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This Dog Was Not Left Outside During Hurricane Idalia

Ouissal Harize Ouissal Harize
News
30th August 2023
This Dog Was Not Left Outside During Hurricane Idalia
The dog was abandoned during Hurricane Harvey, Not Hurricane Idalia (Twitter)

The Claim

A dog is left outside by his owner in the midst of a Category 4 hurricane, Idalia.

Emerging story

Amid Hurricane Idalia, social media users shared a photo alleging that a dog is left outside by his owner in the midst of a Category 4 hurricane, Idalia.

Social media users urged people not to abandon their pets during the hurricane.

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Misbar’s Analysis

Misbar investigated the circulating claim and found it to be misleading. The photo predates Hurricane Idaila.

The Photo Does Not Show a Dog Abandoned During Hurricane Idalia

Upon conducting a reverse image search, Misbar’s team found that the photo was taken in 2016.

The Independent featured the photo in a 2017 article reporting pet abandonment during Hurricane Harvey in Texas. The photo caption reads: “A dog tied up in Fort Bend Country, Texas, during flooding in 2016. It was later rescued.”

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The Independent article reporting the dog abandonment. 

Videos featuring the dog rescue were also shared back in 2017, as can be seen below.

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The dog rescue video.

Hurricane Idalia 

Hurricane Idalia roared through Florida at breathtaking speeds, akin to a runaway freight train, on Wednesday. Not only did it decimate local vegetation and infrastructure, but it also evolved into a menacing force as it proceeded towards Georgia. The hurricane was a wake-up call, impacting small towns such as Perry in Florida's Big Bend area, revealing nature’s unbridled fury.

Where Did Hurricane Idalia Make Landfall?

Hurricane Idalia came crashing ashore near Keaton Beach at 7:45 a.m as a formidable Category 3 storm, boasting maximum sustained winds close to 125 mph. By the time evening fell, Idalia had transitioned into a tropical storm, its winds slackening to 70 mph. This contrasted sharply with last year's Hurricane Ian, which wreaked havoc on the densely populated Fort Myers, resulting in 149 fatalities.

Hurricane Idalia’s Damage Reaches Florida and Georgia

Despite diminishing in strength, Idalia left a trail of devastation across Florida's Gulf Coast before marching into Georgia. Signs were torn asunder, roofs yanked off, sheet metal propelled into the air, and towering trees were snapped like twigs. Tragically, Georgia reported one fatality, although Florida thankfully had no confirmed storm-related deaths.

Power Outage Due to Hurricane Idalia 

The hurricane pummeled Florida’s “Nature Coast,” a largely uninhabited and rustic area, encompassing millions of acres of untouched land. Although the sparse population minimized human toll, the hurricane caused extensive damage. It disrupted power for nearly half a million customers across Florida and Georgia, inundated streets, dislodged boats, and wreaked havoc on local businesses and infrastructure.

The state's emergency response was immediate, with 5,500 National Guardsmen and other rescue teams dispatched for search-and-recovery missions. The operation involved inspecting bridges, removing fallen trees, and locating those in need of assistance.

The National Weather Service in Tallahassee branded Hurricane Idalia as "an unprecedented event," as no major hurricanes on record had ever swept through this particular bay area before. Even as it entered Georgia, Idalia maintained its hurricane status with top winds of 90 mph. Its torrential rains are predicted to lash the Carolinas next, where it will downgrade to a tropical storm.

The storm prompted a massive mobilization of over 30,000 utility workers in Florida, aiming to expedite the repair process. Numerous flights were canceled across Florida and Georgia, but operations are slowly resuming. Officials in Bermuda are also on high alert, as Idalia could potentially make landfall there as a tropical storm next week.

Presidential Support and Federal Assistance During Idalia

To address the hurricane crisis, President Joe Biden connected with the governors of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. He assured them of the federal administration’s unflinching support in these trying times.

President Biden also mentioned the Maui wildfires along with Hurricane Idalia as examples of the climate crisis.

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Misbar’s Classification

Misleading

Misbar’s Sources

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