The Truth Behind Viral Videos Claiming to be from Hurricane Helene

As Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc on Florida’s Gulf Coast, countless social media posts emerged, purporting to show shocking footage from the storm. From alligators roaming flooded streets to daring rescue missions, these videos captured the intensity of the storm. But how much of what we see is actually real?

Our VERIFY team has been digging into these viral videos to separate fact from fiction. Let’s break down what’s true and what’s false.

Hurricane Helene Hits Florida Coast

Hurricane Helene made landfall on Sept. 26 as a Category 4 storm with winds reaching 140 mph. While the storm weakened as it moved inland, the impact was still devastating, with at least 17 reported deaths.

Fact-Checking the Videos

Video 1: Alligator in Floodwaters

A video shared by Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz, purportedly showing an alligator in floodwaters during Hurricane Helene, is not from the recent storm. In fact, the video is several years old and was filmed during Hurricane Ida in 2021.

Further investigation using InVid tools revealed the true origin of the video, which was captured in Mandeville, Louisiana, during Hurricane Ida.

Video 2: U.S. Coast Guard Rescue

On Sept. 26, the U.S. Coast Guard rescued a man and his dog from a sinking sailboat during Hurricane Helene. This heart-pounding rescue was caught on camera and confirmed to be authentic by the Coast Guard. The man and his dog were eventually brought to safety, 25 miles off the coast of Sanibel Island, Florida.

The dramatic footage was shared on social media and verified by DVIDS, the official U.S. military portal for distributing images and videos.

Video 3: Container Ships in Storm

Contrary to claims, a video allegedly showing container ships caught in Hurricane Helene is misleading. The footage is a compilation of various older videos and not related to the recent storm.

Through advanced video analysis tools, VERIFY determined that the video was a collage of older clips, with one segment dating back at least three years. The original source of each video clip remains unclear.

Stay informed with the latest verified news. Subscribe to our daily newsletter and follow us on social media for updates on breaking stories. Remember, not everything you see online is true, but we’re here to set the record straight.