How to check whether disaster information is verified
Every update published here carries who provided it, when, and whether it has been checked. This is how to read those labels.
What is never automated
FamilyConnect never confirms identity or death, and never decides that two similarly named reports are the same person. Only an external authority, recorded by name and reference, can confirm those things.
- Verified
- A named organisation or authority provided the update and a coordinator checked the source. It still describes a situation at a point in time and can change.
- Unverified
- The update has been received but not yet checked. It is published so families are not left in silence. It is never a confirmation of anyone's status.
- Rumour assessment
- A claim circulating publicly, recorded with an assessment such as false, misleading or unconfirmed, and where possible the authority statement that addresses it.
Before you share something you have seen
- Check whether the claim already appears in the rumour checks with an assessment.
- Look for a named source and a date; screenshots and forwarded messages usually have neither.
- Never share another family's case reference, access code or personal details.