But his latest fabrications related to Helene strike too close to home. As with many of his lies, they create danger and chaos. His lies have also spawned dozens of conspiracy theories that undermine the recovery efforts here simply to score political points. That is not only shameful, it’s cruel.

Everyone involved in the recovery work here in WNC knows that FEMA, the National Guard, emergency state, county and municipal workers and thousands of volunteers like myself and my wife are working hard to help the folks in need. Leaders of both parties in North Carolina from Gov. Cooper and Sen. Tillis down to Rep. Edwards and local officials have praised the federal response for its great job of providing assistance under dire circumstances. They have also pleaded with those who are undermining these efforts by creating fictional stories of FEMA withholding supplies to locals because they’re Trumpsters, stealing land, mining lithium and bulldozing dead bodies at Chimney Rock to please stop! None of this is remotely true. This has also sown reluctance and even aggressive resistance from those who need help but have been brainwashed that FEMA and others providing assistance are the enemy. Sadly, they’ve become unwitting victims of these unscrupulous conspiracy mongers, too.

Nothing like Helene has occurred here in over a century and it will take time to return to anything close to normal. Human errors will sometimes be made. That’s a given, but it hurts recovery efforts to sling arrows at the people who are working to help folks in this time of need. People who are prisoners of TikTok, Instagram, X, and Facebook need to stop endorsing conspiracy theories and try some volunteering to make life better for our fellow mountaineers. Standing on the sidelines and feeding the black hole of social media with lies is not a solution. It’s part of the problem.

Glenn Duerr

Waynesville