Fact Check: Were 200 people found alive in a church in Candler, NC? Viral claim debunked amid Hurricane Helene efforts

A rumor about Hurricane Helene causing massive destruction in the unincorporated community of Candler in North Carolina went viral on the internet. Several social media posts claimed that 200 (some even alleged 2000) people were found alive in a church in Candler. The posts claimed that the people had been stranded for over 6 days, in the aftermath of the natural disaster.

An X user, Michelle Maxwell, shared a tweet on Sunday, October 6, 2024, alleging that 200 people had been found in Candler, NC. The user claimed that the people were found "in a church 6 days with no communication - all alive! Thank u, Jesus! Keep praying!” The post had over 744,200 views in less than 24 hours.

However, the post is fake, along with many others making similar claims across X, Facebook, and Reddit alike.

Several residents of Candler took to social media platforms to debunk the rumor and confirmed that the town wasn't as ravaged as it was being claimed online. They also said that neither 200 nor 2000 people were left unaided in a church.

A Facebook user named Sarah Reams clarified on the Hurricane Helene Safety Check-In community page, stating that things "have not been that bad in most parts" of their area. Reams added that she didn't think there was a church in Candler where so many people would fit in.

“Also, Candler is not that large, and it is definitely not a concentrated town… How would 2000 (or even 200, as other people claim) people, with limited roads and gas, make their way to one location?” Sarah wrote on Facebook.

Media outlets like Reuters and The Washington Post reported that search and rescue operations were affected due to ongoing rumors and misinformation on social media.

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Neither 2000 nor 200 people were left stranded in a church in Candler, NC

Last week, claims surfaced on social media that 200 to 2000 people were rendered unassisted in a church in Candler in the wake of Hurricane Helene. A Facebook account by the name of Sarah Taylor reportedly asked for relief donations on Venmo for the same.

However, there are no official reports of the now-viral rumor. Besides, the posts making the claim provided no credible evidence to support it.

Meanwhile, several social media users united to refute the rumor, including residents of Candler.

Community member Sarah Reams posted on the Facebook page of Hurricane Helene Safety Check-In. Reams stated that it was nothing more than “misinformation,” being circulated about the North Carolina place. She added that it was “not a concentrated town” nor “large” enough to have a church that could hold up to 2000 people.

“There is a screenshot of post that has a picture of a helicopter with a claim that 2,000 people were trapped in a church in Candler, NC, and have been without food or water for six days. I live in Candler, NC. The information in the post is not true,” she wrote.

The community member claimed that she had cell service for most of the time and was monitoring the news, which had no reports about the people stranded in the church. Sarah Reams added that she also had a friend who had been doing search and rescue with the local authorities, and "has not mentioned anything."

Sarah Reams doubled down on news reports that places in western North Carolina like Swannanoa, Chimney Rock, and Burnsville faced even worse impacts. She also explained how, given the limited access to gas and roadways, people of the community couldn't gather in one location.

The post urged people to “verify information” before posting or resharing. It went on to state that fake posts are “taking attention and resources away from the areas and people that really need help.” It also gave a shout-out to those who are helping in the rescue efforts.

Several others across Facebook and other platforms also debunked the rumor, which can now be deemed false, fabricated, and unfounded.

Notably, various conspiracy theories surrounding Hurricane Helene have also emerged. Netizens have been claiming that the tropical cyclone was “engineered” to enable big corporations to mine out local lithium deposits in the southeastern USA.

Donald Trump also alleged that the Biden-Harris administration was using federal relief funds to help the illegal migrants rather than disaster management, a claim that caused a stir online.

However, a White House memo dismissed the same. The memo mentioned how “disinformation of this kind can discourage people from seeking critical assistance when they need it most.”

Growing rumors about North Carolina also saw state senator Kevin Corbin take to social media and clarify, “98% chance it’s not true, and if it is a problem, somebody is aware and on it.” The Republican added how officials were weary of intentional distractions.

Hurricane Helene struck Florida and other southeastern states in the USA in late September. So far, over 200 people have been reported to have lost their lives, while several hundreds remain missing.