Old Footage Falsely Linked To Recent Hurricane Milton in Florida
The Claim
The moment Hurricane Milton Florida entered this morning in America.
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Emerging story
Recently, social media users have been circulating a video claiming to show the moment Hurricane Milton struck Florida.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the claim and found it to be misleading. The viral video that purportedly shows Hurricane Milton hitting Florida actually consists of old footage and is unrelated to the recent storm.
Tornado in Andover, Kansas, in 2022
The first scene of the video (from the beginning to the fourth second, and again from the 37th second to the end) was originally published on TikTok on September 28, 2022. The original poster claimed that the footage showed the tornado that hit Andover, Kansas, on April 29, 2022.
Misbar verified the video's geographic location using Google Maps, confirming it was filmed on Highway 400, 513 South, Andover Road, in Kansas, U.S.A.
The third scene (from the 15th to the 30th second) also depicts the Andover tornado and was originally posted by the local station KSN TV on YouTube on May 1, 2022.
On April 29, 2022, a powerful EF-3 tornado struck south-central Kansas, causing widespread destruction in Andover, a suburb of Wichita. The tornado, with wind speeds reaching 165 mph, caused significant damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure.
The tornado tragically claimed the lives of three University of Oklahoma students who were storm-chasing to collect scientific data. In addition to the fatalities, four others sustained minor injuries, including two firefighters. The tornado demolished between 300 and 400 buildings and damaged over 1,000 others.
Andover Fire Chief Chad Russell remarked that it would take years for the area to fully recover from the 2022 disaster. He also highlighted that residents are still dealing with the long-term effects of the EF-5 tornado that struck the area in 1991, underscoring the lasting impact these disasters have on the community.
Hurricane Michael Strikes Panama City Beach, Florida, in 2018
The second scene (from the fourth to the 14th second) was taken from a 14:12-minute video showing Hurricane Michael, which struck Panama City Beach, Florida, on October 12, 2018. Misbar observed that the circulating video had been altered, with a tornado digitally added behind the house in the original footage, misleading viewers into believing it was part of the recent Hurricane Milton.
Hurricane Michael was considered the strongest storm to hit the U.S. in over 25 years, with wind speeds reaching 155 mph at landfall. The hurricane caused extensive damage to the small town of Mexico Beach, resulting in two fatalities, the collapse of several buildings, uprooted trees, and downed power lines. Its destruction left a lasting impact on the region.
As Hurricane Michael moved inland, it weakened into a tropical storm. Authorities ordered the evacuation of over half a million people, warning that those who chose to remain would be responsible for their own safety. Reports at the time indicated that Hurricane Michael had already claimed 13 lives in Central America before reaching the U.S.
In response to Hurricane Michael, U.S. President Donald Trump declared a major disaster in Florida, unlocking federal funds for recovery efforts. Additionally, 1,500 National Guard troops were deployed to Georgia to assist with relief operations.
The final scene of the video has been widely circulated on social media in various contexts since November 17, 2023, almost a year before Hurricane Milton.
Hurricane Milton Causes Deaths and Damage in Florida
On October 10, Hurricane Milton, a Category 3 storm, struck parts of southeastern Florida, causing widespread destruction. The hurricane has claimed the lives of at least eight people as of this writing, according to reports from the Associated Press citing local officials.
The reports indicated that five victims were from St. Lucie County, which had endured over a dozen storms before Hurricane Milton made landfall. In addition to the fatalities in St. Lucie County, deaths were also reported in St. Petersburg and Volusia County.
Hurricane Milton left over 3.1 million homes and businesses without power. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis warned that flooding could still pose a significant threat in the coming days, although the situation had not yet reached a "worst-case scenario."
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