A University of Kentucky employee claimed that Hurricane Helene was the work of God to punish Donald Trump supporters.
Betsy Packard, a professor in the school’s English department, has sparked outrage after repeatedly saying that Trump supporters were to blame for the devastating storm that left more than 100 people dead in the South.
‘Hurricane Helene…what if GOD is punishing MAGA populations for their hate and hypocrisy? Works for me!’ Packard said Sunday along with a winking emoji.
Packard then responded to a pollster predicting Trump would win North Carolina, writing: ‘God just unloaded a whole can of screams on you fools, and you still support Trump?’ What’s the matter?
Packard continued to respond to X users talking about the storm throughout Sunday, repeating his apparent belief that the tragic storm was punishment against Trump supporters.
University of Kentucky employee Betsy Packard sparked outrage after repeatedly saying Trump supporters were to blame for the devastating storm that left nearly 100 dead.
‘An act of God hit you and you still didn’t hear it? Obviously, God is very angry with MAGAs. How can you not see this?’
And he added: ‘Hey. If they were hit by an act of God of this magnitude, God must be REALLY mad at MAGA.
Hurricane Helene left millions without power, destroyed roads and bridges, and caused dramatic flooding from Florida to Virginia.
At least 116 people have died, CBS News reports.
Social media users have called for Packard to be fired for his statements.
“If Betsy Packard is still working in (the UK) tomorrow, then fire all the managers there,” said one X user.
Another added: ‘Do any of you have any words for Betsy? Apparently she is a professor at the University of Kentucky. This is just a post. This woman is sick. How can someone have so much hate in them?
The devastation of Hurricane Helene in Madeira Beach, Florida
A third asked: ‘Will Betsy Packard be fired on Monday? Otherwise we’ll assume everyone (the UK) agrees with your dire assessment of the hurricane’s path.’
A UK spokesperson told DailyMail.com on Monday that they were made aware of Packard’s posts.
‘We have reported this to the appropriate offices on campus that review conduct questions. “These types of statements are abhorrent and do not reflect our values as an institution,” said spokesman Jay Blanton.
‘Our thoughts and concerns are with those affected by these devastating storms. As an institution, we have many members of our community directly affected by them and we are working with them to provide support and resources at this time.’
At least 116 people in several states died during Hurricane Helene. A North Carolina county that includes the mountain city of Asheville reported that up to 30 people died.
Hurricane Helene made landfall Thursday night in Florida’s Big Bend region as a Category 4 hurricane with 140 mph winds. A weakened Helene moved quickly through Georgia and then drenched the Carolinas and Tennessee with torrential rains that flooded streams and rivers and strained dams.
There have been hundreds of water rescues, including in rural Unicoi County in East Tennessee, where dozens of patients and staff were rescued by helicopter from a hospital rooftop on Friday.
More than 2 million homeowners and other utility customers were still without power Sunday night.
Social media users called for Packard to be fired for his statements
Authorities warned that rebuilding after widespread loss of homes and property would be long and difficult.
The storm disrupted life across the Southeast, with deaths also reported in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Virginia.
President Joe Biden called the storm’s impact “stunning” and said he would visit the area this week as long as it does not disrupt rescue or recovery work. In a brief exchange with reporters, he said the administration is giving states “everything we have” to help them respond to the storm.
A photograph provided by the North Carolina Division of Aviation showing flood damage caused by the storm that began as Hurricane Helene in Asheville, North Carolina, U.S., on September 29, 2024.
Relief efforts continue in the Asheville area, where a major disaster due to Hurricane Helene has left communities devastated, roads impassable and thousands of people without power.
The storm unleashed the worst flooding in a century in North Carolina. One community, Spruce Pine, received more than 2 feet of rain from Tuesday to Saturday.
Biden on Saturday promised help from the federal government for the “overwhelming” devastation in Helene. It also approved a disaster declaration for North Carolina, making federal funds available to affected people.
In Florida’s Big Bend, some lost almost everything they owned. With sanctuaries still dark Sunday morning, some churches canceled regular services, while others, like Faith Baptist Church in Perry, opted to worship outdoors.
