Personalized Forecasts
A.M. Planner
Home & Garden
Health
Miscellaneous
New York, NY
Local Weather
My Recent Locations
-
New York, NY
60° RealFeel® 59° -
Miami, FL
81° RealFeel® 90° -
Los Angeles, CA
65° RealFeel® 66°
FEMA dispels rumors in attempts to limit spread of false Hurricane Irma information
By Amanda Schmidt, AccuWeather staff writer
September 10, 2017, 1:15:29 PM EDT
Share this article:
Earlier this week, videos claiming to show the effects of Irma in the Caribbean were shared on Facebook. The videos were from different storms several years ago, but they were still viewed by tens of millions.
The internet and social media can be useful in breaking news situations. Unfortunately, not all of the information being released is accurate and social media can allow false information to spread rapidly.
The fake Caribbean videos demonstrate the speed that false information can be spread. There have been numerous other false claims about Hurricane Irma.
Another example is a weather forecast predicting Irma would develop into a Category 6 hurricane was also widely shared. But such a storm designation does not exist.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Brock Long speaks during a news conference in Washington, Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, about Harvey's devastating flooding. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
“The scale was developed 1 to 5,” Joel Myers, the founder and president of AccuWeather, told New York times Tuesday, Sept. 5. “When you develop a scale 1 to 5, there can’t be any Category 6.”
“People’s lives are at stake,” Myers stated in his New York Times' interview. “If people get the wrong information and make the wrong decision, it’s a tragedy.”
RELATED:
Reports: Hurricane Irma makes 2nd Florida landfall near Naples
Irma batters Florida with catastrophic storm surge, wind and rain
Eerie video shows hundreds of abandoned cars lining streets outside of Key West
Hurricane Irma makes landfall in Lower Keys as a Category 4 storm
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hopes to address the rumors by adding a "rumor control" page to its site.
FEMA's first online rumor control initiative was created for Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
The page includes a number of "rumors" related to Irma and addresses their accuracy, or lack there of. It also highlights scams.
We created an #Irma rumor control page to help you verify what’s true and what’s not. Visit it here: https://t.co/nnXuF8Q7E8 pic.twitter.com/ypNwNRlOM0
— FEMA (@fema) September 8, 2017
It addresses topics ranging from fuel shortages in Florida to disaster clean-up and inspections.
"There are reports that floodwaters bring a danger of plague. This is FALSE," one section reads.
The page addresses scams, such as Texas residents being told via robo-call that "their flood premiums are past due and in order to have coverage for Hurricane Harvey they need to submit a payment immediately to a website," reads the site.
FEMA encourages people to share this page and spread the word in order to provide accurate information.
Comments
Comments that don't add to the conversation may be automatically or manually removed by Facebook or AccuWeather. Profanity, personal attacks, and spam will not be tolerated.
More Weather News
-
Photos: Dead fish discovered on North Carolina interstate as floodwaters recede
Weather News - September 23, 2018, 5:38:08 PM EDT
Hundreds of dead fish were discovered on Interstate 40 when floodwaters receded following Hurricane Florence.
-
Rain, higher humidity set to return to the Northeast this week
Weather News - September 24, 2018, 1:31:18 AM EDT
A cool start to autumn will give way to increasing warmth and humidity across the Northeast in the coming days.
-
'There is still more of hurricane season to go': Expert warns another tropical threat may make US landfall
Weather News - September 24, 2018, 1:35:17 AM EDT
The formation of Subtropical Storm Leslie and Tropical Depression Kirk may only be the start of a busy next couple of weeks in the tropical Atlantic.
-
Japan, Taiwan on alert as Typhoon Trami strengthens
Weather News - September 23, 2018, 11:56:25 AM EDT
The newest storm in the western Pacific Ocean will track through the Philippine Sea, continuing to gather strength before impacting land later in the week.
-
The tropics are heating up again: Tropical Depression Kirk and Subtropical Storm Leslie form in the Atlantic
Weather News - September 24, 2018, 1:05:05 AM EDT
Following a brief lull in tropical weather across the Atlantic Basin, several areas of interest have developed this weekend, including the season's newest named storms.
-
Oktoberfest 2018: Damaging windstorm possible late on Sunday
Weather News - September 23, 2018, 11:03:00 AM EDT
The start of Oktoberfest 2018 is upon us and big changes in the weather are expected for the opening days of festivities.
-
Relentless downpours to create travel delays, flash flood concerns in the Mississippi Valley
Weather News - September 24, 2018, 3:58:43 AM EDT
The same storm system that produced deadly flooding in Texas late last week will channel rounds of heavy downpours into the lower Mississippi Valley throughout much of this week.
-
NASCAR Federated 400 race could face brief delays this evening
Weather News - September 22, 2018, 7:22:17 PM EDT
The NASCAR Playoffs will continue tonight at the Richmond Raceway amid warm and potentially unsettled weather.
TRENDING NOW
Photos: Dead fish discovered on North Carolina interstate as floodwaters recede
Hundreds of dead fish were discovered on Interstate 40 when floodwaters receded following Hurricane Florence.
Read Story
Know your zones and routes: How to leave home safely if a hurricane prompts a mandatory evacuation order
Knowing if you live in an evacuation zone and being aware of evacuation routes ahead of time is critical in the event that a mandatory evacuation order is issued for your area.
Read Story
AccuWeather.com
Custom Search