Hurricane Milton 🌿 Helene misinformation 🌿 First gas lawsuit
Written by:
Hi, Everyone!
I’m Amanda Magnani, a Brazilian (photo)journalist and OptOut News’ climate editor. Every other week, I bring you the most important climate news from our network—with an extra serving of decolonial perspectives. ✨🌿
Want to keep the OptOut newsletters and app free?
WE ARE A NONPROFIT AND RELY ON YOUR SUPPORT TO CONTINUE OUR WORK!
DONATE HERE!A couple of weeks after hurricane Helene hit the Southeastern United States, Hurricane Milton walloped Florida. Despite at least six deaths and over 80.000 people in shelters, Milton was not the worst-case scenario, Gov. Ron DeSantis made sure to note at a press conference, Grist reports. As Floridians clean up after the back-to-back climate disasters, they’ll have to deal with river flooding that will probably take over a month to flush back into the Atlantic, Florida Phoenix reports via NC Newsline.
In addition to the fallout from Helene’s aftermath, disaster officials also have to deal with widespread misinformation, Tennessee Lookout reports. Republicans, and in particular former President Donald Trump, have taken to spreading verifiable falsehoods about FEMA’s response, Louisiana Illuminator reports. FEMA’s chief Deanne Criswell publicly begged them to stop doing it, The Ring of Fire reports. The problem has become so widespread on the right that Fox News has been having to fact-check its own anchors about the hurricane, The New Republic reports.
And if you’re wondering how serious the situation is, The New Republic also reported on how officials in North Carolina came across trucks of armed militia declaring to be out hunting FEMA.
NC Newsline has been debunking misinformation surrounding Helene.
On a more positive note, for the first time a gas utility was named in a climate lawsuit. While oil companies like ExxonMobil, Shell, Chevron and BP had already been named, Oregon’s NW Natural has now become the first gas utility sued for misrepresenting the harms of its products to the climate, DeSmog reports. What makes this case even more special is that the case against NW Natural is built around one specific event: a “heat dome” that led to temperatures of 116 degrees in Multnomah County in 2021, Gas Outlook reports.
🌿🌿🌿
Climate in the Elections
With the elections drawing near, here are some good pieces to help you stay up to date on the debate around the climate agenda.
🇺🇸 “7 debate questions about climate change and energy for Pennsylvania’s Senate candidates,” by Inside Climate News via Pennsylvania Capital Star.
🇺🇸 “What a second Trump presidency could mean for Indigenous peoples,” by Grist.
🇺🇸 “Ron DeSantis Snubs Harris’s Hurricane Relief Calls for Dumbest Reason,” by The New Republic.
🇺🇸 “Trump lies about hurricane relief at Juneau rally,” by Wisconsin Examiner.
🇺🇸 “Right Wing Hurricane Lies Are a Preview of Chaos to Come,” by The New Republic.
🇺🇸 “How do you vote amid the hurricane damage? States are learning as they go.” by States Newsroom via Michigan Advance.
🇺🇸 “Republican Misinformation Culture Intensifies During Climate Crisis,” by The Majority Report.
🇺🇸 “U.S. House Democrats call for immediate FEMA funding for hurricane response,” by Florida Phoenix.
🇺🇸 “Politicize Hurricane Milton, Please,” by The New Republic.
🌿🌿🌿
And More:
🛢️ “State struggles to recover more than $24 million from people responsible for wildfires,” by Oregon Capital Chronicle.
🛢️ “The largest carbon capture project in the U.S. could be in West Texas. Do residents want it?” by Texas Tribune via Source NM.
🛢️ “Helene forces closure of IV, dialysis fluid manufacturer in NC. Hospitals could face shortages.” by NC Newsline.
🛢️ “Western North Carolina receives more than $27M in FEMA funds,” by NC Newsline.
🛢️ “Hurricane Helene brought devastation — and an opportunity — to Appalachia’s power grids,” by Grist.
🛢️ “Indiana utilities earn collective ‘C’ grade on clean energy goals,” by Indiana Capital Chronicle.
🛢️ “Fleeing a Hurricane Is Expensive,” by The New Republic.
🌿🌿🌿
Decolonizing Climate Change
🌱 “Big Oil Wants Nemonte Nenquimo’s Ancestors. Not On Her Watch.” by Atmos.
🌱 “For Floridians in mobile homes, Hurricane Helene was a disaster waiting to happen,” by Grist.
🌱 “Hurricane Helene made abortion access in the South even harder,” by The 19th via Louisiana Illuminator.
🌱 “Hit hard by Hurricane Helene, Georgia’s immigrant farmworkers struggle to get aid,” by The Real News Network.
🌱 “A Progress 2025 Vision of Climate Justice,” by Rising Up With Sonali.
🌱 “Black residents in Cancer Alley try what may be a last legal defense to curb toxic pollution,” by Grist.
🌱 “‘In order to have clean energy, we need good energy’ Indigenous youth say,” by The Narwhal.
🌱 “Caught in the Storm: How Florida Prisons and Jails Are Responding to Hurricane Milton,” by The Appeal.
🌿🌿🌿
Around the World
🇦🇿 Azerbaijan: “Azerbaijan abandons climate target, risking COP29 talks,” by Gas Outlook.
🇧🇷 Brazil: “The role of urban growth in the generation of landslide risk – an example from Brazil,” by EOS.
🇪🇺 European Union: “EU gamble on carbon capture could cost €140bn in subsidies — new report,” by Gas Outlook.
🇨🇦 Canada: “Nature and wildlife: where B.C.’s political parties stand on key issues,” by The Narwhal.
🇩🇪 Germany: “Germany’s Green Transition Is Faltering,” by Jacobin.
🇪🇨 Ecuador: “Ecuador voted to stop drilling in the Amazon — a year later they are still trying to kick the oil industry out,” by Waging Nonviolence.
🌿🌿🌿
To Lighten Your Heart
💚 “How three big White House bills fixed streets and met climate priorities in one city,” by Wisconsin Examiner.
💚 “Carbon dioxide pollution in the West could drop with expansion of electrical grid, report says,” by Oregon Capital Chronicle.
💚 “CT looks to ramp up resilience measures in the face of climate change,” by CT Mirror.
💚 “Gila River Indian Community turns on power for first ever solar-over-canal project,” by AZ Mirror.
💚 “Toward a More Sustainable Future for the Rare Earths Industry,” by EOS.
💚 “Advocacy groups pitch solar microgrids as New Orleans power backups,” by Louisiana Illuminator.
💚 “Regenerative farming practices require unlearning past advice,” by Columbia Missourian via Missouri Independent.
And here’s a meme by Climate Memewashing:
🌿🌿🌿
That’s all for now, folks! If you have any questions or suggestions, hit me up at amanda@optout.news.
Obrigada and have a great week!
The OptOut Media Foundation (EIN: 85-2348079) is a nonprofit charity with a mission to educate the public about current events and help sustain a diverse media ecosystem by promoting and assisting independent news outlets and, in doing so, advance democracy and social justice.
Download the app for Apple and Android.
Sign up for OptOut's free newsletters.
Learn more about OptOut.
Merch
Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Mastodon, and Facebook.
