Hurricane coverage

One of the things you probably don’t know about me is that I am a long-time weather junkie. So, when a hurricane rears its ugly head, I can be found with the television remote in hand, flipping between The Weather Channel and any other channel doing a good job of coverage. Unlike others who gripe about “The Hurricane Channels” that replace the otherwise pitiful news channel programming, I’m the one who is thinking they’re finally doing something useful with our airwaves. Last night it was Scarborough Country on MSNBC and I’ll even overlook the few moments of having to listen to Halley Barbour drone on about his state’s good fortune. (I don’t like Halley Barbour).

Over and over I listened to authorities and weather persons talk about the importance of safety first and worries about damage later. True enough. Lives can’t be replaced. But that has to be small cold comfort to those who have lost everything to the forces of nature. Some folks greeted this morning, along the Gulf Coast, with their skins still intact, but with nothing else left. Unless you’re in that situation, it’s hard to imagine just what would be going through your mind. I’m not too sure I’d feel grateful, though I’m pretty sure I’d feel a little guilty for not feeling grateful on some level. But no, in facing the enormity of loss that some of the folks down there are facing this morning, I don’t think the platitudes of “be thankful you’re alive” would offer much solace.

While I watched the Hurricane Coverage last night, I found the difference between the Weather Channel and Scarborough Country striking. The imported reporters and meteorologists from the Weather Channel seemed to have little invested in the locations they were covering. Their unbridled enthusiasm and excitement over being in the hot seat showed. Scarborough, on the other hand, comes from Pensacola and Hurricane Ivan was personal. I’m not a Scarborough fan, but last night he did a good job. I appreciate the human touch he injected into his show’s coverage, but more than that, he did a yeoman’s job of pulling together his resources—critical information from critical people, from Washington to the Gulf—to keep the Gulf Coast residents informed of what was happening, what was going to happen, where the shelters were located, what the law enforcement officials in the various communities along the coast were advising. Useful information.

Having gone through a small, but frightening, Category One hurricane thirteen years or so ago, I can appreciate the personal anecdotes related to the sounds and sights of being in a hurricane—along with acknowledging the fear...and knowing there are a lot of other people out there who care. But what you really want to know when you’re about to get slammed by an enormous force of nature is what federal, state and local officials are saying, where the shelters are, what help will be there as soon as the hurricane has passed, what procedures one must follow for aid or claims, when curfews will be lifted and the like.

Scarborough delivered and I was impressed. It was one night of the year when political differences were put on hold. He didn’t even attempt to get in any political pot shots. I appreciated it.

Good luck to the Gulf Coast residents. My heart goes out to you for your exhaustion, losses, and sorrows.

Meanwhile, The Red Cross really needs some assistance. Please consider sending a donation. Hurricane season isn’t over yet and their coffers are already seriously depleted from Charley and Frances.