As a member of Congress representing communities impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, I understand first-hand how challenging it is to find sources of accurate information during a crisis. Thank goodness that the National Weather Service and the Federal Emergency Management Agency were there to inform our neighbors as the dangerous storms barreled toward landfall. The agencies saved lives before and after the devastating storms — and are still helping people pick up the pieces.

The weather service is one of the United States’ most valuable public assets. Its daily weather forecasts are routine, but in a crisis like this, its storm warnings are essential. The service’s dedicated public servants work around the clock to provide precise forecasts of extreme weather events like hurricanes, fires and floods. Hurricane hunters risk their lives flying (just watch) into the eye of the storm. They provide life-saving information, helping citizens protect their homes and businesses. FEMA’s disaster professionals, too, are dedicated to helping before, during and after Americans face life-shattering disasters.

It’s all about people. The entire purpose of these government agencies is to help Americans precisely when they need it most. This is why the disinformation purposely being spread now about these dedicated public servants and their lifesaving work is so tragic and twisted. America now has the best system in the world to warn people of severe weather — but it was not always this way.

Decades ago, we warned people of storms like Helene and Milton with sirens, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather radios, and local alerts broadcast on television. These low-tech, limited-reach methods (and much less accurate storm forecasts) meant many people in harm’s way died in avoidable tragedies.

With the advent of cell phones, emergency notices exponentially improved. In a few keystrokes, severe weather and disaster alerts can reach people instantly. Thanks to new-generation weather satellites, the government’s high-power computers, and improved models, our forecasts have improved dramatically. Today we have a sophisticated system of both warnings and disaster response. But it only works if people believe in it.

Unfortunately, many social media platforms where people get their news today are hotbeds of misinformation and lies, often twisted by unknowable algorithms that amplify dangerous and false information. For the highest quality storm information, the local National Weather Service forecast office will always give you the best information possible. And if you need disaster assistance, FEMA will be there for you. You can get more information at disasterassistance.gov.

The lies are outlandish and cruel — and they take a toll. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, tweeted an outrageous lie about the government controlling this weather. Conservative firebrand Alex Jones falsely claimed that the government could have “killed the storm” .” Most damaging of all, former President Trump lied about FEMA running out of money because it is spending that money on border security — a lie that is discouraging people from applying for disaster assistance funds.

There are so many lies about FEMA’s response to the storms that they had to create a webpage debunking them. These terrible lies do serious and lasting damage to the public’s confidence in the weather service and FEMA. FEMA has not run out of funding, and they are on the ground in every locationsupporting governors of all impacted states from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and every other disaster of this summer. Americans should also know that Trump’s Project 2025 proposes privatizing the National Weather Service. That is a dangerous idea and would cost lives.

It’s time to end the lies and disinformation about severe weather and disaster response. The tragedies these lies cause are entirely avoidable. I hope that Americans in this election will turn the page on the Trump chaos and focus on the real challenges that lie ahead, like climate change making severe weather a more frequent occurrence. America is great because we see each other as neighbors and fellow citizens, not Republicans or Democrats, and we pull together during difficult times. We’ve seen it during the difficult aftermath our people are grappling with now. Trump and others who seek to polarize us, politicizing something as fundamental as disaster response, are betraying our trust. They do not deserve our vote.

US Rep. Kathy Castor, a Democrat, represents Florida District 14, which includes Tampa and parts of St. Petersburg and Hillsborough County.