Rely On Real Information

Misinformation that seeks to minimize the severity of disasters and large-scale emergencies puts lives in danger. Disinformation is a form of misinformation that is deliberately deceptive and can be just as dangerous. Neither are opinions or personal points of view.

You can help us eliminate both by relying on official, verified sources of real information.

As partners in the state’s disaster preparedness, response and recovery efforts, the South Carolina Emergency Management Division limits the information we share on our social media channels to verified sources such as the fellow emergency management stakeholders, our county emergency managers, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and all the agencies that comprise our state’s emergency response team, to name a few.

We welcome questions, comments and discussions, but we encourage you to carefully evaluate content that advocates different perspectives by considering the following:

1. Is the source reliable? Is it an individual's opinion? Does it come from an established authority on the topic such as SCDHEC, SCEMD, the CDC, the Food and Drug Administration, local public safety officials or similar groups?
   
   
2. What is the origin of the information? Does it come from a site or part of the world known for spreading disinformation?
   
   
3. Has this information been fact-checked? There are multiple fact-checking resources on the internet. Find one that you trust and use it to see if the information has already been verified. Once you do that, double check it.
   
   
4. Is the information on topic? Whataboutisms can be dangerous by distracting you from the very safety measures that could save your life and protect your loved ones. Stay focused on your personal health and the safety of those around you.
   
   

Real information always changes in an active and ongoing emergency. During this pandemic, we are all reliant on medical specialists who are experts in a field most of us are normally we’re not familiar with. You should continue to stay up to date as any situation develops in case public safety officials need you to take precautions.

Personal preparedness is essential in every disaster; right now is no different. Make informed decisions about your personal health and safety by relying on official, verified information from the agencies and people who’ve dedicated themselves to serving you.