Hurricane Warnings/Watches Earlier for NC/SC???

[StormsAhead]

you are supposed to be prepared at the beginning of the season - not when storm is bearing down on you!

OK, then let's not issue warnings at all. But if you wait for a warning to act, as the NHC/NWS tells people, you're in trouble in a scenario like this.

StormsAhead - what a silly statement! That is to let us know it is indeed time to make FINAL preparations! NOT to start from scratch!

Right, it's the time to act. There might be a hurricane making landfall in NC in 5 hours. There aren't any warnings in effect. IF they issue them at 5 PM, that's 3 hours of notice, ignoring the fact that the strongest winds can come well before the center. There's a reason why warnings aren't issued 3 hours in advance, even before minimal hurricanes. It just is not enough time to even make final preparations.

[stormtruth]

stormtruth - there budget was greatly increased after last season! Where is this type of stuff coming from, anyway???
Always wanting to blame anyone but ourselves! Jeeeeesh!

Nah. They just went from 6 to 10 people on a measly half a million budget increase. It's a tiny staff. Should be much more IMHO for the hard and important work they have to do!

Following a record-setting 2005 hurricane season, the center bulked up its staff by increasing the number of forecasters from six to 10. Congress raised the center's operating budget from $4 million to $4.5 million to cover the additional salaries. Congress also created some financial insurance for the center by giving it its own line item in the federal budget separate from the National Weather Service's budget.

source

[artist]

stormtruth - that is almost double the staff! How many places have you worked where they do that?? Knowing Mayfield - he would fight if he thought he needed more.

[stormtruth]

stormtruth - that is almost double the staff! How many places have you worked where they do that?? Knowing Mayfield - he would fight if he thought he needed more.

ok. it sounds like we totally 100% disagree artist. nothing wrong with that

[fci]

I put REMAINS IN EFFECT in bold because I thought you had implied it had just been issued for the 2pm advisory.

No, I was critical starting 4 1/2 hours ago when they put up a Hurricane Watch for 12 hours from then. I never said not intended to imply that the watch went up at 2 PM

I didn't need a Hurricane Watch for Rita though. I made reservations further north 5 days out, when it was forecast to hit MEXICO, just in case. I guess I just don't understand why more people don't take personal responsiblity, and then bash the NHC when they can't forecast with 100% accuracy.

You are a S2K'er. Anyone who follows S2K is probably never going to be caught by surprise and prepares early enough and proabably before the season. However, the General Public is not so diligent.
This thread is not bashing the NHC because they can't forecast with 100% accuracy and that has not been said, implied or inferred! But how much of an apologist can we be when their consistency is so flawed on this storm.



And I was NOT critical of parents sending their kids to school. Where did you see that? I said they should go pick them up if they're worried about them being there and not wait for someone to tell them to.

I agree, YOU were not critical of parents sending kids to school but others were. Going to pick them up is one thing but when people are working and paid by the hour it isn't that easy and besides with proper warning they would be home preparing

[casademadre]

People are going to be completely taken by surprise when they get home tonight and flip on the telly and find we here in ENC are under a hurricane watch or warning. During drivetime this morning on the radio the meteorologists were referring to "the REMNANTS of Ernesto" causing some heavy rain for our area, (coastal county approx. 50 miles north of Wilmington.) The vast majority of people rely on the info they get from the tv and radio and have no idea that things have changed. There are a lot of mobile homes in ENC and I worry for them if we get tornados tonight. Mark me in the column of those who would rather have storms "overhyped" than everyone unprepared.

[artist]

Then I think you should take it up with your local media. The NHC has done their best to tell everyone there is the possibility of a hurricane coming their way.

IF that is the case, that is sad.

[UpTheCreek]

Why is it people can't face the facts that NHC could have done a bit of a better job here, everything else aside. To say to go pick your kids up yourself is a moot point altogether.

NHC does a fine job on the whole, it won't hurt them to be criticized just a little.

[stormernie]

Lookin at high resolution visible loop a eye wall is starting to develop, if Ernesto is not a hurricane already he will be by 5 PM.

[artist]

I'm sorry - I don't feel it is warranted. We can agree to disagree. However, I will take exception saying that just because you may be poor you shouldn't be responsible for yourself. That is what is wrong with our world today! Let everyone else THINK for us! If there is a storm headed your way - it is your responsibility to try to find out what it is doing - not your employers, not the schools, etc. We were given a mind to use it! Particularly after Katrina last year!

[gpickett00]

I agree they could have definitely done a better job. Maybe not warnings at 5am, that was a little early, but by 11am it should have been final.

[NFLDART]

I emailed the school superintendent a few hours ago and actually got a response from him 15 minutes ago. He said they are in touch with emergency management and NWS and will soon decide whether they will close schools tomorrow altogether or have a delay! It's soon going to be 3 PM and we have about 5 or so hours until landfall. Decision should have been made this morning in my opinion.

I would think these decisions would've been made much earlier had there been a better forecast. Higher powers seem to have been caught flat-footed. But it is what it is. Do I believe NHC could've done a better job? Yes, I do. Do I think they are infallible? Of course I don't, but seems to me they dropped the ball between Florida and here.

I wouldnt put money on school being open there tommorow.

[southerngale]

I agree 100% with what you've said, artist. No sense in repeating it in my own post, as I basically did earlier, unintentionally. You just posted quicker than me. lol

[NFLDART]

Alot of the responsibility also lies on the shoulders of your local emergency managers/planners Local Statements should be forthcoming from those offices.

[Lindaloo]

Okay, this is enough! I guarantee to those of you that want to continue arguing with moderators PLUS bash the NHC will be suspended from here. We are watching you and there are a few that are involved in this who just came off suspension. Just a FYI, you will be banned permanently.

[brunota2003]

We have local statements pouring out here recently, including Mandatory Evacuations for some people...if you think the NHC is doing a poor job, then why dont YOU, instead of blaming them, try to forecast these things and issue watches/warnings? I think they are doing a fine job and if people let their guards down, dont blame it on the NHC, it is their faults for not being prepared...

[artist]

Our local media even called out our county commissioners during Jeanne for being late in issuing evacuations, etc., and those concerned did as well. They have never done that since.

[Three Blind Mice]

Of the two regimes at NHC the S. Stewart camp was spot on for the Carolina's!!!!

[NFLDART]

The NHC reacts to the actual data that they have on hand, from a local EM point of View if I disagree with the data i have been given then it is my responsibility to issue local statements regarding what is the best course of action to assure the public safety. The NHC is simply one of the MANY vendors that supply these decision making products. I think that overall they do an excellent job. But lets not forget that these are forces of nature, and that by nature do not follow all the rules.

[stormtruth]

Okay, this is enough! I guarantee to those of you that want to continue arguing with moderators PLUS bash the NHC will be suspended from here. We are watching you and there are a few that are involved in this who just came off suspension. Just a FYI, you will be banned permanently.

Let me take this opportunity to say that the main reason I said I want the NHC to have more $ and more people is so there are more of them to love I also think Southerngale and Lindaloo are super fabulous moderators. Two thumbs up for our hard working mods!