An essay from a recent Southern Poverty Law Center report about the legacy of Hurricane Katrina examines how the hard right has exploited natural disasters from Katrina through 2024’s Hurricane Helene.
From the white nationalist White Revolution following Katrina to the antigovernment Veterans on Patrol after Helene, hard-right groups prey upon the chaos of recovery zones. They spread their conspiracy theories, hamper the response of government agencies, and present themselves as community saviors. They use these misleading public personas, often in tandem with propaganda that shows them working in recovery areas, to try and recruit new members.
The essay discusses how the tactics used by white nationalists tend to be based on the demographics of the area impacted. With Katrina devastating an area that was home to a large Black community, white nationalists encouraged attacks on people of color. However, when Helene impacted mostly white communities, white nationalists switched their messaging to attack the federal government, claiming it was taking assistance from white communities and giving it to immigrants. White nationalists also took the opportunity to spread their conspiracy theory that a supposed “Jewish cabal” controls the government and wants to wipe out the white race.
For antigovernment groups, especially militias, disaster recovery and the ensuing havoc offer a chance for them to show up armed and assume law enforcement-type functions for themselves. Groups like the Oath Keepers have positioned themselves as the people who respond with help when federal agencies don’t, all the while claiming the government can’t be trusted. Following Helene, Veterans on Patrol claimed the hurricane was part of a supposed government-controlled weather program, and the militia created a hostile environment on the ground for federal agencies.
The misinformation and conspiracy theories directed at the federal government by hard-right groups have caused FEMA to alter the way it works in communities, sometimes having to relocate workers or stopping work for days due to safety concerns. Following Helene, officials discussed how conspiracy theories and misinformation discouraged people from applying for assistance.
The essay suggests a few ways to address the actions of hard-right groups following disasters. Funding and staffing FEMA to meet the growing impacts of climate change is key, and the agency must be ready with information to counter the most common conspiracy theories and disinformation. Additionally, all 50 states have anti-militia laws that prohibit private militias and paramilitary activity. These laws could be used to hold hard-right groups accountable for their actions taken in disaster response zones.
The full essay can be found here.
Illustration by Tara Anand.