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In the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene, which devastated our area last week, it is important to turn to trusted sources of information, such as the Tryon Daily Bulletin and local government agencies, as we all work together to recover from this disaster.

Rumors have run rampant on social media and via word of mouth as it relates to the confirmed death toll in our area and assistance provided by federal agencies.

While the numbers can change as recovery efforts continue, it is important to note that one death related to the storm occurred in Polk County, with three deaths confirmed in Rutherford County and nine in Spartanburg County, according to local government sources. There are still 62 active missing persons investigations in Rutherford County as of Monday, officials say. 

“Claims of ‘bodies everywhere’ are completely unfounded,” Rutherford County Emergency Management said Thursday in a statement. 

A single death is one too many, but these claims inflating the number of residents who perished are just plain false. This type of misinformation is hurtful to those in the communities who have lost so much and sensationalizes what is already an immensely tragic event.

Other rumors circulating relate to FEMA assistance in the area. While it is fair to look at the response time of the Federal Emergency Management Agency with a critical eye and question whether the response from state and federal authorities was strong enough in Western North Carolina on day one, it isn’t fair to mischaracterize verifiable facts. 

For example, some have said that FEMA will only provide $750 to disaster survivors to support their recovery. This is false.

This $750 payment relates to one type of assistance that survivors may be approved for soon after they apply called Serious Needs Assistance. It is an upfront, flexible payment to help cover essential items. Other forms of assistance are available, but affected property owners must apply for it. 

Serious Needs Assistance is an initial payment that is available while FEMA assesses eligibility for additional funds related to temporary housing, personal property, and home repair costs.

Other falsehoods imply that FEMA only provides loans to disaster survivors (in the vast majority of cases, FEMA grants do not have to be paid back—and low interest loans are available for affected property owners through the SBA) or that FEMA is confiscating Helene survivor property (FEMA cannot seize your property or land).

If you have questions or need to apply for disaster assistance, visit disasterassistance.gov or call 1-800-621-3362 to speak with a FEMA representative.

I personally encourage folks to never depend solely on social media for news or quality information; it is often an amplification of hearsay that does more harm than good.

Local journalism is more important now than ever. If we get something wrong, we will issue a correction—something you’ll rarely find on Facebook or X. Please, always get information from trusted sources. 

We will get through this together.