A far-right militia group, Veterans on Patrol, is spreading unfounded claims that the U.S. military caused Hurricane Helene using weather manipulation technology, according to a report from The Guardian. The group’s inflammatory rhetoric, shared on Telegram, includes calls for attacks on military equipment and infrastructure, raising concerns about potential violence.
Veterans on Patrol, led by Michael “Lewis Arthur” Meyer, has a long history of spreading conspiracy theories and engaging in vigilante activities. Recently, the group claimed the hurricane, which killed over 200 people and devastated parts of western North Carolina, was an “act of war” orchestrated to secure lithium mines and advance so-called “smart city” developments.
Posts from the group’s Telegram account proposed violent actions, including targeting military bases, destroying power and water lines, and detaining military leaders. A poll conducted in the group’s public Telegram channel showed 72% of respondents supporting these measures, prompting fears of escalation among extremism watchdogs.
FEMA, tasked with Hurricane Helene recovery, was forced to alter its relief efforts in North Carolina due to militia threats. One individual has already been arrested for armed intimidation.
This isn’t Veterans on Patrol’s first clash with authorities. The group previously vandalized migrant water stations in Arizona and falsely accused homeless encampments of being trafficking hubs.
Meanwhile, recovery in efforts western North Carolina continue. On Monday, Nov. 18, nearly two months after Hurricane Helene struck, Asheville’s water system was fully restored, allowing over 100,000 residents to drink and bathe safely for the first time since the storm.