How to fact-check during and after a disaster

Misinformation about extreme weather and disasters often begins with a single repost on social media, which then grows exponentially in circulation before people begin to believe it as factual truth. Fact-checking during a crisis is a stressful undertaking, as the urgency of a rapidly unfolding disaster makes it seem like there is an overwhelming amount to learn and understand in a short period of time.

That is why it is essential to know in advance who you can trust, how to verify information, and how to communicate these findings to your friends and family. Extreme weather is exacerbating the spread of misinformation.

Would you trust an emergency alert created by AI? The importance of fact-checking during and after a disaster is paramount. Not all sources of information are equally reliable, particularly when your safety is at stake. Identifying the appropriate sources will help you avoid both falling for false rumors and inadvertently contributing to the spread of misinformation.

Below is a list of trustworthy sources for extreme weather alerts, updates, and more. Your local emergency agency, such as your city, county, or state's emergency management department, is responsible for managing response efforts and communicating with the public about the disaster. Many of these agencies offer an SMS-based emergency alert system that you can subscribe to via text message to receive regular updates.

In larger cities, there may be a separate agency, but smaller communities typically rely on their sheriff's office for updates and alerts. When in doubt, look for official sources to track extreme weather conditions. Websites such as Poweroutage.US, managed by energy data platform Find Energy, track significant power outages in various states and counties.

The National Interagency Fire Center monitors wildfires across the country, while the National Hurricane Center tracks hurricanes in the surrounding bodies of water for the U.S. The National Weather Service (NWS) active alerts page monitors severe weather conditions, providing updates through various filters including state, region, and type of weather.

NWS, a part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), offers information and updates on a wide range of weather-related topics, from wildfires to hurricanes to air quality. You can enter your ZIP code on weather.gov to customize your homepage with the most up-to-date weather information and receive alerts for various weather conditions.

NWS also provides SMS alerts in some areas and regional/local branches where you can sign up for personalized alerts. Local alerts are available in multiple languages in certain regions. Weather stations and apps, such as The Weather Channel, AccuWeather, Apple Weather, and Google, rely on NWS data to provide information on major storms.

However, these sources may not be reliable for smaller-scale weather events, and they should not be used as definitive guidance for evacuation or safety measures. Local television news and social media accounts from verified news sources offer live updates during and after a storm. Meteorologists at local news stations utilize NWS weather data to provide accurate information.

Follow your local newspaper, radio station, and television station on Facebook or other social media platforms, or check their websites regularly. Many of these stations also offer live blogs updated regularly. You can search for nonprofit news outlets or local journalism by state on various databases. Official social media accounts of agencies and elected officials share quick updates on extreme weather.

To verify whether information is coming from an official account, simply Google the name of the agency. Official agency websites often include links to their social media accounts. For example, the New York City Emergency Management's website features a dedicated section on its homepage with all of its social media accounts. Fact-checking during a crisis can be emotionally challenging, evoking a range of feelings such as fear, anger, grief, and confusion.

Knowing whom to trust and how to identify inaccurate information can help maintain a clear head when making crucial decisions. When seeking answers, keep your questions concise and prioritize specific details relevant to you or your loved ones. This approach will help you avoid the overwhelming flood of information and reduce the temptation to engage in "doomscrolling."

For instance, if heavy rain is forecasted, look up when the rain is expected to cease in your area or check for any evacuation orders specific to your county. Always double-check the source of the information you find, as much of it is shared via social media, but it can be difficult to ascertain the credibility of the platform.