309:
441:
322:
162:
102:
78:; one consulted expert concluded that the fish was "a juvenile shark" while another was unable to determine whether it was a shark. Both the re-emergence of the hoax in hurricane after hurricane and the eventual appearance of a plausible claim have been the subject of commentary and amusement; Daniel Victor of
528:
describing the "calming sense of constancy" brought by the hoax images of
Hurricane Shark, and referring to Cameratta's video as "a meme-made manifestation". Regarding the species of the fish, Hall wrote that while she could not confirm that it was a shark, "this is the closest that humanity has come
351:
Hurricane sharks as hoaxes have taken on a life of their own, in social media and in the press. Doctored photos of sharks swimming in urban areas went viral on social media in virtually every disastrous storm and hurricane in the decade since, often copies of the image that first circulated during
479:, in acquiring distribution rights for Cameratta's footage, said it had confirmed the video's authenticity but not whether it depicted a shark. Cameratta told the Associated Press that he estimated the fish's length at 4 feet (1.2 m) and speculated that it had come from
460:, drawing over 12 million views within a day. Initially, the video received skepticism from journalists and fact-checkers, wary of the long history of similar media being hoaxes while also noting that the video seemed more authentic than previous renditions.
413:. Butcher Steve Bateman reported a shark, roughly 6 feet (1.8 m) in length, swimming past his shop, and several others reported seeing a shark on a different street. Two local politicians vouched for Bateman's credibility, and
1095:
270:, other fake shark images circulated in addition to the better-known freeway one. One image appears to depict a shark outside of a home in a suburban area. Another appears to show a shark swimming down a suburban street.
660:
369:
Because of the recurring nature of the meme, fact-checkers and journalists in the media have repeatedly needed to clarify that the images of
Hurricane sharks were hoaxes. According to Daniel Victor, writing for
382:, Phillips makes a case study of his work with Madrigal during Hurricane Sandy, describing the images they reviewed as "strange enough to make you suspicious, yet implausible enough to dismiss out of hand".
1029:
926:
764:
705:
165:
1170:
1084:
1193:
564:
1133:
998:
649:
356:, an in-joke hoax to be revived with each disaster, while others have genuinely believed in the authenticity of the photos being spread. Commentators have made comparisons to
1237:
378:
362:, a film series that also involves sharks caught up in natural disasters. In response to the "now contains sharks" images circulated during Hurricane Florence,
1315:"After over half a decade of debunking this hoax every time there was a flood or hurricane, I can't believe I'm looking at an honest-to-god street shark. ..."
515:
After over half a decade of debunking this hoax every time there was a flood or hurricane, I can't believe I'm looking at an honest-to-god street shark.
193:
885:
228:
1261:"The viral 'shark' video from Fort Myers is real, Storyful has confirmed, but whether it shows a shark or another fish has not been determined ..."
618:
480:
916:
475:
and Neil
Hammerschlag; the former concluded that the fish "appears to be a juvenile shark", while the latter said "it's pretty hard to tell."
775:
695:
1156:
962:
366:'s Associate Director of Office of Response and Recovery, Jeffrey Byard, denied that "there's a sharknado effect or anything like that".
1351:
1287:
809:
741:
554:
1057:
263:. While the flooding in Toronto was not the result of a hurricane, the hoax has often been compared to the main Hurricane Shark hoax.
1322:
1123:
988:
1268:
267:
240:
223:
The image has frequently resurfaced on the internet with claims that it was taken during various flooding events, including in
467:, while noting the history of the Hurricane Shark, confirmed the authenticity of the video based on analysis of the video's
1386:
842:
232:
499:
Several journalists celebrated the unusual occurrence of a frequent hoax claim turning out to be true in one case. In the
487:. Both Burgess and marine biologist Yannis Papastamatiou described manners in which this could happen to a shark from the
1226:
392:
about how to spot fake Sandy photos, includes as her list's final item, "If it has a shark in it, it's probably fake".
1051:
243:. Peschak has said his fans notify him each time the image re-emerges, but that "they're more outraged than I am".
511:
by Ellie Hall reading simply "🚨HURRICANE SHARK IS REAL 🚨", and quoting journalist Jane
Lytvynenko's tweet:
410:
192:. It had been created by combining an image of a flooded street in Puerto Rico with a photo of a shark taken by
293:
were seen online saying that the hurricane "now contains sharks", although neither contained images of sharks.
58:
in 2011), all media purporting to document such claims—most notably an image of a shark swimming on a flooded
871:
1381:
405:
An early claim of sharks in a flooded urban area, predating the original
Hurricane Shark hoax, occurred in
220:, cast it as part of a larger phenomenon of hoax images appearing in the aftermath of significant events.
471:
and an interview with the videographer, Dominic
Cameratta. The Associated Press consulted shark experts
1371:
1043:
209:
607:
1391:
1361:
420:
255:
flooded in June 2012, a manipulated image circulated purporting to show two sharks at the base of an
376:
in 2022, Hurricane Shark is the "longtime nemesis" of fact-checkers on social media. In
Silverman's
1366:
1356:
993:
260:
128:
952:
358:
1376:
236:
74:
verified a video taken by
Dominic Cameratta of a shark or other large fish swimming in flooded
1025:
271:
1083:
799:
774:
731:
648:
606:
1318:
1291:
1264:
1232:
1198:
1039:
Verification
Handbook: An Ultimate Guideline on Digital Age Sourcing for Emergency Coverage
1037:
415:
278:
found the real shark image used to create the former; Snopes did the same for the latter.
8:
1161:
1090:
769:
655:
457:
308:
252:
119:
75:
1085:"Sharks, dishwashers and guns: A running list of viral hoaxes about Hurricane Florence"
912:
613:
406:
372:
337:
286:
80:
1295:
1047:
472:
1314:
1210:
559:
464:
259:. The image was later reused in a hoax claiming that a shark tank had burst at the
71:
1260:
1346:
1033:
691:
508:
275:
213:
205:
110:
101:
55:
832:
1157:"Sharkicane: Hurricane Ian storm surge turns shark hurricane hoax into reality"
488:
484:
282:
256:
47:
444:
1340:
1128:
524:
453:
353:
67:
27:
984:
921:
867:
804:
732:"Does This Picture Show a Shark Swimming Down a Highway After a Hurricane?"
700:
456:
struck
Florida, a video emerged online of a shark in a flooded backyard in
383:
197:
188:
142:
137:
114:
881:
876:
800:"Flooded Union Station meme passes for a shark tank collapse in Kuwait"
388:
290:
989:"Sharks in Floodwaters? Fake Hurricane Sandy Pics, but Still Possible"
51:
20:
476:
468:
63:
352:
Irene. Some on social media have treated the Hurricane Shark as a
127:. In the aftermath of the hurricane, the image was aired by Miami
1326:
1299:
1272:
1166:
1030:"Verifying Two Suspicious 'Street Sharks' During Hurricane Sandy"
504:
321:
224:
146:
85:
59:
957:
837:
736:
529:
to an honest-to-god Hurricane Shark—and we choose to believe."
182:
124:
84:
described the Associated Press's findings as "like discovering
650:"Hurricane Irene: 'Photo' of shark swimming in street is fake"
204:
compared it to similar hoax images, such as one supposedly of
642:
640:
638:
636:
43:
26:"Street Shark" redirects here. For the television show, see
363:
132:
686:
684:
682:
680:
678:
633:
113:
in 2011, with a claim that the shark was on a street in
109:
The original "Hurricane Shark" image was created during
675:
1077:
1075:
872:"Hurricane Sandy: Five ways to spot a fake photograph"
42:
are nicknames for several claimed instances of a live
725:
723:
16:
Nickname for a shark swimming in hurricane floodwater
1325:
from the original on September 28, 2022 – via
1271:
from the original on September 30, 2022 – via
1194:"Butcher's scary shark encounter in Ipswich street"
1072:
907:
905:
903:
553:Massara, Graph; Swenson, Ali (September 29, 2022).
1225:
720:
555:"Hurricane Ian 'street shark' video defies belief"
1338:
900:
503:, Victor remarked that "it was like discovering
946:
944:
917:"Sorting the Real Sandy Photos From the Fakes"
833:"Escalator threatened by collapsed shark tank"
552:
229:2015 Texas–Oklahoma flood and tornado outbreak
941:
1117:
1115:
1113:
696:"Beware tweets about a shark on the street"
548:
546:
544:
542:
419:noted that sharks are known to swim up the
1312:
1042:(1 ed.). Maastrict, the Netherlands:
862:
860:
600:
598:
596:
594:
592:
590:
588:
586:
584:
582:
1081:
950:
830:
797:
765:"How the ultimate shark photo went viral"
729:
690:
1313:Lytvynenko, Jane (September 28, 2022).
1258:
1110:
1024:
911:
608:"For Once, the Hurricane Shark Was Real"
539:
100:
54:. For more than a decade (starting with
1173:from the original on September 30, 2022
1136:from the original on September 30, 2022
888:from the original on September 24, 2022
866:
857:
744:from the original on September 30, 2022
708:from the original on September 30, 2022
621:from the original on September 30, 2022
579:
1339:
1082:Ohlheiser, Abby (September 14, 2018).
965:from the original on September 1, 2022
951:Mikkelson, David (November 26, 2012).
929:from the original on September 1, 2022
663:from the original on February 24, 2012
647:Hughes, Sarah Anne (August 26, 2011).
646:
604:
445:"Shark Reported in Flooded Fort Myers"
395:
169:article featuring Peschak's 2003 photo
1259:McDonagh, Rob (September 29, 2022).
1240:from the original on November 1, 2012
1227:"Bull sharks seen in flooded streets"
1223:
1191:
1020:
1018:
1016:
831:Mikkelson, David (January 12, 2015).
798:DiPlacido, Victoria (June 18, 2012).
762:
605:Victor, Daniel (September 30, 2022).
296:
1285:
1154:
1121:
1060:from the original on October 1, 2022
1001:from the original on August 23, 2021
730:Mikkelson, David (August 29, 2011).
567:from the original on October 1, 2022
302:
105:The original "Hurricane Shark" image
1288:"🚨HURRICANE SHARK IS REAL 🚨"
1286:Hall, Ellie (September 28, 2022).
845:from the original on April 21, 2022
426:
13:
1155:Knox, Brady (September 28, 2022).
1122:Hall, Ellie (September 29, 2022).
1013:
812:from the original on July 15, 2022
307:
241:floods caused by Hurricane Matthew
50:, typically in the aftermath of a
14:
1403:
1352:Internet memes introduced in 2011
1224:Garry, Chris (January 14, 2011).
1192:Garry, Chris (January 19, 2011).
983:
763:Keefe, Alexa (November 8, 2018).
400:
268:Hurricane Sandy struck New Jersey
233:floods caused by Hurricane Harvey
66:as fabrications. However, during
1098:from the original on May 1, 2022
439:
320:
289:, fake television breaking news
160:
96:
1306:
1298:on October 1, 2022 – via
1279:
1252:
1217:
1185:
1148:
977:
246:
824:
791:
756:
518:Good to finally meet you, pal.
411:major flooding in January 2011
176:The image was debunked by the
91:
1:
1124:"The Hurricane Shark Is Real"
953:"Hurricane Sandy Photographs"
532:
7:
1387:Hoaxes in the United States
494:
141:, and was widely shared on
10:
1408:
1044:European Journalism Centre
123:, it likely originated on
25:
18:
522:Hall wrote an article in
483:by way of an overflowing
452:In September 2022, after
438:
433:
319:
305:
159:
154:
507:is real", referencing a
340:does not contain sharks
261:Kuwait Scientific Center
19:Not to be confused with
520:
386:, in a 2014 piece for
348:
312:
237:Daytona Beach, Florida
106:
870:(November 18, 2014).
694:(September 2, 2011).
513:
463:On September 29, the
379:Verification Handbook
311:
301:
266:Later in 2012, after
104:
1233:The Queensland Times
1199:The Queensland Times
915:(October 29, 2012).
416:The Queensland Times
409:, Australia, amidst
135:, was posted by the
1382:Fort Myers, Florida
1162:Washington Examiner
1091:The Washington Post
913:Madrigal, Alexis C.
770:National Geographic
656:The Washington Post
458:Fort Myers, Florida
396:Possible real cases
345:September 13, 2018
317:The Washington Post
167:National Geographic
145:websites including
120:The Washington Post
76:Fort Myers, Florida
614:The New York Times
407:Goodna, Queensland
373:The New York Times
338:Hurricane Florence
313:
297:In popular culture
287:Hurricane Florence
208:'s body following
107:
81:The New York Times
48:flooded urban area
1372:Hurricane Matthew
1294:). Archived from
473:George H. Burgess
450:
449:
333:
332:
239:, in 2016 during
216:, writing in the
194:Thomas P. Peschak
174:
173:
1399:
1392:Fictional sharks
1362:Hurricane Harvey
1331:
1330:
1310:
1304:
1303:
1283:
1277:
1276:
1256:
1250:
1249:
1247:
1245:
1229:
1221:
1215:
1214:
1211:The Courier-Mail
1208:
1206:
1189:
1183:
1182:
1180:
1178:
1152:
1146:
1145:
1143:
1141:
1119:
1108:
1107:
1105:
1103:
1087:
1079:
1070:
1069:
1067:
1065:
1034:Silverman, Craig
1022:
1011:
1010:
1008:
1006:
981:
975:
974:
972:
970:
948:
939:
938:
936:
934:
909:
898:
897:
895:
893:
864:
855:
854:
852:
850:
828:
822:
821:
819:
817:
795:
789:
788:
786:
784:
779:on March 2, 2021
778:
773:. Archived from
760:
754:
753:
751:
749:
727:
718:
717:
715:
713:
692:Silverman, Craig
688:
673:
672:
670:
668:
652:
644:
631:
630:
628:
626:
610:
602:
577:
576:
574:
572:
560:Associated Press
550:
465:Associated Press
443:
442:
431:
430:
427:Fort Myers video
324:
303:
251:After Toronto's
227:during both the
164:
163:
152:
151:
72:Associated Press
1407:
1406:
1402:
1401:
1400:
1398:
1397:
1396:
1367:Hurricane Sandy
1357:Hurricane Irene
1337:
1336:
1335:
1334:
1311:
1307:
1284:
1280:
1257:
1253:
1243:
1241:
1222:
1218:
1204:
1202:
1190:
1186:
1176:
1174:
1153:
1149:
1139:
1137:
1120:
1111:
1101:
1099:
1080:
1073:
1063:
1061:
1054:
1023:
1014:
1004:
1002:
982:
978:
968:
966:
949:
942:
932:
930:
910:
901:
891:
889:
865:
858:
848:
846:
829:
825:
815:
813:
796:
792:
782:
780:
761:
757:
747:
745:
728:
721:
711:
709:
698:. Newsmangled.
689:
676:
666:
664:
645:
634:
624:
622:
603:
580:
570:
568:
551:
540:
535:
497:
440:
434:External videos
429:
403:
398:
349:
347:
342:
329:@washingtonpost
314:
299:
291:screen captures
276:Alexis Madrigal
249:
214:Craig Silverman
206:Osama bin Laden
161:
117:. According to
111:Hurricane Irene
99:
94:
56:Hurricane Irene
36:Hurricane Shark
33:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1405:
1395:
1394:
1389:
1384:
1379:
1374:
1369:
1364:
1359:
1354:
1349:
1333:
1332:
1305:
1278:
1251:
1216:
1184:
1147:
1109:
1071:
1052:
1012:
976:
940:
899:
856:
823:
790:
755:
719:
674:
632:
578:
537:
536:
534:
531:
496:
493:
489:Gulf of Mexico
485:retention pond
448:
447:
436:
435:
428:
425:
402:
401:Goodna reports
399:
397:
394:
343:
334:
331:
330:
326:
325:
318:
315:
306:
300:
298:
295:
283:Hurricane Irma
257:escalator bank
248:
245:
172:
171:
157:
156:
155:External image
98:
95:
93:
90:
46:swimming in a
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1404:
1393:
1390:
1388:
1385:
1383:
1380:
1378:
1377:Hurricane Ian
1375:
1373:
1370:
1368:
1365:
1363:
1360:
1358:
1355:
1353:
1350:
1348:
1345:
1344:
1342:
1328:
1324:
1320:
1316:
1309:
1301:
1297:
1293:
1289:
1282:
1274:
1270:
1266:
1262:
1255:
1239:
1235:
1234:
1228:
1220:
1212:
1201:
1200:
1195:
1188:
1172:
1168:
1164:
1163:
1158:
1151:
1135:
1131:
1130:
1129:BuzzFeed News
1125:
1118:
1116:
1114:
1097:
1093:
1092:
1086:
1078:
1076:
1059:
1055:
1053:9781312023130
1049:
1045:
1041:
1040:
1035:
1031:
1027:
1026:Phillips, Tom
1021:
1019:
1017:
1000:
996:
995:
990:
986:
985:Stern, Joanna
980:
964:
960:
959:
954:
947:
945:
933:September 30,
928:
924:
923:
918:
914:
908:
906:
904:
887:
883:
879:
878:
873:
869:
868:Eveleth, Rose
863:
861:
849:September 30,
844:
840:
839:
834:
827:
811:
807:
806:
801:
794:
777:
772:
771:
767:. Nice Shot.
766:
759:
748:September 30,
743:
739:
738:
733:
726:
724:
712:September 30,
707:
703:
702:
697:
693:
687:
685:
683:
681:
679:
662:
658:
657:
651:
643:
641:
639:
637:
625:September 30,
620:
616:
615:
609:
601:
599:
597:
595:
593:
591:
589:
587:
585:
583:
571:September 30,
566:
562:
561:
556:
549:
547:
545:
543:
538:
530:
527:
526:
525:BuzzFeed News
519:
516:
512:
510:
506:
502:
492:
490:
486:
482:
478:
474:
470:
466:
461:
459:
455:
454:Hurricane Ian
446:
437:
432:
424:
422:
418:
417:
412:
408:
393:
391:
390:
385:
381:
380:
375:
374:
367:
365:
361:
360:
355:
346:
341:
339:
328:
327:
323:
316:
310:
304:
294:
292:
288:
284:
279:
277:
273:
269:
264:
262:
258:
254:
253:Union Station
244:
242:
238:
234:
231:and the 2017
230:
226:
221:
219:
215:
211:
207:
203:
200:in 2003. The
199:
195:
191:
190:
185:
184:
179:
170:
168:
158:
153:
150:
148:
144:
140:
139:
134:
130:
126:
122:
121:
116:
112:
103:
97:Freeway image
89:
87:
83:
82:
77:
73:
70:in 2022, the
69:
68:Hurricane Ian
65:
61:
57:
53:
49:
45:
41:
37:
31:
30:
29:Street Sharks
22:
1308:
1296:the original
1281:
1254:
1242:. Retrieved
1231:
1219:
1209:– via
1203:. Retrieved
1197:
1187:
1175:. Retrieved
1160:
1150:
1138:. Retrieved
1127:
1100:. Retrieved
1089:
1062:. Retrieved
1038:
1003:. Retrieved
992:
979:
967:. Retrieved
956:
931:. Retrieved
922:The Atlantic
920:
890:. Retrieved
875:
847:. Retrieved
836:
826:
814:. Retrieved
805:Toronto Life
803:
793:
781:. Retrieved
776:the original
768:
758:
746:. Retrieved
735:
710:. Retrieved
701:Toronto Star
699:
665:. Retrieved
654:
623:. Retrieved
612:
569:. Retrieved
558:
523:
521:
517:
514:
500:
498:
481:Hendry Creek
462:
451:
421:Bremer River
414:
404:
387:
384:Rose Eveleth
377:
371:
368:
357:
350:
344:
335:
281:During both
280:
272:Tom Phillips
265:
250:
247:Other images
222:
217:
201:
198:South Africa
189:Toronto Star
187:
181:
177:
175:
166:
143:social media
138:Miami Herald
136:
118:
108:
79:
40:Street Shark
39:
35:
34:
28:
1046:. Ch. 4.2.
423:to Goodna.
115:Puerto Rico
92:Hoax images
1341:Categories
1244:October 3,
1205:October 3,
1177:October 1,
1140:October 1,
1102:October 1,
1064:October 1,
1005:October 1,
969:October 1,
892:October 1,
882:BBC Online
877:BBC Future
816:October 1,
783:October 1,
667:October 1,
533:References
389:BBC Future
186:, and the
183:Snopes.com
131:affiliate
88:is real".
359:Sharknado
235:, and in
210:his death
52:hurricane
21:Sharknado
1323:Archived
1269:Archived
1238:Archived
1171:Archived
1134:Archived
1096:Archived
1058:Archived
1028:(2014).
999:Archived
994:ABC News
963:Archived
927:Archived
886:Archived
843:Archived
810:Archived
742:Archived
706:Archived
661:Archived
619:Archived
565:Archived
495:Reaction
477:Storyful
469:metadata
64:debunked
1327:Twitter
1300:Twitter
1273:Twitter
1167:MediaDC
1036:(ed.).
505:Bigfoot
225:Houston
196:off of
147:Twitter
86:Bigfoot
60:freeway
1347:Sharks
1050:
958:Snopes
838:Snopes
737:Snopes
125:Reddit
62:—were
1319:Tweet
1292:Tweet
1265:Tweet
1032:. In
509:tweet
501:Times
44:shark
1246:2022
1207:2022
1179:2022
1142:2022
1104:2022
1066:2022
1048:ISBN
1007:2022
971:2022
935:2022
894:2022
851:2022
818:2022
785:2022
750:2022
714:2022
669:2022
627:2022
573:2022
364:FEMA
354:meme
336:No,
285:and
274:and
218:Star
202:Post
178:Post
133:WSVN
38:and
1321:).
1267:).
129:Fox
1343::
1236:.
1230:.
1196:.
1169:.
1165:.
1159:.
1132:.
1126:.
1112:^
1094:.
1088:.
1074:^
1056:.
1015:^
997:.
991:.
987:.
961:.
955:.
943:^
925:.
919:.
902:^
884:.
880:.
874:.
859:^
841:.
835:.
808:.
802:.
740:.
734:.
722:^
704:.
677:^
659:.
653:.
635:^
617:.
611:.
581:^
563:.
557:.
541:^
491:.
212:.
180:,
149:.
1329:.
1317:(
1302:.
1290:(
1275:.
1263:(
1248:.
1213:.
1181:.
1144:.
1106:.
1068:.
1009:.
973:.
937:.
896:.
853:.
820:.
787:.
752:.
716:.
671:.
629:.
575:.
32:.
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
