false information creates unnecessary delays and doubt in the government’s response, prolonging suffering and making recovery efforts even harder.