A viral video shared on TikTok claims the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is purportedly closing roads amid mandatory evacuations from Hurricane Milton.

@mrhumantripod_xx This ìs a update on hurricane Milton please keep them in your thoughts and prayer something is definitely wrong about all this . #hurricane #milton #florida #update ♬ A Storm Is Comin – Liv Ash

Verdict: False

The claim is false. FEMA denied the claim’s validity via a section of its website where it addressed hurricane-related rumors.

Fact Check:

Hurricane Milton destroyed the roof of St. Petersburg’s Tropicana Field when it made landfall, according to the Miami Herald. The stadium, which is the home of the Tampa Bay Rays, “was being used as a shelter for emergency responders,” the outlet reported.

The TikTok video, which has garnered over 7,000 likes as of writing, claims FEMA is purportedly closing roads amid mandatory evacuations from Hurricane Milton.

“My brother sent me this. Mandatory Evacuation but now FEMA is closing Roads and In [sic] some areas causing 30 miles atleast of gridlock traffic,” text overlay on the video reads. The video shows heavy traffic on a local highway ahead of the hurricane.

The claim is false. FEMA denied the claim’s validity via a section of its website where it addressed hurricane-related rumors.

“This is false,” the federal agency wrote in response to the claim that it was purportedly “blockading people in Florida and preventing evacuations.”

“FEMA is not blockading people in Florida and preventing evacuations. FEMA does not control traffic flow or conduct traffic stops, which are handled by local authorities. This is a harmful rumor that can put lives in danger.”

“If you live in the west coast of Florida and the Florida peninsula, take immediate action to protect yourself and your loved ones. Follow the guidance of your local authorities. If you are ordered to evacuate, do so immediately. Delaying your evacuation can put your life and the lives of others at risk,” the federal agency added. A FEMA spokesperson directed Check Your Fact to its hurricane-related rumor control page when contacted for comment.

Likewise, according to Reuters, traffic jams ahead of Hurricane Milton were the result of thousands of people fleeing Florida, not FEMA closing roads. In addition, PolitiFact debunked the claim on Oct. 9. (RELATED: Is The U.S. Government Manipulating Storms In The Gulf Of Mexico Using Technology?)

More than 3 million Floridians were without power after Hurricane Milton made landfall, according to the Guardian.