This Video Shows a 2019 Texas Storm, Not Hurricane Ian
The Claim
A video depicts children in Florida attending school during Hurricane Ian.
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Emerging story
On social media, a video purporting to show children attending school in Florida during Hurricane Ian is circulating.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the claim and found it to be misleading.
The video predates Hurricane Ian in Florida.
2019 Texas Storm
The video of students trying to walk on benches in a flooded hallway was captured in Texas in 2019. According to our research, the viral video was already featured by DailyMail and other news agencies in September 2019.
The video shows how teachers at a flooded Houston school had to get creative to help their students escape. Durham Elementary School staff turned benches into elevated walkways after nearly four feet of rain fell on the city. The benches functioned as a bridge over ankle-deep waterholes, leading students to the cafeteria for lunch.
2022 Hurricane Ian
The video went viral after Hurricane Ian, one of the most powerful storms to hit the mainland of the United States, wreaked havoc on southwest Florida with high winds and rain.
According to local officials, the death toll from Hurricane Ian has risen to at least 72.
On September 30, 2022, President Joe Biden gave a speech about Hurricane Ian's storm from the White House on a Friday afternoon. He outlined the disaster in Florida and urged South Carolina residents to be fully prepared for another landfall.
Hurricane Ian Sparks Misinformation
Images and videos purporting to show flooding, downed trees, and destroyed buildings were widely shared on social media platforms as Hurricane Ian ravaged Florida.
Misbar debunked a slew of online visuals that were either altered or out of date and alleged to be attributed to Hurricane Ian.
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