Media hype or real prep for SE GA??....

[chicagopizza]

!st and foremost, if I were any where in FL, MS, AL, LA, or TX, I would certainly agree that media should be all over this storm. My question is regarding my area news team. The 12 pm news just stated that while it is not showing that Ivan makes a direct hit, obviously, that our "residents" are not taking any chances after the near misses wth two other storms. They showed people stocking up on plywood, etc. and said that the store is getting another shipment in as backup.

From my limited knowledge, the worst that could happen in our area, at the moment was some rain. Ivan appears to go places that are out of Sav's range to me. Even whe Frances came through, plywood was not needed except maybe Tybee and downtown who should already own plywood.

While I can understand power outage supplies, for the life of me, I can not understand why we would need plywood. Is it me, or are they mixing a small amount of truth with a dose of "hype" to make it a better story?

[meteorjosh]

yeah, funny thing is the more hype...the more you mitigate the economic impacts of a storm like this (through panic buying)

[GTStorm]

I live in Savannah too (30+ years).....General rule of thumb: whatever the local mets forecast, cut it in half and that's about what we'll get.

[tallbunch]

I totally agree. Whoever would board up in SAV, would be wasting their energy. When they say its going to rain, it doesn't. When no rain is expected, it rains.

[chicagopizza]

So, my theory is correct, I guess. Just hate that they try to scare people when they don't need to.

I guess I just think we should save the shipments of plywood for the stores that REALLY need them.

[iwanttoknowwhy]

I have to say that this is not hype considering that Ivan could come in to the big bend area of florida and continue to the northeast that would bring Ivan over the savannah area. All though Ivan will be weaker after landfall the winds will still be very high if it were to come over savannah. The best thing for you to do is be prepared for the unexpected. You never know where Ivan is going to hit and you do not know what path he will take once he makes land fall. Now if you dont want to board up your home that is your choice. As for me being here for 36 years and knowing not to trust models, I will be boarded up and stocked on supplies.

[chicagopizza]

the wrong way. It was certainly not my intent to question people who are buying the supplies. Hurricane preparedness is important and should not be overlooked. However, I am questioning the media's coverage of this storm.

You are exacty right. Storms have a mind of their own. I could end up eating crow for not buying plywood in time or at all. I am certanly not ruling it out. I guess I would just prefer for the media to give us the statistical probabilities of it hitting Sav, or around Sav. along with their story.
For example, if the statistics were to show a __% prob. for the moment subject to change based on future conditions, that should be made clear to the viewing public. That way people can decide what to do based on facts without the influence of the media.

Please note I am not making any forecasts myself and am relying on the National Hurricane Center and local authorities for info.

[iwanttoknowwhy]

I have live in and near savannah all my life and i depend on channel 11 news much more so than the others Pat is usually right on track with his forcasts. i now live just south of savannah in liberty county and i tell you fraces gave us some high winds here even though she was on the other side of the state we had 4 trees fall and several damaged i am not taking any chances this time i have the tree cutters here now taking down the remaining 6 trees as we speak.