This week the citizens of New Jersey survived not one but two natural disasters; an earthquake and a hurricane. I write this post mere hours before Hurricane Irene is scheduled to hit New Jersey full force… so I’m only assuming that we have survived. By the way the media has hyped up both events, you would assume that the east coast is in a state of disaster. A terrifying 5.8 earthquake (trembles felt in New Jersey), quickly followed by a Category 1 Hurricane/Tropical Storm.
Now my sarcasm isn’t based on ignorance, only the escalated new reports on nearly every one of our local news channels (remember my recent blog post about the media’s over dramatization of EVERYTHING). I realize the media is meant to warn naive citizens of impending dangers, but the scare tactics they use creates more havoc than calm. Guess what? I bought gas today, not yesterday. And I only filled up because I was completely on empty and would not have been able to drive. And would you like to know why I bought gas today as opposed to yesterday? Because I would have sat in line for an hour behind people who feared there would be no gas left for them if they waited until the next day. There was plenty of gas today, and I made sure to “filler up” because I was rather satisfied with the $3.32/gallon price.
Let’s take a look at some of the most dramatic news reports from Hurricane Irene:
Virginia Beach, Virginia:
Long Island, New York
Now I don’t typically mind legitimate news reports, but really? I know I’m about to state the obvious but how is it these news reporters can barely stand up while people are site-seeing and riding by on bicycles? The one reporter is wearing freaking goggles for crying out loud! Is Drama Queen 101 a graduation requirement for news reporters? If aspiring actors/actresses can’t make it in Hollywood they should try reporting the news. Reporters like these make a mockery out of legitimate reporters like Stephen Colbert or Rush Limbaugh…just kidding. My concern is not over the severity of the storm, rather the media’s ability to influence the actions of nearly every citizen of our state.
I thought I’d have a little fun and “over-dramatize” any damage I found around my neighborhood..much like our media tends to do.
Disclosure: this post is not intended to insult/offend any citizens of New Jersey who actually experienced any damage to their homes. Just trying to bring a bit of satirical humor to a not so funny situation. Enjoy :D
The Rambling Crab Times : Hurricane Irene Coverage
Headline: “Laundry will be at a standstill this week due to downed clothes lines across the state of New Jersey”
Headline: “Major flooding threatens area residents – evacuate NOW!”
Headline: “Historic tree planted by George Washington topples during Hurricane Irene”
It turns out coming up with catchy and “dramatic” headlines is pretty easy. Maybe I should be a reporter? What were your most enjoyable moments during the “storm of the century?” Were you as disturbed by the dramatic, yet frightening news reports seen/heard on your local stations? Feel free to post links to your favorite reports in the comment section below!
Happy Storm Recovery! :)
