“A lot of people are looking for someone to blame,” meteorologist Katie Nickolaou said on “CUOMO.”
(NewsNation) —Katie Nickolaou, a meteorologist, says she’s received death threats for debunking hurricane conspiracy theories regarding the latest natural disasters in the U.S.
“A lot of people are looking for someone to blame,” Nickolaou said Friday on “CUOMO.” “I’m just trying to get out there and answer questions in terms of understanding this insane weather.”
The meteorologist, who shares weather updates on her TikTok, said she’s not alone and that several other meteorologists are reporting similar hostile messages.
“Murdering meteorologists won’t stop hurricanes,” Nickolaou wrote on X, alongside a screenshot of one threat she’d received.
Meanwhile, Washington, D.C.-based meteorologist Matthew Cappucci said he’s received hundreds of messages from people accusing him of modifying the weather to create hurricanes with space lasers, the New York Post reported.
Crews resumed rescue-and-recovery efforts Friday in Florida, working around the clock to help people in the wake of Hurricane Milton.
At least 10 storm-related deaths have been reported so far, according to the White House.
President Joe Biden is expected to travel to Florida on Sunday to visit impacted areas.
As of 8 p.m. ET Friday, almost 2 million customers remained without power in Florida. Vice President Kamala Harris shared on X that 50,000 workers are hard at work restoring power.
Still, many expressed relief that Milton wasn’t worse. The hurricane spared densely populated Tampa a direct hit, and the lethal storm surge that scientists feared wasn’t as huge as expected.
“To the people of Florida: I know recovery and rebuilding periods can be long and difficult. And that long after the press and cameras move on, you have to pick up the pieces. But I want you to know I will do everything in my power to help you put the pieces back together,” President Joe Biden posted to X.
NewsNation’s Devan Markham contributed to this report.