White nationalist and far-right networks are using natural disasters as opportunities to present themselves as relief providers, produce viral content and recruit new followers, according to a CBS News "60 Minutes" report focused on the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina.
After Helene hit remote mountain communities in September 2024, groups including white nationalists, militias and conspiracy theorists arrived in affected areas, sometimes armed and often without coordinating with local authorities. One group, Patriot Front, delivered supplies and cleared debris, then posted videos and photos of the effort online.
