Mixed Message of Safety during Hurricane Irene

As I watch the events of Hurricane Irene unfold (making landfall in North Carolina) I am continually reminded about how the media continues to send out mixed messages about the need to heed weather warnings seriously.  In this case it regards  hurricane Irene, however we have seen it with winter storms, tornadoes, floods, etc.  The Weather Channel has "wall to wall" coverage of Irene with a near continuous rolling stream of going from one "live" shot (reporter) to another, near the eye of the storm and in advance of Irene's approach.  While the winds are now only minimal hurricane force, they are still potentially deadly from flying debri, as well as the other threats of storm surge and flooding. Yet, we have these meteorologists reporting from the beach or in a community, telling folks how bad it is, and to heed evacuation notices.  You can occasionally see a vehicle or two pass in the background of some of these shots and the reporter will comment to the effect that "...we still have some folks out here doing stupid things by driving around in the hurricane..."   I know the media will reference the First Amendment as to their right to report on just about anything.  However, when does it become just pure hypocritical negligence and disregard for common sense to have these reporters (especially meteorologists) out in the worst of these storms, yet tell folks it is too dangerous to be outside and to take shelter?

The media (which now includes the meteorological community like the Weather Channel and even local TV and radio stations) continually send folks out into the worst of what mother nature has to offer, while at the same time telling people to stay indoors, or move inland, etc.  We expect the general public to use common sense, yet the media is screaming to all of us that they do not possess it!  It is no wonder that others want to be "out in the elements" too and witness Mother Nature's wrath.  It does not stop there either.  The meteorological community in general, in concert with the media, also tell people to send in their storm shots of a tornado, or video of damage, flooding, blizzards, etc.  The more dramatic, the better chance it will get on television (local to national coverage)!  They are encouraging and soliciting folks to document this dangerous weather for them!

We should take a page from something good the media (sports) did probably over a decade ago. When someone streaks across a baseball field, or jumps out of the stands and run the 100 yard dash down the grid iron, the camera no longer shows these individuals, in hopes to mitigate further interest of others do so in the future. It is based on the premise of "mimic behavior".  This is really no different than what a child does after he or she gets attention after performing some act (be it good or bad).  Adults in many ways show similar traits at times, which can be advantageous or detrimental, whether it is mimicking good business practices, or gaining attention by following the stupidity of others (the aforementioned sports analogy). Some of the general public, for which the media supposedly serves, are only mimicking what they see the media do, by going out to document these dangerous storms. In my opinion, the media and an increasing portion of the meteorological community are actually promoting this "mimic behavior" by a combination of their direct solicitation and reporting of these dangerous events. The media is not immune to mimic behavior themselves and to a great degree is why more and more media outlets are doing these live remote reports in very dangerous weather. They see others (competition) doing it, and whether for ratings, money, etc, other stations or media outlets follow suite.

I am calling on the media and the meteorological community to consider the effects of their actions, by this bombardment of remote live reporting of serious and potentially deadly weather events. Common sense would dictate that it goes for all people (media included) to seek shelter, if these meteorological events are truly life-threatening. Hopefully it will not have to take serious injury or a fatality (of one these reporters) to really make an impression, that we all need to take heed.

My first blog :-)

While I have often thought of starting a blog, journal, or notes on topics and themes i deemed important, I have put fingers to keyboard and will attempt to do so via a "blog" post.  We'll see how it goes...