Tyler Brooks
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which struck the southeastern US in late September 2024, a rumor circulated online that 200 people were found in a church in Candler, North Carolina, having been stranded for six days without food or water. The number was later revised to 2,000 people in a viral Facebook post, which included an image of a helicopter and asked for donations. However, this claim was debunked by local residents, county and state officials, and the church in question, who all confirmed that the event never happened.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of people | 200 |
| Location | Church in Candler, North Carolina |
| Situation | Stranded without food for 6 days |
| Reason | Impact of Hurricane Helene |
| Status | Fake claim, rumor |
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What You'll Learn
- The claim that 200 people were found in a church in Candler, NC, is false
- The number was initially posted as 2,000 people on Facebook
- The post said these people had been stranded for six days without food
- The post went viral, spreading to other social media platforms
- Local residents, officials, and churches have since debunked the claim
The claim that 200 people were found in a church in Candler, NC, is false
Hurricane Helene struck Florida and other southeastern states in the USA in late September 2024. The storm caused massive destruction and several hundred people remain missing. In the wake of the hurricane, misinformation has swirled online. One such instance of misinformation is the claim that 200 people were found in a church in Candler, North Carolina. This claim is false.
The false claim originated in a Facebook post, which has since been deleted. The post alleged that 200 people had been rescued by a volunteer helicopter crew after being stranded in a church for six days without food. The post included a link to the woman's Venmo profile for donations. The number of people in the claim was later updated to 2,000. The post went viral, with many people sharing the story and donating.
However, this claim has been debunked by multiple sources. Firstly, the head of Buncombe County government's Communications and Public Engagement Department, Lillian Govus, stated that the claim is not true and that their 911 call center did not receive any calls to that effect. Additionally, Buncombe County officials and state officials coordinating rescue operations in the mountains have confirmed that this incident did not occur. The helicopter pilot who was allegedly involved in the rescue has also denied the claim. Furthermore, the Baptist church where the rescue allegedly took place has stated that it did not happen.
Candler residents have also taken to social media to refute the claim. Sarah Reams, a community member, emphasized that Candler is not a densely populated or large town and does not have a church capable of holding 200 or 2,000 people. She also pointed out the logistical difficulties of gathering that many people in one location given the limited access to gas and roadways in the area.
In summary, the claim that 200 people were found in a church in Candler, NC, is false. It is important to be cautious of misinformation spreading online, especially in the wake of natural disasters, and to verify information before sharing or donating.
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The number was initially posted as 2,000 people on Facebook
Claims circulated online that a number of people—ranging from 200 to 2,000—were stranded in a church in Candler, North Carolina, for nearly a week. The claim about 2,000 stranded residents originated in a post on Facebook which has since been deleted. The post described delivering groceries to the stranded and asked for donations. An aerial view of flood damage caused by Hurricane Helene was also posted.
The initial Facebook post read:
> "They just radio'd and said they found 2000 more people who are stranded at a church in Candler NC, who haven't eaten in 6 days.... We literally ran back and forth and filled the chopper as fast as we could!... Keep the donations coming if you are able."
The post was later updated by the original poster to say it was 200 people. However, this was also found to be false. Buncombe County officials (where Candler is located) and state officials coordinating rescue operations in the mountains have said that this incident never happened. The helicopter pilot who was supposedly involved has also denied the claim.
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The post said these people had been stranded for six days without food
Hurricane Helene struck Florida and other southeastern states in the USA in late September 2024, causing massive destruction and claiming the lives of over 200 people. Several social media posts and news outlets reported that 200 people were found in a church in Candler, North Carolina, stranded for six days without food.
The viral claim suggested that hundreds of people were stranded in a church in Candler, a small mountain town 10 miles southwest of Asheville, in the aftermath of the hurricane. The number was later updated to 2,000 people. The post described delivering groceries to the stranded and urged people to keep the donations coming. It also mentioned that a volunteer helicopter crew rescued the stranded people.
However, this claim was later debunked by Buncombe County officials, state officials coordinating rescue operations, and the helicopter pilot involved. They confirmed that there were never hundreds or even dozens of people trapped or stranded in a church in Candler. Local residents, including Sarah Reams, also took to social media to refute the claim, stating that Candler is not a large town and does not have a church capable of holding 200 or 2,000 people.
The woman who started the rumor acknowledged in social media comments that she did not have an accurate story but maintained that she was helping raise money for legitimate relief work. This incident highlights the spread of misinformation during times of crisis and the importance of verifying information before sharing it.
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The post went viral, spreading to other social media platforms
Hurricane Helene struck Florida and other southeastern states in the USA in late September 2024, causing massive destruction and claiming the lives of over 200 people, with several hundred still missing. In the wake of the hurricane, misinformation swirled online, including a viral claim that 200 people were found in a church in Candler, North Carolina. The story was first posted on Facebook by an unnamed woman, who later updated the number to 2,000. She wrote:
> "They just radio'd and said they found 2000 more people who are stranded at a church in Candler, NC, who haven't eaten in 6 days.... We literally ran back and forth and filled the chopper as fast as we could!... Keep the donations coming if you are able."
Several residents of Candler took to social media to refute the rumor and clarify that the town was not as badly affected as claimed. They emphasized that neither 200 nor 2,000 people were left unaided in a church, and that Candler was not a large or densely populated town with a church capable of holding such a large number of people. Local resident Sarah Reams wrote:
> "I live in Candler, NC. The information in the post is not true... I also had a friend who had been doing search and rescue with the local authorities, and 'has not mentioned anything.' [...] How would 2000 (or even 200, as other people claim) people, with limited roads and gas, make their way to one location?"
The head of Buncombe County government's Communications and Public Engagement Department, Lillian Govus, stated:
> "These [rumors] are not true. Our 911 call center did not receive any call to that effect. We have no information to substantiate that. That is not an accurate rumor."
Despite the refutations, the woman who started the rumor maintained that she was helping raise money for legitimate relief work.
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Local residents, officials, and churches have since debunked the claim
Hurricane Helene struck Florida and other southeastern states in the USA in late September 2024, causing massive destruction and claiming the lives of over 200 people, with several hundred still missing. In the wake of the hurricane, misinformation has swirled online, with one viral claim suggesting that 200 people were found in a church in Candler, North Carolina. This claim has since been debunked by local residents, officials, and churches.
The rumor began with a now-deleted Facebook post, which claimed that 2000 people—later updated to 200—had been rescued by a volunteer helicopter crew after being stranded in a church in Candler, North Carolina, for six days without food. The post included a link to the woman's Venmo profile for donations. However, this claim was quickly refuted by local residents, officials, and churches.
Candler residents, such as Sarah Reams, took to social media platforms to debunk the rumor, stating that the town wasn't as ravaged as claimed online and that neither 200 nor 2000 people were left unaided in a church. Reams emphasized that Candler is not a densely populated or large town and does not have a church capable of holding such a large number of people. She also pointed out the logistical difficulties of gathering so many people in one location given the limited access to gas and roadways.
Local officials have also denied the claim, with Lillian Govus, head of the Buncombe County government's Communications and Public Engagement Department, stating that their 911 call center did not receive any calls to that effect and that they have no information to substantiate the rumor. Buncombe County Sheriff's Office and FEMA have also been contacted for comment. Additionally, the Baptist church where the rescue allegedly took place has confirmed that the event did not occur there.
The spread of misinformation during crises can have detrimental effects on rescue and relief operations. It is important to verify information before posting or resharing, as false claims can distract from legitimate relief efforts and spread unnecessary panic.
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Frequently asked questions
No, this is a fake claim.
The claim originated from a now-deleted Facebook post, which stated that 2000 people had been rescued by a volunteer helicopter crew after being stranded in a church in Candler, NC, for six days without food.
The claim was debunked by Buncombe County officials, state officials coordinating rescue operations, the helicopter pilot who was dragged into the false claim, and the Baptist church where the rescue allegedly took place. Local residents also took to social media to refute the claim, stating that Candler is not a densely populated town and does not have a church capable of holding 2000 people.
