That, in a nutshell, is the question. And it's a good one.
I've been reading this thread and wondering what in the hell is wrong with some folks. A storm 500 miles wide comes spinning into the neighborhood and is projected to do cataclysmic damage, and reporters do what they're supposed to do -- which is report.
"Hey folks everything everybody has is saying this is a big ass storm. It could kill your ass. Better pay attention. Do what you need to do. Get out of Dodge."
And then, when it doesn't deliver on quite the scale the peanut gallery expected, well, it's the damn medias fault for overhyping it.
Never mind that five people have died so far.
Never mind that it close to a million people are without power so far, and more are in the path.
Including people in my family.
Never mind that first responders are being put at risk as I type this.
This stuff kills people. What is the media supposed to do. Pretend it's not out there?
Offer a disclaimer before every broadcast -- "you might have a better forecast, but here's what we've got so far? Go consult your superior knowledge or your messageboard yogis before deciding what to do?"
Seems to me, there's a simple solution for those who think the media is overhyping this storm or any other.
Turn the channel. Read a book. Go for a walk.
I live outside Savannah. Went seemingly forever without getting hit too hard by storms (Floyd was last big scare I remember, and before that Hugo) then got Matthew in 2016 and Irma in 2017. Trees down first time, house flooded last year. It was a pain in the ass, but we were lucky.
And we kept an eye on this one, and did what we had to do just in case.
I'm grateful Florence hasn't yet caused my neck of the woods misery and probably won't outside maybe some rain, which we need, and a little wind, which we don't.
Ah well. I'm tired. All you out there in harms way tonight, be safe.
Go Gamecocks.