I write this as a Monday morning quarterback (even though it’s actually Wednesday afternoon) and as I reflect on our coverage, our threat level, and our tone, I always assess and re-assess what we could have said, done, or explained better or differently. There is always room for improvement, but my motto is, and has always been, “is what I am saying scaring, or informing my family as they watch from home”? I would never tell the viewers (you) anything different than I would tell my family. I would never use a different tone on the air than I would use in informing my family. Of this you can be sure. As I write this, I have in front of me a visible satellite loop of Ike which shows every detail of the structure, core, and circulation in and around Ike. I can’t take my eyes off of how “beautiful” this system looks from outer space. Then it hits me, and this is what I want you to understand as I explained to neighbors in my community earlier today. If Ike had tracked 150 miles farther north, we would still be picking up the pieces in our yards at this hour. Even with shutters, we’d be clearing debris from our yards and some of our walls would be located in someone else’s backyard (with the shutters still attached) We can play “could have”, “should have” all we want, but when we started tracking Ike nearly 2,500 miles away, in the end it was the difference of less than 200 miles that made the difference between destruction and just being mildly inconvenienced. I believe our tone matched the threat level, and I’m proud to say that we are the only station that showed restraint by not telling you a category 4 hurricane would track right over Miami-Dade and Broward Counties 4-5 days out. Turns out that instead of Ike being near Little Havana on Tuesday, it was closer to the REAL Havana (Cuba). We will inform you of impending danger a week away but the tone will ALWAYS match the threat level. Personally, as I watch Ike moving away and becoming a concern for the Gulf coast, allow me a moment to say “whheewww”, glad we got it right but don’t expect much to change in the way we handle the next one. In fact, I believe you’ll see the OTHER stations covering these swirling monsters a little differently in the future. Hopefully, even our colleagues at the other stations can learn something from our coverage, like not using the line down the middle of the cone and not putting the hurricane icons on the map for days 4 & 5. Call days 4 & 5 a “risk area” like we did. I am proud to say that you, the viewers have responded very positively. Thank you, we’re glad we dodged this bullet. Now let’s just be mindful of those who were affected, and those who will be in the days ahead. One final note…Don’t return your non-perishables and supplies, we still have 2 1/2 months to go before the end of the season. Be prepared for those “late-bloomers” in October and November. Right now there is nothing else out there so let’s reflect on this near-miss and catch our breath!
John Gerard
