The claim: Video shows Hurricane Milton in Sarasota, Florida
An Oct. 9 Threads post ( direct link , archive link ) shows a video montage of severe weather and property damage.
"Latest footage from Sarasota, Florida," the post's caption reads.
On-screen text in the video reads, "9 October 2024 Potential hurricane Nadine is on path to HIT Florida in wake of category 5 milton (sic)."
The post was liked 1,500 times in a day.
RELATED : Hurricane paths, FEMA response spur dangerous misinformation | Fact check roundup
More from the Fact-Check Team: How we pick and research claims | Email newsletter | Facebook page
Our rating: False
The video is miscaptioned. The clips of storm footage circulated online before Milton made landfall in Florida and are unrelated to the hurricane.
Storm videos predate Milton's formation
News photographs show Milton caused extensive damage across the Florida Peninsula after making landfall as a Category 3 hurricane on Oct. 9 near Siesta Key in Sarasota County. The storm killed at least 14 people and left millions without power.
But the video in the Threads post does not show Milton moving through Sarasota, Florida. Each clip in the montage had been circulating online before Milton formed as a tropical storm on Oct. 5.
- The opening clip of storm debris flying over a parking lot dates back to at least July 15 – when it was posted on YouTube – and was previously falsely linked to both Milton and Hurricane Helene .
- The next clip in the montage shows a backyard patio roof coming unhinged in a downpour. This clip has circulated on YouTube and Instagram since at least Sept. 13.
- Another clip in the mashup appears to show a tornado tearing a building apart. This footage was previously shared May 6 on Instagram.
- The video montage next shows a waterspout tossing kayaks and boats into the air. The clip has been circulating on social media platforms since at least May 17 .
- The last clip in the video shows fierce winds and a tree that had fallen outside a home. This footage has been circulating since at least Jan. 27 , when it was posted on YouTube.
The post also claims another potential hurricane, Nadine, could hit the state. A system off the eastern coast of Florida had the potential to become Tropical Storm Nadine , but it never threatened land and didn't become a cyclone, USA TODAY reported.
Fact check : DeSantis lifted tolls in Milton-affected areas through Oct. 14
USA TODAY has debunked an array of claims related to Milton and Helene, including false assertions that state police in North Carolina threatened to arrest Federal Emergency Management Agency employees, that Milton reached "Category 6" strength, and that FEMA could seize land from disaster victims for unpaid loans .
USA TODAY reached out to the Threads user who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Our fact-check sources:
- USA TODAY, Oct. 9, The next named storm on the list is Nadine. What forecasters are watching.
- USA TODAY, Oct. 9, When and where did Hurricane Milton make landfall? Deadly storm hits Florida
- The Associated Press, Oct. 10, PHOTO COLLECTION: Hurricane Milton
- Reuters, Oct. 10, Latest photos: Hurricane Milton churns across Florida
- USA TODAY, Oct. 10, Florida picking up the pieces after Milton: 11 dead, 3M in dark. Live updates
- Disaster Update (YouTube), July 15, A tornado caused damage in Urbandale, Iowa – July 15, 2024 @cmorrissey89
- Storyful News & Weather (YouTube), Sept. 13, Wild Wind From Hurricane Francine Rips Off Patio Roof
- AccuWeather, May 6, Instagram post
- Tornado Tacklers, May 17, Facebook post
- GroundControl (YouTube), Jan. 27, Wind Storm Destorys Neighbour In Seconds!
Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or e-newspaper here .
USA TODAY is a verified signatory of the International Fact-Checking Network, which requires a demonstrated commitment to nonpartisanship, fairness and transparency. Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Meta .
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Post falsely claims storm video shows Milton in Sarasota | Fact check
Local News
