Miami local TV stations now in full hurricane mode

[Mika]

Full pre-panic mode in Miami. All stations switched to hurricane coverage.

Recalling damage (via video) done by Wilma and Katrina last season.

Weather folks urging calm (while predicting gloom).

Warning extented up coast to New Smirna Beach.

Businesses shuttering up.

Homes shuttering up.

Gas stations already have lines.

Home Depot stores packed.

Grocery stores filling up, water and non perishables selling fast.

ATMs running out of cash.

Road rage.

[RB TexLa]

1. Ratings I guess, since last year's season I guess you can

pull ratings even for coverage of a tropical depression/Cat 1.

[Mika]

3. To be fair, last year's Cat 1's did major damage.

Some without power for weeks, including many stores and gas stations.

Many still have blue tarps on their roofs from last years. (Not enough roofers to repair last year's damage.)

[Scurrilous]

2. I hit the Home Depot on Pines and Flamingo at 7:30 this morning...

...there was noone in line but me.

I guess I beat the stampede. :thumbsup:

[nosillies]

4. I went to Home Depot this morning.

I saw this really cool gadget on the TV this morning that they carry. It's TV/radio/flashlight, with rechargeable batteries that can be hand cranked. Sweet. I had to have it.

But I must say I was embarrassed to be in Home Depot buying hurricane supplies because I didn't want to look like one of those alarmists!!! I almost bough a crape myrtle tree I'd been wanting to plant just to cover my ass. But then I realized how stupid it would be to plant a tree before a hurricane.

[soup]

6. Got yer cover right here:

While checking out casually mention that if they carried gift wrap, you'd be all set. ;)

Seriously, though, better overprepared than not at all.
Stay safe everyone, and here's hoping it fizzles out.

p.s. We bought one of those last year - pretty darn cool.

[Lowell]

5. I was born and raised here in hurricane country

after 60 years of weather watching in Florida I've learned a few things about living in the tropics. I find it incredible that all of the sudden the weather is such a big obsessive topic on the news. Nothing has really changed. We've always had big storms and there has always been property damage. I get a real laugh out of watching the news men standing knee deep in water, leaning into the wind, and shouting their observations.

What has changed in the past 60 years down here is that we have more people, people who grew up elsewhere and are not familiar with tropical storms. The media has also changed, they grasp at anything to focus on for a few days. Then we've really been hit with global warming. It is no joke, weather patterns have changed because of our capricous abuse of this planet.

Now would be a good time for the prez to take an extended vacation. God knows we don't need his help. Look at the disaster we're still cleaning up from last season. Everyone is really on their own when the big one's hit. It's always been that way.

[Jacobin]

7. Thank you for the excellent perspective

You nailed it on every count.

The news is not news anymore. Its a freak show and any excuse to scare/titillate/sex-up situation is gone at like its the National Enquirer network.

[geomon666]

8. Hence why I haven't watched local news at all today.

I don't need that fear driven drivel blathering in my ear. If I want weather updates, I'll go to weather underground. Fuck these fear mongers.

[htuttle]

9. "Would you say that it's time for our viewers to panic?"

"Yes, I would, Kent."

"Do you feel that the time has come for our viewers to crack open the skulls of their neighbours and feast on the goo inside?"

"Yes. Yes I do, Kent."

[warrens]

10. I can't blame them

I lived in Tampa for four years. It's a big deal. I only experienced a tropical storm, and that was bad enough. I was in Homestead two weeks after Andrew, and I will never forget that. Ever.

[noonwitch]

11. FOX was projecting a hit on NO on Saturday

I think they are hoping for another disaster to strike the Gulf Coast. They seem so excited at the prospect.

[stop the bleeding]

12. at this point I would be surprised if Florida got anything serious

the tracks keep moving more and more east with each update - if this keeps happening the Bahamas will have to worry not Florida, either way sucks for whoever gets it.