Helene Misinformation Ongoing on Social Media

 Swannanoa --  October 20, 2024: The Swannano Fire Department posted the following on social media yesterday: 

As we still navigate the process of search and recovery, we beg that people do not share misleading, inflated, or sensationalized information from uninformed sources. We have seen inaccurate social media posts claiming their information is "verified" with no sources stating who verified it and no response when questions are asked.

From the actual responders from hour one, the boots on the ground, the ones who have been involved in rescuing and recovering our people, nobody is "hiding numbers".

There are inflated numbers of body bags ordered, insinuating there are that many more that the public isn't being told about. Untrue.

There is an image of a "reefer" (refrigerated trailer) at a funeral home insinuating there are so many, it is full. Logic would tell any of us that the funeral home also did not have power, and that is just such a contingency for normal operations at such a facility.

Just because a group has "emergency" in their name does not mean they are part of emergency services or privy to any public safety information, any more than any other citizen.
If you have shared a social media post that claims what we are referring to, please delete it.. it is not helping our valley, healing our people, or comforting the broken hearted.

A short few days ago, I saw the first obituary for a person I recovered. It hit home as another step in healing for all of us. Each person and the effort for them are treated with the utmost respect and dignity as we have always bestowed on the people we serve.
There is so much work to do.. for the fire department, each area, individuals... and keep checking on your neighbor.

We are so proud of the community groups, the neighbor connections built and the outpouring of love on Swannanoa from so many states.

Deputy Chief, Larry Pierson