Weather Disasters, Politics, And Mental Health

It Is Getting Very Rough Out There

October 4, 2024.

On this date I received more hate, vitriol, and threats than any other in my 46 year career as a professional meteorologist.

My sin? I didn’t cut off a college football game for a tornado warning, I didn’t blow a snow forecast. I posted (without comment) a link to a FEMA web page concerning “rumor control”.

Since the landfall of Hurricane Helene, I have really attempted to use my large social media following in a positive way. Passing along important messages from local, state, and federal officials, relief agencies, and those in the hardest hit areas needing help. Trying to get those with “needs” linked up with those with “haves”. It is very time consuming, but the right thing to do.

In the days following the disaster, it was becoming clear we had a big issue with misinformation (some coming from bots, some from real people), fake images and video generated by artificial intelligence, conspiracy theories, and other smears.

I had to cut through the nonsense to find credible posts about needs in NC/SC/TN/GA/FL. This is a real humanitarian crisis, and I felt I could help through the various social media platforms.

I shared posts from local, state, and federal EMA (Emergency Management Agency) officials, along with municipal and county governments in the places hardest hit by Helene. And, many other posts from people there that had serious needs, and others who had resources and could help.

Along the way my efforts turned into a total zoo (mainly in Facebook comments), hijacked by right wing and left wing political activists only interested in helping their candidate, and hurting the other one. They had no interest in helping people, they only know to “fight for the cause”. Elevating their political worldview over everything else.

I am afraid a large percentage of people in our country have turned into mindless lemmings. Devoting their life to a political or political party with absolutely no ability to think critically. With a presidential election about a month away, this was the worst possible time for a weather disaster.

The link to the FEMA web page triggered many, many people. Within minutes I received a private message telling me to go “f*** yourself and retire now”. It went downhill from there. The threats and hate messages were almost nonstop for hours.

I guess I can’t post any information from any federal agency going forward. This means no National Weather Service warnings, nothing from the Storm Prediction Center or the National Hurricane Center.

It reminds of the time I posted a photo of a young shark attack victim with a U.S. Senator. I was immediately attacked, just like the FEMA post. You are only allowed to post a photo of a shark attack with only politicians affiliated with only one party, not the other.

Beyond the political madness, it is clear we have a real mental health crisis in this country. Some people honestly believe…

*We (or me personally) “steered” Helene in the direction of the southern Appalachians.

*The hurricane was caused by “chemtrails” and “HAARP”

*A major hurricane has never happened in the middle of hurricane season until now because of climate change.

*All of the items coming into the disaster zone are being confiscated by the government and burned.

*Relief workers are being jailed.

And these are just the highlights from right wing and left wing extremists. Right wingers have called me a “lib-tard”; left wingers have called me everything from a “denier” to various types of “phobes”. All of this comes with zero political content, just weather information and ways to help people impacted by the hurricane.

I guess everything is now political. My left shoe has probably become politicized. Maybe I am doing it right since I am under attack from both sides.

I have stated this before, and will state it again. I have no interest in politics. None. Yes, I vote, and that is about it. I don’t think about it 24 hours a day. The content I share has nothing to do with politics. Never has and never will. I am a critical thinker, but at the same time I don’t get my information from TikTok dancers, Uncle Ted over on Facebook, or the guy behind me in the Dollar General line checking out. I use credible sources.

After this post I am sure I will be flooded with the usual YouTube links, expired patent applications, and TikTok accounts. No thanks. I can find the right sources on my own, but thanks for playing.

Can we stop the madness? And focus on helping these people? Can we have a servant’s heart for just a few minutes and come together as Americans? What happened to us?

And we have to do a better job of helping those that are dealing with mental illness. It impacts every family in this country, and they deserve the same clinical outcomes as other sick people.

Will all this madness make me stop? No. For an older guy, I am very strong physically and mentally. The issues I fought going through childhood made me very strong, and it is my job to mitigate loss of life during high impact weather events. I will fight through the nonsense and keep going.

And, to my fellow meteorologists who are very discouraged after this past week, please don’t quit. We have work to do, and we can’t let the kookiness stop us.