Starlink, the satellite internet service from SpaceX, is poised to become a crucial lifeline in parts of southern Appalachia that were devastated by Hurricane Helene.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said Tuesday the aerospace company is sending more Starlink terminals to North Carolina following the widespread devastation of Hurricane Helene. “Since the Hurricane Helene disaster,

Musk suggests that FCC funding would've allowed it to help more people after Hurricane Helene, but the FCC says that money wouldn't have been available until after 2025.

Musk labeled the government’s actions as “belligerent government incompetence,” triggering a wave of misinformation on social media. At 2:30 p.m. EDT, Buttigieg responded directly to Musk on X, debunking the claims.

Pete Buttigieg denied that federal agencies were blocking rescue operations and refuting Elon Musk’s claims of airspace shutdowns in North Carolina