I am waiting for just one TV channel to say, "we have no pictures about how bad the storm is because we don't have any newscasters or camera men dumb enough to go outside."

I know the hurricane hasn't reached shore yet, and it is going to get much worse, but if they want the viewers to be careful and stay off the streets, they need to get their butts in too. Take a picture through the windows for heavens sake!!

I've been through a few hurricanes in my life, and things blow around through the air. But I will bet you that a few hours from now when things are at the worse, there will be someone standing out on the street trying to tell everyone that it's windy and rainy.

I think the funniest is when the TV Nerd is standing on the beach, carrying on about the heavy surf, wind, etc.....and some little kid with his boogie board wanders by behind him in camera range.

aileen, I know what you mean. I just had the news on (I can only take so much at a time) and they go to a remote with some fool standing on a seawall near Pensacola- hardly able to stand up, trees bending over, and waves crashing in the air. Believe it or not -- with Dennis some 40 miles away, the stupid anchor person introduced this with "are you feeling any effects of the storm yet?" Duh, "no, it's sunny and clear here" would be the equally stupid reply.

aileen, thanks for the laugh. Your post reminded me of the SNL takeoff of the "Blair Witch Project", with a horribly frightened woman whimpering into a camera, while you could see two guys in the background tossing a Frisbee around and having a ball..

This onsite reporting from hurricane centers is nothing but a ratings ploy. You know, sort of a real-life Fear Factor.. Let's see who can come closest to being knocked unconscious by flying debris.

I'm watching Anderson Cooper dodge aluminum signs on cnn.com in Pensacola...wish they would bring back "The Mole"...he was better on that...

FOX news anchor women just asked the FEMA rep in Pensacola if people needed to stay clear of their basements. There are NO basements in Florida. It was such a stupid question.

Since my family and friends all live in the Pensacola area I've naturally been glued to the TV all day. I've been amazed at the awful coverage by Fox. They had this one guy stationed at the Civic Center in Pensacola and he kept saying they were in the eye and were waiting for the calm. The eye came in between Gulf Breeze and Navarre and was only 10 miles wide. He'll be waiting for a long time if he expects to see the calm in the eye! And Anderson Cooper and his Ramada sign was just too much. Wow, a sign came apart in a hurricane! Yup, that's news alright.

I don't know about you, Tandoori, but I ALWAYS make it a point to stay clear of a basement in a hurricane. Haven't been near one all day. As a matter of fact, I haven't been near a basement since the last time I was in north GA.

I'm not sure why, but I'm still watching CNN.

What keeps being replayed, over and over, is the Ramada sign coming down and the trees snapping with Anderson Cooper yelling his warning to the crew.

Do they think this will merit an Emmy for *on the spot* coverage ?

I hope all the Fodorites in Florida are safe and sound.

Thoughts and prayers are with you.

Marion

I expect that CNN and Fox, etc. were all a little disappointed that it zipped through so quickly. It hardly gave them time to get many pictures. Tch, tch.

But I am sure that all the residents in that area were glad to see it get on it's way. I do hope that everyone, and their homes, are well.