Irene

[B Ozanne]

I'll try to give updates (cell service allowing) via Twitter. If you are interested please follow me at the link below:

 

[rdale]

This is going to be the worst hurricane in our life times

I'm not sure I understand what you're saying... Clarify?

 

[B Ozanne]

I'm not sure I understand what you're saying... Clarify?

Possibly for me in my area, or if you add some sort of a population multiplier, or possibly on a $ basis in the worst case scenario. But purely storm intensity-wise, I don't think so.

 

[Warren Faidley]

I'm not sure I understand what you're saying... Clarify?

I think such quotes are coming from TWC and other media outlets who are saying things like "forever life transforming disaster," and unparalleled catastrophe of our lifetime," etc. One idiot on TV yesterday suggested that "tall buildings will sway and possibly fall."

I have finally stopped answering my phone as the level of panic is out of control.

People need to go to the NHC site and read the text carefully, look at the storm surge models and such. In reality, (ATM) the NYC area has a <20% chance of a 3 foot storm surge.

Do not rely on idiots on TV who have never even been in the core of a truly major hurricane. This is not Katrina, Andrew or Hugo.

Take the actions suggested by local authorities who know your region.

W

 

[Clarence Bennett]

It is fear mongering at its finest. I would love to hear Mike Smith chime in on this. Once everyone realizes they are still alive, not washed away and the world has not ended, what will this do to their psyche? What happens when there is a more serious threat? Does everyone again heed the alerts, panic, etc or do they say "oh the last time the news went crazy about this, nothing happened" ?

I do not discount the existing threat here, but the news coverage has gone from alerting the public, to absolute fear mongering...

 

[ChristianTerry]

I honestly think the media is fear-mongering on this as well. All the people on TWC and the reporters on CNN act like this is a Katrina event. While it could be bad for places, especially NYC through the funneling effects of the rivers, I do not believe we need to be any more afraid of this storm than any other storms.

 

[rdale]

That was made clear during the "certain death" statements of Hurricane Ike. Studies afterwards showed that people are less likely to believe NWS/EM in the future because of it.

I'm not surprised TWC is making that claim, I was just curious that it showed up on this forum too...

 

[B Ozanne]

People need to go to the NHC site and read the text carefully, look at the storm surge models and such. In reality, (ATM) the NYC area has a <20% chance of a 3 foot storm surge.

W

Where is that link? Long Island Sound gets 3' storm surges when the wind blows out of the NE for more than a few hours.

 

[Jason Haller]

FEMA is doing a good bit a fear mongering as well.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/44286867#44286867

I agree they need to be careful or it could desensitize people to actual life threatening event. Not saying that this is not a dangerous storm but it seems a little over the top.

 

[Warren Faidley]

Where is that link? Long Island Sound gets 3' storm surges when the wind blows out of the NE for more than a few hours.

At the top of the NHC page on Irene:

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/psurgegraphics_at4.shtml?gm

I did just hear that TWC crew has been nominated by the Academy for "Best Hysterical Performance" during a Cat. 1. The Discovery Channel must be fuming.

In reality, we live in a world of increasing paranoia. The economy, storms, etc. It sells.

W.

NHC has removed "Major Hurricane Status" as of the 11:00 EDT outlook. Includes now and future forecasts.

 

[John Olexa]

Same here. Our local news channels (Washington DC) are saying things like we will be on the air as long as possible.. Good grief!!
If it wasn't so sad it would be funny.

I'm staying in the state probably heading to the Southern part of MD.

 

[rdale]

Our local news channels (Washington DC) are saying things like we will be on the air as long as possible.. Good grief!!

Ehh, any station in the threat area that WOULDN'T be on continuously would never be watched again. I can't blame then for that. As long as they aren't finishing that sentence with "...as the city is destroyed..."

 

[B Ozanne]

At the top of the NHC page on Irene:

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/psurgegraphics_at4.shtml?gm

Thank you, that is a good site.

I imagine those odds will increase as the storm approaches. Like I said before, it doesn't take much to get 3 feet in Long Island Sound.

Edit: Gov. Cuomo annonces that the NYC transit system will shutdown at noon on Saturday. I'm not sure of the logic on that. MAybe that it takes 8 hours to shutdown the system or one of the big train yards is in a flood zone. Bloomberg speaking now (1:50 pm edt).

Per Bloomberg Zone A in NYC and some of zone B are under mandatory evacuation.

 

[Justin Wiley]

I'm pretty much agreeing with everyone's observations as well. I just can't take TWC anymore. Carl Parker was a pretty respected meteorologist by me until I've seen him go off the deep end. They've totally lost all sense of reality. Any sort of good news, like a path shift or a wind decrease or a pressure rise is an afterthought, not even a mention. They have constantly rolled out the "worst hurricane in our lifetime" line, at least every 15 minutes.

And now TWC is bragging about going 24 hours for the next few days with live coverage. I remember back in the day when TWC was LIVE 24 hours a day and actually showed weather maps and talked straight weather. This is totally out of control.

I totally realize there is a serious threat, especially to the coastal communities, affecting potentially millions of people. I realize people should be informed about it and warned. But keep it realistic. Don't infuse panic. Stop playing it out like a tv drama. So freaking lame...

 

[MClarkson]

The satellite presentation is degrading, pressure is rising fairly rapidly, the forecast track has placed NYC on the weak side, and yet the out of control hype continues. I said this a few days ago... the hype will do more damage than the storm.