What do you think about the national weather coverage as hurricanes approach the US?

Asked by JLeslie (65418) September 18th, 2017 from iPhone

I’m thinking in America specifically, but feel free to answer from other countries too.

I apologize for the length of this Q.

Hurricane Irma just blasted through Florida (I live in Florida) and left some mess in Georgia, and other states north of Florida too.

For many days before Irma we (America) heard about how huge the storm was, how it decimated islands in its path in the Caribbean, and how the hurricane winds were going to cover all of Florida. That Florida would receive very high storm surges, and flooding was anticipated.

America at large heard about the evacuations in Florida in multiple counties. America in general didn’t understand we only evacuate a few miles within the coastline and and mobile homes. We are encouraged to stay in our counties typically. Over 90% of Hurricane deaths are flooding not winds. Not that winds aren’t to be taken seriously, especially cat 3 and higher. Mind you a cat 3 storm only has sustained cat 3 winds very close to and in the eye wall. The news often reports gusts rather than sustained winds, because it’s a higher number.

This hurricane in all my years living in Florida created the most panic I have ever seen in my parents and other people outside of Florida. I blame the news coverage, and I think it went too far, with the main goal of ratings and money. People suffered with anxiety more than necessary. Not that this hurricane was not very serious, it was, people have died, and lost so much, there is a tremendous amount of tragedy, but my parents drove me crazy! I’ve been through multiple hurricanes, but now that my parents have the weather channel and internet, omg. America seemed to think what happened to Barbuda would happen to the whole state of FL. In my opinion my parents, and many others, suffered unnecessarily.

I like that the news coverage helps with awareness. It’s very important, and I would not change the local news coverage in Florida, and our governor, mayors, and other officials did a great job getting information out, as they typically do. The national awareness helps in getting donations and volunteers and even corporate and government attention.

Now, I just saw the Weather Channel talking about Hurricane Maria. They showed the many hurricanes over the years that have gone through the exact spot Maria is in now. Then, they picked the one track that went right for FL out of 20 tracks. That means nothing! But, I’m sure plenty of people are now panicked Maria is coming for Florida. I turned the channel. I am concerned about Puerto Rico and neighboring islands.