Tampa Bay and Sarasota's Leading Local News: Weather, Traffic, Sports and more | Tampa Bay and Sarasota, FL | WTSP.com

Government

Yes, a FEMA employee told workers to skip homes with Trump signs, but it wasn’t an agency-wide directive

Government

Claims that FEMA workers are being hunted by militia in North Carolina are false

Posts online that say a militia is hunting FEMA workers in North Carolina are false. Police officers arrested a man who made comments about threatening FEMA workers.
Extreme Weather

Starlink’s promise of free service after hurricanes is misleading

Elon Musk’s satellite internet company offered Helene, Milton victims a free month of access. But there’s a $400 catch.
Extreme Weather

Elon’s Starlink promise to Helene, Milton victims misleading

The SpaceX company promised a free month of satellite internet connection to hurricane victims in Florida and North Carolina, but for most it will cost hundreds.
Donald Trump

Image of Trump holding a $1,300 check for hurricane relief is fake

A Fox News spokesperson said the image, which looks like it was lifted from a newscast, never aired on the program. VERIFY determined it’s likely generated with AI.
Extreme Weather

No, a ‘1,000-year storm’ doesn’t mean it only happens once every 1,000 years

Meteorologists aren’t referring to the last time a storm of this magnitude happened when they say “100-year” or “1,000-year storm.” We VERIFY what the term means.
Extreme Weather

"1,000-year storm" doesn't mean the storm happens only once every 1,000 years

Meteorologists aren’t referring to the last time a storm of this magnitude happened when they say “100-year” or “1,000-year storm.” We VERIFY what the term means.
Extreme Weather

How to spot disaster relief job scams

A viral post falsely claims Florida is making people pay tolls on Hurricane Milton evacuation routes. Florida is suspending them across the state as people evacuate.
Extreme Weather

No, the $750 FEMA grant for disaster victims is not a loan

People on social media are claiming a $750 payment available to hurricane victims is actually a loan. That’s false. It’s a grant that doesn’t have to be paid back.
AI

These images appearing to show Walt Disney World flooding during Milton are AI-generated

These images of Walt Disney World flooded during Hurricane Milton and Pluto rescuing a child are AI-generated.
Extreme Weather

Yes, water was ‘sucked out’ of Tampa Bay by Hurricane Milton due to ‘reverse storm surge’

Water receded from the Tampa Bay shoreline as Hurricane Milton approached Florida’s Gulf Coast because of a phenomenon called “reverse storm surge.”
Electric Vehicles

Yes, electric vehicles can catch fire after being submerged by floods

While rare, it’s possible for electric cars to catch fire after being submerged, even weeks after a flood.

Catholic school in St. Pete Beach to permanently close at end of year

St. John Vianney Catholic School to permanently close in St. Pete Beach

Red tide in Sarasota: Health alert issued for Siesta Key and other local beaches

10 Weather: Windy Wednesday with some drier air

Tropical Storm Sara expected to form by Thursday afternoon

Tampa Bay and Sarasota's Leading Local News: Weather, Traffic, Sports and more | Tampa Bay and Sarasota, FL | WTSP.com

Yes, a FEMA employee told workers to skip homes with Trump signs, but it wasn’t an agency-wide directive

Claims that FEMA workers are being hunted by militia in North Carolina are false

Starlink’s promise of free service after hurricanes is misleading

Elon’s Starlink promise to Helene, Milton victims misleading

Image of Trump holding a $1,300 check for hurricane relief is fake

No, a ‘1,000-year storm’ doesn’t mean it only happens once every 1,000 years

"1,000-year storm" doesn't mean the storm happens only once every 1,000 years

How to spot disaster relief job scams

No, the $750 FEMA grant for disaster victims is not a loan

These images appearing to show Walt Disney World flooding during Milton are AI-generated

Yes, water was ‘sucked out’ of Tampa Bay by Hurricane Milton due to ‘reverse storm surge’

Yes, electric vehicles can catch fire after being submerged by floods

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