What I found interesting, was the reports I got from my family on
the West coast. We got calls from everyone, but no one called on
Friday, the reason… “Oh we wanted to give you time to get back home
after the Hurricane evacuations” They were all, surprised when I
laughed. Why did I laugh, because in a city of over 400,000 there were
between 30 and 100 evacuations, all were because of localized flooding,
and to the best of my knowledge none were mandatory.

Well in typical media hype hysteria, a Tropical Storm that was a
Hurricane for about 18 hours a week earlier, was still being reported
as a Hurricane a week later. After the 2005 tropical season, I’m
betting that so many stations invested heavily in some type of tropical
package, that they are making a big deal out of every tropical
disturbance no matter how minor. In my opinion, this is the worst thing
that could happen, creating artificial hype for something that is
really a non event. Once again the general public will begin to ignore
official warning statements, and not do what is needed when a threat
does truly exist.

For example, this week as Florence was developing in the Atlantic,
and the initial path was pointing to the mid-Atlantic region, the
teasers on the news was the potential impact of Florence on our area.
This was when the storm was at least 10 days out, five day track errors
were about 300NM, I guess all that mattered was that line pointing our
way. Then there was the simple fact that just about every model on the
planet said that Florence was going to turn to the North, and not make
U.S. landfall, but why let the facts get in the way of a good story.

Simple fact of the matter is if you want the facts go to the National Hurricane Center

So as I sit, glancing at the news, and seeing the almost depressed
look on the reporters faces, as Tropical Storm Ernesto makes landfall,
but not as a Hurricane, only a lowly Tropical Storm with sub 70MPH
winds.

It’s kind of strange that they all rushed from Florida
to cover the landfall of a storm, that I think they secretly hoped
would regain Hurricane status. Then again it is almost humorous to
watch them try to make more out of it then it really is, a rain event.
The local stations have all initiated “Team Coverage” as the first band
approaches, yep it is windy and raining, and as you can see all the
cars have to drive with their wipers on, now back to you in the studio.

At my Sister in law lives in Nevada, where tonight they
were still calling it a Hurricane, I guess Hurricane has a higher hype
value then tropical storm.

I wonder if their insurance covers Post Non-Traumatic Stress Syndrome…