Floods and disinformation threaten Black voter turnout in the wake of Hurricane Helene

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Black survivors in North Carolina and Georgia face ongoing struggles with flood recovery, disinformation, and barriers to voting as the election looms.

Angela Dennis and Adam Mahoney report for Capital B.

In short:

• Hurricane Helene devastated Black communities in North Carolina and Georgia, where aid has been slower and conspiracy theories have worsened the recovery.
• Disinformation spread on social media about FEMA's response, deepening distrust and complicating recovery efforts in these already hard-hit areas.
• Many survivors are left wondering how they’ll vote when they’ve lost homes and access to electricity, with some community members predicting lower voter turnout.

Key quote:

“Who is really going to want to go to a damn poll at this point when you don’t have a house?”

— Falasha Talbert, a mother of 10 and small-business owner

Why this matters:

For many, the idea of voting in upcoming elections feels like a distant priority, and with disinformation spreading about FEMA’s response, it’s getting harder to trust the recovery process. Social media is alive with conspiracy theories, and that cloud of confusion complicates the path to the polls. Read more: The fossil fuel industry is disproportionately harming low-income and minority women.