I live in Fla and every time the wind blows up a bit the Weather Channel goes bursurk BLOWING it up to be the next big disaster. They are so starved for media attention and ratings that they try making the best show, meanwhile scaring relatives of locals in the north causing mass phone calls and panic. Katrina was the worst ever and after experiencing that you might know what I mean about media blow-ups. Those clowns from the weather channel like Jim Cantore, Mike Sydell etc would stand on our beach with the regular sized waves we get daily and mention how the waves were already thundering and bashing the beach....that was really funny to say the least. I don't mind good HONEST weather reports, but when they try scaring people half to death with nonsense, I don't think that's right. Some HELP in posting on Computing.net plus free progs and instructions Cheers

I think I would sooner have that than what happened in Britain a few years ago. Michael Fish became the subject of infamy in the wake of the Great Storm of 1987; a few hours before the storm broke, on 15 October 1987, he said during a forecast: "Earlier on today, apparently, a woman rang the BBC and said she heard there was a hurricane on the way... well, if you're watching, don't worry, there isn't!". That evening, the worst storm to hit South East England since 1703 caused record damages and killed 18 people. Stuart

They tend to sensationalize things for ratings/advertisement (look at how many channels they have to compete with---and who sits around watching the Weather Channel all day?). Plus a large part of the backing is from insurance companies (hmm...Wonder Why). But given the aftermath of Katrina in 2005, they're probably doing a little CYOA...

(look at how many channels they have to compete with---and who sits around watching the Weather Channel all day?). Actually the relatives do that expecting the worst Some HELP in posting on Computing.net plus free progs and instructions Cheers

Michael Fish became the subject of infamy in the wake of the Great Storm of 1987; a few hours before the storm broke, on 15 October 1987, he said during a forecast: "Earlier on today, apparently, a woman rang the BBC and said she heard there was a hurricane on the way... well, if you're watching, don't worry, there isn't!". That evening, the worst storm to hit South East England since 1703 caused record damages and killed 18 people. That was many yrs ago before they had the tracking available now. I respect honest forecasts. Sometimes calling wolf too many times (which happened before Katrina where people tried to ride it out as in past yrs) will stop people from getting motivated into preparation and evacuation. Some HELP in posting on Computing.net plus free progs and instructions Cheers

Wow, that's downright irresponsible reporting. There are just some things that should be left to the facts and not sensationalized. Reminds me how when it's a slow news period, usually during the summer season, the news shows will suddenly do focused segments on shark attacks and missing children making it seem that it's an epidemic.

I live in Pensacola Florida. At 6 AM my time Ida was on her way here. At 8 AM my time that fruit cake Sam Chapman from Good Morning America was standing on Pensacola Beach telling us how the waters here are usually flat as glass. I really wish I could have been there to slap that stupid S. O . $%^#& across his face. He made coments about businesses bording up, uhhhhh there is a small vender near the beach that works out of a converted trailer, he borded up. The vast majority of the businesses in that area are bars, they were trying to open early not close. The only real bording up done here has been done at construction sites due to the fact that there is a lot of loose stuff that could be damaged or cause damage. I live in a trailor not even 3 miles from the Gulf of Mexico and we haven't given Ida a thought. It isn't just the weather channel that is loosing respect. At this moment they are predicting landfall now to be about 60 miles west of us around the Alabama Mississippi border. What ticks me off is they closed my school for today and tomorrow so now I will only have school one day this week between what amounts to just another rain storm and the holiday on Wednesday. In this area we didn't get anything from Katrina but people left homeless that migrated this way. We got our damage from Ivan before Katrina. I know those 2 storms taught us to be better prepared but it's getting nuts here. Likely Addition::: I just had to go and pick up my daughter from work, she works at a subway sandwhich shop. While waiting for her to get off I talked to an older couple that live on Perdido key ( a small barrier island here ) that were put under a voluntary evacuation at 7 AM this morning. They like others here don't see this as more than a large thunderstorm. At 9 AM their water and sewage were turned off and a police officer was sent door to door to tell them the bridge to the key would be closed if the winds reached 45mph. I want to go like my grandfather did. Peacefully in his sleep. Not screaming at the top of my lungs like the passengers in his car. (\__/) (='.'=) (")_(")