Tyler Brooks
A viral claim that 200 or 2000 people were found in a church in Candler, North Carolina, has been debunked. The claim originated in a Facebook post, which has since been deleted, and was spread across other social media platforms. It stated that people had been stranded in a church for six days without food or water following Hurricane Helene. However, this information is false, as confirmed by Buncombe County officials, state officials, and the church where the rescue allegedly took place.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of people | 200 or 2000 |
| Location | A church in Candler, North Carolina |
| Situation | Stranded without food for 6 days |
| Reason | Flooding due to Hurricane Helene |
| Rescue | By volunteer helicopter crew |
| Social media platform | Facebook, Twitter, Reddit |
| Outcome | Fake claim, later debunked |
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What You'll Learn
False viral claim that 2000 people were found in a church in Candler, NC
Hurricane Helene struck Florida and other southeastern states in the USA in late September 2024. The storm caused massive destruction, with several social media posts claiming its aftermath left 200 or 2000 people stranded in a church in Candler, North Carolina, without food for six days. The viral claim originated from a Facebook post by a woman asking for donations, which has since been deleted. The post included a picture of a helicopter and claimed that the stranded people were rescued by a volunteer helicopter crew.
However, this claim is false and has been debunked by Buncombe County officials, state officials coordinating rescue operations, and the helicopter pilot involved. The church where the rescue allegedly took place has also confirmed that the event never occurred. Furthermore, local residents and officials have stated that Candler was impacted to a lesser degree by the hurricane, and that it is unlikely a church in the area could even accommodate 2000 people. The spread of misinformation during this time has been detrimental, as it diverts resources and time away from critical lifesaving efforts.
While the woman who started the rumor has since acknowledged that her story was not accurate, she maintains that she is helping raise money for legitimate relief work. Nevertheless, this incident serves as a reminder to verify information before posting or resharing, as false claims can hinder disaster-response efforts and spread misinformation.
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The number was later changed to 200 people
Rumors circulated online that 2,000 people were stranded in a church in Candler, North Carolina, for nearly a week without food or water. This claim originated from a Facebook post that has since been deleted. The post described delivering groceries to the stranded and asked for donations. The number was later changed to 200 people.
The post went viral, and many people shared it, including a link to the original poster's Venmo profile for donations. However, this claim was soon debunked by local officials and news organizations. Buncombe County officials, state officials coordinating rescue operations, and the helicopter pilot involved all stated that this incident did not occur. The church where the rescue allegedly took place also confirmed that it was not true.
Local residents and representatives also cast doubt on the claims. They pointed out that Candler is a small town with limited roads and gas access, making it unlikely that 200 or 2,000 people could gather in one location. Additionally, there were no reports from news sources or local authorities about people being stranded in a church.
The woman who started the rumor later updated her post to say it was 200 people. While she acknowledged that she didn't have an accurate story, she maintained that she was helping raise money for legitimate relief work. This incident highlights the impact of misinformation on social media during critical events, as it can divert resources and attention from actual lifesaving efforts.
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The people were allegedly stranded for six days without food
Several social media posts claimed that a large group of people, initially said to be 2,000 but later revised to 200, were found stranded in a church in Candler, North Carolina. The posts alleged that these people had been without food for six days following the impact of Hurricane Helene.
One viral Facebook post, which has since been deleted, described a helicopter rescue operation:
> "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 included a request for donations via Venmo, and it was shared widely, with many people praying for the alleged victims and some sending money. However, this claim was later debunked by various sources, including local officials, the church where the rescue allegedly took place, and the helicopter pilot mentioned in the post. Buncombe County spokeswoman Lillian Govus stated that such rumours were false and took away time and resources from critical lifesaving operations.
Local residents and community members also refuted the claim, pointing out that Candler was not as badly affected as nearby areas and that it was unlikely a church in the town could accommodate 2,000 people. They also noted that they had cell service and access to news, and there were no reports of people being stranded in a church. Additionally, search and rescue operations were impacted by the spread of misinformation on social media, hindering relief efforts.
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The claim originated from a Facebook post asking for donations
The claim that hundreds of people were found in a church in Candler, North Carolina, originated from a Facebook post. The post, which has since been deleted, claimed that 2,000 people had been stranded in a church in Candler for six days without food or water. The number was later changed to 200 in an update to the original post. The post went viral, with people sharing the story and donating to the cause.
The Facebook post described a dramatic rescue effort, with the author claiming that they had filled a chopper with food and supplies for the stranded people. "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 read.
The post tapped into the emotions of people across the country, who were already reeling from the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. It seemed like a miracle that so many people had been rescued and survived for so long without food or water. However, it later emerged that the claim was false.
Local officials, including Buncombe County officials and state officials coordinating rescue operations, denied that any such rescue had taken place. The helicopter pilot who was allegedly involved in the rescue also denied the claim. The church where the rescue supposedly took place also stated that it never happened.
The woman who made the original claim acknowledged that she did not have an accurate story but maintained that she was helping raise money for legitimate relief work. Nevertheless, the incident highlights the power of social media to spread misinformation, even during times of crisis. It is important for people to verify information before sharing or donating to causes promoted on social media.
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The claim was debunked by local officials and news outlets
The claim that 200 or 2000 people were found in a church in Candler, North Carolina, was indeed debunked by local officials and news outlets. The rumor, which originated on Facebook, alleged that these people had been stranded for six days without food or water following Hurricane Helene.
Several local officials and news outlets have since refuted these claims. Firstly, Buncombe County officials, where Candler is located, stated that this incident did not occur. Lillian Govus, head of Buncombe County government's Communications and Public Engagement Department, affirmed that their "911 call center did not receive any call to that effect," and that they had "no information to substantiate" the rumor. Buncombe County spokeswoman Lillian Govus later reiterated that such rumors were "not true" during a county disaster-response news conference.
Secondly, state officials coordinating rescue operations in the mountains also denied the claim, and the helicopter pilot who was supposedly involved in the rescue also refuted the story. The Baptist church where the rescue allegedly took place confirmed that no such event happened.
Local residents also took to social media to refute the claims. One resident pointed out that Candler had not been as badly affected as nearby areas and expressed doubt that a church in Candler could accommodate 2000 people. Another community member, Sarah Reams, stated that she had cell service for most of the time and monitored the news, which had no reports about people stranded in the church. She also noted that, given the limited access to gas and roadways, it was unlikely that 2000 people could have gathered in one location.
Media outlets like Reuters and The Washington Post also reported that search and rescue operations were affected by the misinformation spreading on social media.
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Frequently asked questions
No, this is a fake claim.
No, this is also a fake claim.
The false claim was initially posted on Facebook by a woman asking for donations. It was then shared by others and went viral.
The false claim diverted resources and time away from critical lifesaving efforts in the community. It also spread misinformation about the situation in Candler, NC, which was impacted by Hurricane Helene.
