Lie of the Storm: 9 Hurricane-Related Rumors

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If it's that time of year for hurricane preparations, it's probably also time to do our part to slow the misinformation that inevitably floods screens during natural disasters. Check with local officials for instructions and updates; and maybe leave the memes to drift back out to sea.

Should You Open Windows During a Hurricane?

Aug 30, 2005 Storm lore holds that opening a window slightly during a hurricane will equalize the inner press ...

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Do Hurricanes With Female Names Cause More Deaths Because People Don't Take Them Seriously?

Apr 6, 2017 A 2014 study makes this argument, but its findings are complex and contested.

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Are Hotels Required to Accept Pets During Natural Disasters?

Sep 7, 2017 Neither FEMA nor the 2006 PETS law requires hotels and motels to accommodate pets during emergen ...

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Is This Anderson Cooper Standing in a Ditch While Reporting Hurricane Florence?

Sep 16, 2018 It's not uncommon for reporters to call upon dramatic skills in the course of conveying the peri ...

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During a Hurricane, Should You Store Important Items in Your Dishwasher?

Sep 8, 2017 Appliance experts and flooding victims advise against storing valuables in a dishwasher during a ...

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Is There a Link Between Major Hurricanes and 29 August?

Aug 31, 2017 A viral meme falsely states that four hurricanes hit the United States on 29 August in various y ...

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Did Floodwaters in Southeast Texas Test Positive for Several Diseases After Harvey?

Sep 13, 2017 There is no evidence to support a viral Facebook warning about certain cities, but the public sh ...

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Weather Reporter Hit by a Stop Sign During Storm?

Sep 11, 2017 A clip from a television sitcom showing a stop sign crashing into a weather reporter during a st ...

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Did an Exorcism Save a House from Destruction During a Hurricane?

May 3, 2018 A viral meme fabricated supernatural involvement in an already remarkable hurricane survival story.

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By Bond Huberman

Bond Huberman is a former editor for Snopes.