Environment, Media, Things That Tick Me Off

Things That Tick Me Off: Irene’s Hurricane Coverage in Washington

My brother sent me this mocking picture making the rounds on the Internet. I thought it was àpropos in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene. The coverage in Washington of the hurricane-that-wasn’t has been absolutely bizarre. It is good to see that this city does not just panic with an inch of snow. We panic with any weather above a flurry or a misting. Folks in parts of North Carolina and other coastal areas have had legitimate concerns (including New York, Vermont and other areas) and Irene’s flooding and power outages were expected to take quite a toll in those hardest hit areas. However, the D.C. coverage was comically ridiculous. I watched one story of how Irene had began “its trail of misery and destruction” toward Washington. General Sherman’s March To the Sea had less dire reviews. I am only talking about Northern Virginia and Washington where the coverage continued in sharp contrast with the actual forecasted weather for our area.

I have been admittedly snarky of the coverage for days, particularly the last 24-hours when the hurricane was a Cat-1 hitting hundreds of miles away. Having lived through pretty big hurricanes in Louisiana, I have a respect for the storms but there was never any predictions of serious rain in my area. For days, I have been checking the various weather sites only to find predictions of two inches of rain and strong winds on Saturday night (with clearing on Sunday). I would then turn on the television or go on the Internet and find live, round-the-clock, breathless coverage of the “misery” and “destruction” coming to Washington. At no time did the forecast predict anything more than roughly a couple inches of rain and high winds. There was clearly a chance for power outages due to the soaked soil and winds, but the coverage in this area was positively apocalyptic.

In addition to ratings, the hysteria did produce record sales at stores as people prepared for the apocalypse with bodies stacked like firewood in the streets.

Everything closed despite the fact that only two inches of rain and some strong winds were predicted. This morning, the coverage continues with reporters showing the same pictures of a couple of trees down to fill time. The rest of the coverage is largely “things that did not happen” stories. My favorite this morning on Channel 4 (NBC) was how in Alexandria the harbor man thought that people who tied up their boats for high tide might have to come back and tie the boats for lower tide. The reporter then went to show how the water has not risen and how high water could have been a problem in causing flooding — if there was high water. As predicted in the actual forecasts for days before the hurricane (as opposed to the news coverage), we had some trees down, some power outages, and rain. Various forecasters (here and here) objected to the overblown claims in places like Washington before the storm hit.

I was not alone in feeling a significant loss of credibility for our local media in the hype leading to the storm — which seemed overtly disconnected to the actual predictions of rain and wind. Of course, at the coast, there were some curious moments such as the reporter who gave a live account while covered in what appears toxic foam.

We decided not to join the apocalyptic preparations and instead invited a couple of the friends of the kids over for a hurricane party and sleepover. Our power went off for exactly twenty seconds, but we had a grand time and watched “Cats v. Dogs” while devouring bags of popcorn. The overkill coverage will only make it more difficult for media and the government to get people to believe them next time when there is a serious threat, in my view.

Of course, most everything is still closed today as we clean up the carnage of blown leaves and soggy lawns in our area. In your view, was Irene overblown?

163 thoughts on “Things That Tick Me Off: Irene’s Hurricane Coverage in Washington”

  2. NoWay:

    Cutting back is doable in all areas. Just go back to 2008 spending levels and reduce, in actual terms, 3-5% per year for the next ten years and the budget should be in good shape.

    I am betting we could do very well with half of the government we have.

  3. I don’t think a private contractor is going to be operating landing craft during an invasion, as Signalman First Class Douglas A. Munro did during the battle of Guadalcanal.

    A Coast Guard cutter, the USCGC Munro (WHEC-724) is named for him, as is the Navy destroyer USS Douglas A. Munro (DE-422). Also a barracks buildiing at the Coast Guard Academy is named for him. (Bet you did not know the USCG had their own military academy.)

    Signalman First Class Munro’s official Medal of Honor citation reads:

    For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous gallantry in action above and beyond the call of duty as Officer-in-Charge of a group of Higgins boats, engaged in the evacuation of a Battalion of Marines trapped by enemy Japanese forces at Point Cruz, Guadalcanal, on September 27, 1942. After making preliminary plans for the evacuation of nearly 500 beleaguered Marines, Munro, under constant risk of his life, daringly led five of his small craft toward the shore. As he closed the beach, he signaled the others to land, and then in order to draw the enemy’s fire and protect the heavily loaded boats, he valiantly placed his craft with its two small guns as a shield between the beachhead and the Japanese. When the perilous task of evacuation was nearly completed, Munro was killed by enemy fire, but his crew, two of whom were wounded, carried on until the last boat had loaded and cleared the beach. By his outstanding leadership, expert planning, and dauntless devotion to duty, he and his courageous comrades undoubtedly saved the lives of many who otherwise would have perished. He gallantly gave up his life in defense of his country.

    Yeah, we need to turn this service over to private contractors.

  4. @AY

    I think you meant for your comment to be directed at Roco. You’ll find no disagreement with me when it comes to the purpose, value, and authority of the Coast Guard.

  5. @OS,

    I didn’t think you knew the details about the quechee bridge. The Bartonsville bridge is a sad event. There’s just something about those covered bridges that brings me peace.

    About NOAA cuts: Did you know the budget for NOAA was 3.8 billion in 2007? The 2012 budget (a decrease from 2011) is 5.4 billion. I think concern about a 40% increase in such a short period of time justifies taking a close look at the numbers to see if cutting back in some areas is doable.

  6. Well NoWay,

    If the private companies that it protected just paid for the services that are provided under the banner of the US which would not have the protection but for the army and navy which are the only constitutional branches of the US ARMED forces….the marines…..two time given birth….Air Force…well a branch of the Army….circa 1947 (around there) marines….Where is the authority for the USCG?

    You’ll see it was founded by Alexander Hamilton as the Revenue Cutter Service on 4 August 1790, it lays claim to being the United States’ oldest continuous seagoing service.

    The Coast Guard’s legal authority differs from the other four armed services and it operates simultaneously under Title 10 of the United States Code and its other organic authorities, e.g., Titles 6, 14, 19, 33, 46, etc. Because of its legal authority, the Coast Guard can conduct military operations under the Department of Defense or directly for the President in accordance with Title 14 USC 1–3.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Coast_Guard

    They do much more than just protect private companies…Learn a little…

  7. Otteray Scribe:

    “What is your next “good idea?” Privatize the Coast Guard and make it fee for service?”

    What exactly does the Coast Guard do? Customs and drug interdiction and rescue/water safety, right?

    So legalize drugs and have free trade and what do you need the Coast Guard for? Rescue and safety/recovery could be done by private companies.

    Good idea OS. 🙂

  8. NoWay, did not know that. At any rate, it was a beautiful bridge. The Bartonsville, VT bridge was built in 1870, according to what I can find online. Here is what just happened to it yesterday. This video has just been posted.

  9. @OS

    Do you mean the “historic Quechee Covered Bridge” that is really a steel bridge that was built in 1970?

    The flooding is a problem for the folks in Vertmont, and my heart goes out to them, but I think describing a bridge built in 1970 as a historic covered bridge should be added to the list of things that tick me off. (I think you were likely deceived into thinking the bridge was much older. I was too.)

  12. Enibob, here’s an example to what I said yesterday.

    “what people don’t understand is as far as financial loss a slow moving Tropical Storm or Tropical Depression, say at 5-10 mph can have a greater impact than say a Hurricane moving at 25 miles an hour.”

    and thats what FUCKING PISSES ME OFF

    (Reuters) – Vermont residents battled epic flooding on Monday after the remnants of Hurricane Irene set off the state’s worst flooding in nearly 40 years, washing out roads and knocking out power.

    Weather reporters said the flooding was the worst in Vermont since 1973 and perhaps since 1927.

    At least one of the state’s historic covered bridges was washed away as Irene’s rains sent rivers spilling over their banks.

    Governor Peter Shumlin called the flooding catastrophic and several people had to be rescued. Some 50,000 people are without power, officials said on Monday.

    http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/29/us-storm-irene-vermont-idUSTRE77S1ZM20110829

  14. puzzling, your last comment was so full of fail I do not even know where to start.

    NOAA and NWS save lives. They do not operate on a profit motive and the money that goes into this essential service is spent on service, not servicing overpaid CEOs and stockholders who care only that the next quarter dividend is a good one.

    What is your next “good idea?” Privatize the Coast Guard and make it fee for service?

  15. As for the “mocking picture” sent by JT’s brother, here’s a little more serious group from Louisa High School and the damage from the magnitude-5.8 earthquake. Kids were in class when the disaster struck around 2:00 p.m. This school and an elementary school are too weak to house classes due to the risk of collapse. They are both out of commission for the rest of the year.

    http://www2.timesdispatch.com/list/virginia-earthquake/gallery/

  16. Thanks for the good wishes to all. As for AY, I rather considered myself more like Thurston Howell.

  17. NOAA and the National Weather Service should be disbanded to allow higher quality, competing private forecasting services to emerge.

    As things stand today hurricane forecasts by the federal government monopolize the messaging provided by the news media. Errors, oversights and exaggerations by government forecasters are amplified and repeated over and over. Overstated warnings reinforce the importance of government oversight and control. Only corporate clients with aviation and transportation dependencies are able to obtain independent information of any quality.

    Weather threats are routinely exaggerated and reinforce dependence on government and so-called emergency officials, while the public must live with frequent mistakes with no prospect for accountability or improvement by the government that provides them.

  18. I forgot about you eniobob….I thought about Elaine but got distracted before I posted…and thought I had…..Yes….We have the Professors, Mary Ann….and -the Millionaire…….

  19. mespo:

    Your photos are interchangeable with what we are and will be going through the next few days here in Jersey.

    Blouise things are fine.

    LK thanks!!

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