Chloe Adams
During Hurricane Helene, which struck Florida and other southeastern states in the USA in late September 2024, rumours circulated online that 200 people were found stranded in a church in Candler, North Carolina. The claim originated from a now-deleted Facebook post, which described delivering groceries to the stranded and asked for donations. However, this claim was later debunked by residents of Candler, local officials, and news outlets, who confirmed that there were never 200 people stranded in a church in the town.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of people | 200 |
| Location | Church in Candler, North Carolina |
| Status | Stranded |
| Days without food | 6 days |
| Post creator | A woman |
| Post platform | |
| Post intention | Raising money for legitimate relief work |
| Post authenticity | Fake |
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What You'll Learn
The claim that 200 people were found in a church in Candler, NC is false
The claim that 200 people were found in a church in Candler, North Carolina, is false. This rumor started circulating online after a woman posted on Facebook about a volunteer helicopter crew rescuing 2,000 people from a church in Candler, North Carolina, where they had been stranded for six days without food. She later updated the post to say it was 200 people. However, this claim was soon debunked by several residents of Candler, local officials, and news organizations.
One Candler community member, Sarah Reams, took to the Hurricane Helene Safety Check-In Facebook page to call the rumor "misinformation." She emphasized that Candler is not a large town and does not have a church that could accommodate 2,000 people. Reams also noted that she had cell service for most of the time and monitored the news, but there were no reports about people stranded in a church. Additionally, her friend, who was involved in search and rescue operations with local authorities, had no knowledge of anyone stranded in a church.
News organizations like BPR News and Newsweek also investigated the claim and confirmed that it was false. BPR News contacted Buncombe County officials and state officials coordinating rescue operations, and both parties denied that the incident occurred. They also spoke to the Baptist church where the rescue allegedly took place, and they denied that it happened. Newsweek contacted five prominent churches in the area, and one, Edgewood Baptist Church, confirmed that no such event took place at their site in Candler.
The spread of misinformation during crises like Hurricane Helene can have detrimental effects, as noted by a White House memo: "Disinformation of this kind can discourage people from seeking critical assistance when they need it most." It is important for individuals to verify information before sharing or resharing, as misinformation can hinder relief efforts and cause unnecessary panic and confusion.
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The claim originated from a viral social media post
The claim that 200 people were found in Candler, North Carolina, originated from a viral social media post. The original post, which has since been deleted, claimed that 2,000 people had been found stranded in a church in the town, having gone without food for six days. This was later amended to 200 people in an update. The post was shared widely on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit, and garnered a significant number of views and interactions.
The post sparked a wave of similar posts and rumours about the situation in Candler, with some people expressing doubt about the accuracy of the claims. Local residents of Candler and fact-checking organizations have since debunked the claim, stating that it is false and that no such incident occurred. They highlighted that Candler is not a densely populated area and does not have a church large enough to accommodate 200 or 2,000 people. Additionally, local authorities, church representatives, and those involved in search and rescue operations have all denied that such an event took place.
The spread of misinformation during crises like Hurricane Helene can have detrimental effects on relief efforts and public trust. It is important for social media users to verify information before sharing, and to rely on official sources for updates on rescue and relief operations.
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Local residents have refuted the claim
Local residents of Candler, North Carolina, have dismissed the viral claim that 200 people were stranded in a church during Hurricane Helene. They have taken to social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit to refute the rumor, which alleged that 200 to 2,000 people were found alive in a church six days after the hurricane hit, without communication or aid.
One resident, Sarah Reams, posted on the Hurricane Helene Safety Check-In Facebook page, calling the rumor misinformation. Reams emphasized that Candler is not a densely populated town and does not have a church large enough to accommodate 200 people, let alone 2,000. She also noted that she had cell service for most of the time and monitored the news, which did not report any such incident. Additionally, her friend, who was involved in search and rescue operations with local authorities, had no knowledge of anyone stranded in a church.
Another resident, whose name has not been disclosed, commented on the viral post, stating, "I live in Candler, NC. The information in the post is not true." She also questioned the likelihood of 2,000 people not having six days' worth of food in their homes.
The rumors of mass strandings in a church in Candler, NC, have been thoroughly debunked by local residents, government officials, and news organizations. Buncombe County officials, state officials coordinating rescue operations, and even the helicopter pilot allegedly involved have all confirmed that the incident never occurred.
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The church in question has denied the claim
Rumors circulated on social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Reddit that 200 to 2,000 people were found alive in a church in Candler, North Carolina, six days after Hurricane Helene hit, without communication or aid. However, these claims are false. Local residents, including Sarah Reams, have taken to social media to refute these allegations, emphasizing that Candler is not a large town and does not have a church that could accommodate such a large number of people. Reams also noted that she had cell service and monitored the news, which did not report any stranded individuals in a church.
The church in question, Edgewood Baptist Church, has denied the claim, stating that they have not heard of such an incident occurring in person, despite seeing similar rumors circulating online. Buncombe County officials, state officials coordinating rescue operations, and the helicopter pilot allegedly involved have all confirmed that the story is untrue.
The original Facebook post, which has since been deleted, described delivering groceries to the stranded individuals and asked for donations. This post went viral, with over 744,200 views in less than 24 hours, and the linked Venmo profile received numerous donations. However, the woman who made the post has since acknowledged in the comments that she did not have an accurate story, although she maintains that she is helping raise money for legitimate relief work.
This incident is an example of misinformation spreading during a time of crisis, which can be detrimental to effective disaster response and recovery. It is important for individuals to verify information before sharing or resharing posts on social media to avoid spreading false rumors that can hinder relief efforts and exploit well-intentioned individuals.
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The role of misinformation during Hurricane Helene
Hurricane Helene caused catastrophic flooding and widespread devastation in North Carolina. The death toll reached 200, making it the fourth deadliest hurricane to make landfall in the mainland US since 1950. In the aftermath of the hurricane, misinformation and disinformation spread, creating an "infodemic".
One notable example of misinformation during Hurricane Helene involved false claims that 200 or 2000 people were rescued after being trapped in a church in Candler, North Carolina, without food for six days. This story went viral on social media, with people sharing donation links. However, it was later debunked by Buncombe County officials, state officials coordinating rescue operations, and the church itself. The helicopter pilot who was supposedly involved also denied the claim.
Another instance of misinformation during Hurricane Helene involved false information about the death toll in Avery County. Social media posts and claims circulated that 200 people had died in the county seat of Newland, but the actual number was five.
The spread of misinformation during Hurricane Helene had negative consequences, undermining trust in relief agencies and governmental institutions. It also impacted the recovery efforts, as survivors may have been dissuaded from registering for assistance due to false beliefs about aid availability.
To combat misinformation, crisis communicators suggest establishing a dedicated misinformation monitoring team comprising experts in social media analysis, crisis communication, and community engagement. This team would continuously monitor various platforms for emerging misinformation trends and work to counter false narratives. Additionally, collaborating with respected community members and credible third-party organizations can enhance outreach efforts and amplify accurate messaging. Confronting misinformation directly during news conferences is also essential.
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Frequently asked questions
No, this is a fake claim.
It was claimed that 200 people were trapped in a church in Candler, NC, for six days without food or water.
The story went viral on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Reddit.
No, local authorities and residents refuted the claim.
Yes, there were also false claims that 200 people had died in the county seat of Newland.
