Sometimes they get it right, generally they get it flawed. But one factor is for certain: In the case of media reporting of extreme weather events, the threat of a hurricane, twister or perhaps a heck of a number of snow just isn’t likely to go unnoticed for lack of protection. And with good cause. Within the 24 hours main as much as Hurricane Sandy’s devastating blast by way of New York and New Jersey, the Weather Channel brought in more than 2.035 million viewers, not to say a report 300 million web page views on its Web site. Howard Kurtz mentioned of the Sandy protection. In the rankings recreation, whether a storm really lives as much as the hype is usually an afterthought. Ratings indeed: The Weather Channel’s 2.77 million viewers on the Saturday the storm was scheduled to hit land outpaced the numbers for Sandy, a way more brutal storm. In Katrina’s aftermath, politicians and city and state officials are only too desperate to comply with the freakout drumbeat.

After seeing what a failure to correctly respond to a weather risk did for the likes of George W. Bush, New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin, and former FEMA chief Michael Brown (“Heckuva job, Brownie!”) local leaders most likely determine it is higher to go all in. But a couple of swings and misses by the hype machine might lull newbie storm watchers into a false sense of safety. Does extreme weather hype trigger folks to below-react when a storm’s a brewing? Read on to search out out. But it’s not just the sheer amount of coverage of extreme weather that feeds the hype machine. There’s additionally one thing about the way during which these occasions are covered. It is a fundamental principle of journalism that speed shouldn’t be traded for accuracy. Yet evidently a few of probably the most intrepid of reporters are at instances swept up in the fury of big weather. For example, take the widely reported, yet fully false rumor that through the peak of Sandy’s onslaught on Manhattan, the ground of the brand new York Stock Exchange was flooded with up to three toes (1 meter) of water.

That’s not to mention the way in which through which potential weather occasions are described. Reporters, authorities officials and consultants who use phrases like “catastrophic,” “historic,” and “unprecedented” to explain a storm without explaining simply what makes a specific weather system distinctive do nothing but water down the gravity of these phrases. But it isn’t just hype that leads people to underestimate severe weather. There are other reasons why some of us assume that each one reviews of oncoming storms are merely crying wolf. As Hurricane Katrina approached the Gulf Coast in August 2005, reporters swarmed to New Orleans, and Mississippi while officials warned residents of low-lying areas to run for it. Yet many selected experience out the storm. Yet the Sandy experience — with many residents of the toughest-hit areas additionally choosing to wait out the storm regardless of “mandatory” evacuation calls — is a testament to the truth that not less than some individuals might by no means believe the hype associated with severe weather. The primary known as “unrealistic optimism,” which, as its handle suggests, refers to an excellent glass half-full mentality.

Some people just do not suppose something severely unhealthy can happen to them. Where the hype is available in is by causing what is called “availability bias.” In other words, a person contemplating the dangers of a sure occasion — an oncoming storm, perhaps — may compare it to previous similar events. After a handful of overhyped weather patterns, people within the danger zones of an oncoming storm may begin to assume that the Weather Channel is promoting wolf tickets, so to speak. Whether it’s the subsequent Irene or one other Sandy, hype isn’t the only cause why some folks may underestimate the subsequent superstorm, but it definitely does not assist. In case the last three pages haven’t convinced you of the role of hype in severe weather preparation, possibly this private anecdote will do the trick. As a Brooklyner making ready for Irene to contact down in the big Apple final yr, like most of my neighbors, I kind of freaked out a little bit bit.

It was laborious not to, not simply because of the non-cease news protection but also because of the boarded up storefronts and bodegas with lengthy strains and handwritten signs like “out of water” and “no extra flashlights.” So I stocked up on water, food, D batteries and, after all, beer. Meanwhile, my roommate mocked the panic and ordered two large pizzas. Then it occurred. And by “it” I imply “nothing.” When Sandy got here knocking more than a 12 months later, I had relocated to Washington D.C. This time around, I stored strolling past the groceries and comfort stores and instead ordered a big pie. What’s it Like in the eye of a Tornado? Ablow, Keith. “Why do not people evacuate when Sandy or one other main storm looms? Are they nuts?” Fox News. Jolis, Anne. “The Weather isn’t Getting Weirder.” The Wall Street Journal. Hiaasen, Carl. “On The Beach, Waiting For Frances.” (Nov. 18, 2012). Florida Sunshine Coast. Keene, Allison. “Hurricane Sandy Tv: CNN’s Hysteria, Weather Channel Cool, Al Roker Flaps within the Wind.” The Hollywood Reporter. Kurtz, Howard. “A Hurricane of Hype.” The Daily Beast. Kurtz, Howard. “Sandy, the Rare Storm that Lived As much as Media Hype.” CNN. Leslie, Kate. “Sandy gives Weather Channel an opportunity to Shine.” Palm Beach Post. Richwine, Lisa. “Weather Channel Leads Cable News Ratings with Hurricane Sandy Coverage.” Huffington Post. Rosenthal, Sandy. “Insistent Appeals to Evacuate Didn’t Warn That the Levees Could Break.” The Huffington Post. Sazalai, Georg. “Hurricane Sandy Brings Weather Channel Third-Highest Average Viewership Ever.” The Hollywood Reporter. Sunstein, Cass. “Worst-Case Scenarios: The problem of Neglect.” The brand new Republic. Wemple, Erik. “Hurricane Sandy: Five Tips for Avoiding Hype.” The Washington Post.