Fact Check: Did an Alligator Break Into a House During Hurricane Ian?

Hurricane Ian has swept through Florida, causing catastrophic flooding and damage across the state.

The storm made landfall on September 28 as a Category 4 hurricane. When it hit, it was bordering on Category 5. The winds tore down trees and floodwater swept away vehicles and buildings.

Flood warnings remain in place for much of the state.

In the aftermath of the storm, rescue efforts are taking place. It is thought at least 10 people have died.

As the storm raged on, widespread photos and videos were shared online of those experiencing the storm, including a mislabeled video of an elephant seal that was debunked by Newsweek Fact Check.

Many photos online show houses submerged in floodwater, but was there a giant croc on the premises?

The Claim

In a Facebook post on September 29, Chiron Williams shared a picture showing an alligator or crocodile, appearing to be swimming in a water-filled house.

In the photograph, the house appears to be completely flooded. The alligator can be seen facing the camera, its head and upper body visible above the water.

"My dawg in Florida sent me this n said he woke up and came downstairs the gator was looking at him just like this. I would of died !" Williams said in the Facebook post.

The post has had 6.3k comments, 39k shares and 4.5k likes on the social media platform. "Hell tf naw!!!!" one person said in the comments.

Some social media users were skeptical, however.

"Lol nice photoshop," another Facebook user commented.

"Fake," another person said.

The Facts

Florida is home to 1.3 million alligators. They live in all of the state's counties and can be found in wetlands and swamps.

It is possible that alligators could become displaced during the storm. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) even issued a statement warning Floridians that during major storms, such as Hurricane Ian, wildlife will become more active.

"You may be more likely to see alligators, snakes and bears, so remember to stay alert and give them space," the commission said.

However, while it is possible for alligators to become displaced, this is not the case in this photo, which has been circulating on the internet for years.

As Newsweek Fact Check found through reverse image searches and browsing past media reports, the clip was also used earlier this month, when Bangalore in India was hit with severe flooding.

"There's a bloody croc in my rain flooded house," a twitter user said on September 5, alongside the photo. The image was also shared on Reddit, claiming the scene depicted took place in the Philippines.

And it also circulated earlier, as far back as 2020.

"Guys, it's okay at our house, it's just a little flooded," a Twitter user said alongside the photo on November 12, 2020.

The picture was used in a 2021 report from Noticiero Digital, following heavy rains in Apure state.

Despite the photograph being in wide circulation during past severe weather events, Newsweek has been unable to definitively establish the original source, though there are signs that it could also be a scene from a movie.

Some social media users suggested it was from the 2019 movie Crawl. In the movie, a woman becomes trapped during a hurricane in Florida, while getting hunted by a pack of alligators. Newsweek has been unable to locate the specific scene in the movie.

Shortly after posting the photograph, Williams said in a new Facebook post: "You all are so gullible lol."

The Ruling

False.

While it is possible that alligators can become displaced during a hurricane, this particular photo is not from Hurricane Ian. It has been shared online for years, though its provenance is unclear, with some speculating that it could have been a still from a feature film.

FACT CHECK BY NEWSWEEK