As thousands in Texas are in need of aid in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, several rumors and scams have began circulating on the internet causing officials to shut down the false claims.
One viral social media post for residents in need of help has advised them to seek aid by calling the National Guard. But the wrong phone number has been shared across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram as it belongs to the Foremost Insurance Group.
‘The National Guard is being deployed to our Texas area. If you find yourself in a state of emergency. Call 1-800-527-3907. Please copy, paste or share!!!!!!!!!’ the post reads.
It’s not clear how the number started being shared. Officials have advised those in danger not to call that number and instead call 911.
A statement from the insurance company reads: ‘Foremost has become aware that a Facebook post was created by an unidentified person not associated with our company that attempted to provide contact information to the Texas National Guard.
As thousands in Texas are in need of aid in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, several fake news stories and scams have emerged targeting victims of the powerful storm. Pictured above is flood waters from Hurricane Harvey in Dickinson, Texas on Sunday
The wrong phone number (above in Facebook posts) for aid has been shared across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram mentions the National Guard. The actual phone number belongs to the Foremost Insurance Group and is not the National Guard
This above post showing phone numbers for help has also been shared across social media. All of the numbers are correct except for the National Guard
‘Regrettably, this post incorrectly provided the phone number to the Foremost Claims contact center rather than the phone number of the Texas National Guard.
‘This post was then subsequently reposted on various social media platforms numerous times by individuals hoping to share helpful information.’
Sadly, a search on Facebook of the company’s phone number shows that many people are still sharing it unbeknownst to them.
In addition to calling 911, authorities are also advising people to stay on the telephone line if they are put on hold.
The Foremost Insurance Company shared the above statement to Facebook on Monday in regards to the company’s number being shared as if it is the National Guard
The U.S. Coast Guard has also created an emergency line to help residents of Houston.
‘Please use 911 for life-threatening emergencies, and 311 or the HPD non-emergency number 713-884-3131 as appropriate.’ the Houston Police Department tweeted.
Officials in the Houston also sent a tweet shutting down rumors about drinking water being turned off.
The Houston Office of Emergency Management tweeted: ‘RUMOR: @HoustonPWE is NOT Shutting off water. Water is currently safe to drink and meeting 100% of the need. #harvey #houstonflood’.
Officials in the city also sent a tweet 9above) shutting down rumors about drinking water being turned off
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner tweeted a message (above) to debunk that rumor
Corpus Christi city officials shared the above post on social media to shut down another rumor
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner also sent a tweet to debunk that rumor.
He wrote: ‘Water quality is fine. Water is safe and we are meeting all demands. Most plants are operating at 100%. st’
Hurricane Harvey also hit the city of Corpus Christi really hard on Friday night as the powerful storm caused millions of dollars worth of damage.
Officials there had to dispel a rumor that the city would be turning off utilities in anticipation of Harvey on Twitter.
The tweet reads: ‘Rumor control: the City of Corpus Christi will NOT be turning off utilities in anticipation of Hurricane Harvey.’
A note (above) circulated on social media appearing to be from a city official named Lisa Oliver claiming that people have to bring proof of residency to enter the city. The post is false and there were no restrictions on returning to the city that has a population of 325,000
Social media users are also sharing outdated images from past flood rescues, but claiming it happened in Houston. The image in the tweet above appears to show volunteers out of Louisiana deploying to help with relief. The image is real, but it is a year old
Officials also had to shut down another rumor that circulated on Saturday about people being prevented from returning.
A note circulated on social media appearing to be from a city official named Lisa Oliver claiming that people have to bring proof of residency to enter the city.
The post is false and there were no restrictions on returning to the city that has a population of 325,000.
But sadly, a search on Facebook of the post found many people have been copying-and-pasting this false statement.
In addition to fake posts and wrong phone numbers, social media users are also sharing outdated images from past flood rescues, but claiming it happened in Houston.
A third old image also being circulated on social media shows airplanes being completely submerged in flood waters, but the photo is not from the Houston floods. The image in the tweet above is photoshopped, meaning it’s not real
The image depicts what LaGuardia International Airport in New York would look like at high tide with 12 feet of sea level rise due to climate change. The doctored photo is also at least four years old
One instance in which this has happened is a photo of the ‘Cajun Navy’ and the image appears to show volunteers out of Louisiana deploying to help with relief. The image is real, but it is a year old.
The volunteers with the group have started a list of places through Google Maps where help is needed and have also posted updates to their Facebook pages.
Another image showing a man holding a refrigerator with two small children inside of it in flood waters has also seemingly gone viral. But the captivating photo was not taken this year during the storm, but instead when Greenspoint, Texas flooded in 2016.
A third old image also being circulated on social media shows airplanes being completely submerged in flood waters, but the photo is not from the Houston floods.
The image, which is photoshopped, depicts what LaGuardia International Airport in New York would look like at high tide with 12 feet of sea level rise due to climate change. The doctored photo is also at least four years old.
Another image showing a man holding a refrigerator with two small children inside of it in flood waters has also seemingly gone viral. But the captivating photo was not taken this year during the storm, but instead when Greenspoint, Texas flooded in 2016
As the storm hit Houston hard, thousands have flocked to shelters and were forced to be rescued by emergency officials.
There were 5,500 people in shelters on Monday morning and 911 operators had responded to 75,000 calls alone by 10.30am.
More than 2,000 people have been rescued from the flood water and at any given time, there is a 15 person backlog for 911 calls.
At a press conference mid-morning, the mayor pleaded for help from other cities and plugged charity relief funds to care for the thousands of Houston residents in crisis.
Two major dams which sit to the east of the city are being gradually drained by the army to stop them from overflowing.
The Addicks and Barker Reservoirs are both dangerously close to their capacities. With more rain on the way, US Army experts are racing the storm to release water from each dam.
The controlled release will send more water cascading in to the area of Buffalo Bayou, where freeways are entirely underwater.
It will stop an uncontrollable wave of water from rushing through homes.
The total cost of the damage has been put at $40 billion and FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has warned it will be take years for the city and coastal towns to recover.