As Category 5 Hurricane Melissa heads toward Jamaica with winds of more than 200 miles per hour, a tidal wave is hitting social media. Fraudulent and AI-generated videosIt shows catastrophic floods, collapsing buildings and rescue scenes that never happened.
On X, TikTok, Instagram, WhatsApp and other social media platforms, fake clips spread quickly, gaining millions of views in just a few hours. Many of these videos are images of past storms or clips created entirely from them. Tools for text and video synthesis with AI.
In times of crisis, such as a dangerous and impending natural disaster, these fake videos can cause confusion, panic and distraction, while accuracy can save lives.
Natural disasters have always sparked rumors and recycled footage, but the rise of AI-generated videos has exacerbated the problem. Tools such as Sora from OpenAI and other AI-powered video platforms can display realistic images of storms, floods and damage scenes in seconds and reach millions of people online within hours.
Because storms attract fake news
Storms are visual, emotional and move quickly, which is the perfect recipe for viral misinformation. In recent years, the films have often been taken out of context or called a new storm. Now they can be created digitally from scratch.
Some describe apocalyptic floods that did not occur, while others claim to depict conditions in “real time” hours before landfall. Several videos circulating this week include footage of sharks swimming in a storm and disturbing images of human suffering.
Fake videos like this can exaggerate the danger of the storm, cause panic, undermine trust and distract operators because inaccurate information distracts from verified reports.
The next three videos are all fake. They are marked (albeit briefly) with the Sora watermark, indicating that they were created in the OpenAI video generator.
@pinkalicious217 Hurricane Melissa hits Jamaica #hurricanemelissa ♬ Original sound: all Ai @10storytv #hurricanemelissa #jamaicaantiktok viral ♬ Original sound – TV with 10 floors @bigfootvlogboyz Hurricane Melissa hits Jamaica hard. A journalist is hit by debris. Hurricane Melissa Update #Jamaica #kinsgston #Hurricane ♬ Original sound: bigfootvlogboyz
How to distinguish truth from fiction on the Internet
As social media fills with dramatic hurricane images, it’s important to separate truth from fiction.
“You have to be very sensible,” said Senator Dana Morris Dixon, Jamaica’s information minister. he said. “You have to know what information is good or bad. If you want to know where the storm is going, if you want to know what to do, you have to look for official sources.”
Dixon stressed that the Jamaica News Service, Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management information pages and the Prime Minister’s Office page are sources of legitimate and timely updates.
Here are some ways to practice discernment.
Check the source. If the video is from an unknown account, has no timestamp, or no recognizable media tag, assume the video is fake until verified. Also, look for the Sora watermark, which indicates it was created in the OpenAI app, or read the comments to see if anyone else has reported the video as fake.
Ask yourself if it is new and local. Is the geography right for Jamaica? Are the pictures current? Many of the “Melissa” rocks may have come from previous storms in the Caribbean or Gulf.
Check it before you believe it. Confirm this with reliable agencies such as the Jamaica and United States Weather Service. National Hurricane Centeror established media such as the BBC, Reuters or the Associated Press.
Pause before sharing. A viral video can be harmful if it spreads incorrect information. Wait for a credible source to verify the message before posting it again.
Go local. If you are in the affected area, you can rely on local emergency services, radio stations, and city or provincial authorities for evacuation and safety updates.
Keep an eye out for official warnings. For real-time instructions, follow state channels and local emergency resources. Your safety depends on accurate information, not viral content.
As AI-generated media becomes easier to produce, hurricanes like Melissa provide a glimpse into a new reality: one where most information viewed online is no longer reliable.
You should definitely be skeptical and diligent about seeking accurate, even life-saving information.