Why some white nationalists are showing up to areas hit by natural disasters

60 Minutes - Newsmakers Some white nationalists swoop in after natural disasters, trying to soften their image while offering help .chip { background-image: url('/fly/bundles/cbsnewscore/images/chip-bgd/chip-bgd-60-minutes.jpg'); } By Lesley Stahl Lesley Stahl Correspondent, 60 Minutes One of America's most recognized and experienced broadcast journalists, Lesley Stahl has been a "60 Minutes" correspondent since 1991. Read Full Bio Lesley Stahl May 3, 2026 / 7:00 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google A surge of tornados tore across a large swath of the country in April, carving a path of destruction. Over 200 tornados hit over 20 states, closely clustered in the last couple of weeks. And hurricane season is just around the corner.Our story tonight is about what happens after these natural disasters. A pattern has emerged in recent years in which militias, conspiracists, and white supremacists show up to hard-hit communities — as they did last week in Texas — offering help. But they've been called disaster tourists who are out to sow doubt in government, soften their own image and gain followers.September 2024. Hurricane Helene barreled through North Carolina with forces so powerful, it nearly wiped the town of Bat Cave off the map, lifting homes and toppling trees.Sheriff Lowell Griffin: Imagine taking a box of toothpicks and dumpin' 'em on your kitchen counter.Sheriff Lowell Griffin faced a daunting rescue task.Sheriff Lowell Griffin: We had already experienced days of heavy rain. And then the hurricane comes through.Lesley Stahl: Like a triple whammy. Sheriff Lowell Griffin: Yes, yes. Sheriff Lowell Griffin and Lesley Stahl 60 Minutes Then, another whammy: outsiders started pouring into North Carolina, including an influx of anti-government, far-right groups.Sheriff Lowell Griffin: These folks that we're talking about, they were in the minority. However that minority can create chaos. And that's what we ran into.Lesley Stahl: Did some of these outsi...