Media use Helene disaster to promote ‘climate crisis’ without nuance or context, experts say
- October 1, 2024
Kevin Killough, Just the News
The scale of destruction from Hurricane Helene has been extensive. Deaths attributed to the storm across six states are estimated to be 139, according to the Associated Press. Buncombe County in western North Carolina, of which Asheville is the seat, experienced historic water level rises. It’s not an exaggeration to say the storm will devastate the lives of those who were in its path.
As is the case with any natural disaster, the legacy media have used Helene to advance the “climate crisis” narrative, and experts say this ignores the nuance and context needed to fully understand the meteorological influences that caused the event.
Major Garrett, chief Washington correspondent at CBS News, reported that “we are living in an era of extreme weather that requires new language.” Garrett reports that all types of disasters are increasing, although that claim goes against research by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. He also claims disasters causing a billion dollars or more are increasing as a result of climate change. This claim is likely based on the “Billion Dollar Disaster” tally by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Following research and complaints about the lack of scientific integrity NOAA uses in producing the report, the agency has agreed to review its methods.