Hurrican News Coverage and Psychology Stress

by Jeff Lytle

I am not a psychologist. I don’t even play one on TV. But I know enough about the human psyche to know when something is off balance. Take, for example, the comments of a neighbor just after Hurricane Milton, which came in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

She told my wife, Susan, and I, who have been through many bad storms since 1979 in Southwest Florida, that she had been really scared. She went on to say this was her first local hurricane season and she became glued to the live storm track coverage on local TV.

In other words, things seemed so bad that she could not look away.

Sometimes in the heat of the moment, when fear, anxiety, uncertainty or all three take over, we can do things that we simply don’t realize we’re doing.

Our dear neighbor – who lives alone — was so wrapped up in the moment that she could not turn off the TV, which was loaded with the messages that were causing or heightening her stress.

The situation reminded me of people who watch partisan TV news shows all day long. They are obsessed and crave having biases constantly stoked, and vice versa.

There is, though, a difference between storm stress and politics stress.

Politics stress is the result of a deliberate effort by media outlets competing for partisan passion.

Storm stress is a result of professionals using the latest and greatest technology to show what is and what is likely to happen (though we could do without those time-killing live reports from novice reporters, in full rain gear, on beaches while storms are hours away.)

The 24/7 coverage lets us tune in for updates whenever we want, but it consumes us when we stare at it for hours.

Professionally speaking

The community’s leading authority on and provider of mental health services is David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health.

The DLC’s community outreach director, Jessica Liria, works to stay ahead of issues before they become problems for all ages.

She answers questions for The Naples Press:

Are there tips for people to watch 24/7 advance hurricane coverage without getting overcome with fear and maybe panic?

Excessive exposure to hurricane coverage can absolutely cause more intense feelings of fear and panic. Thankfully, hurricanes don’t happen in the blink of an eye, unlike tornadoes or flash floods; we have time to prepare and evacuate if needed.

Although anxiety and worry are normal to feel when faced with the daunting reality of a hurricane, 24/7 coverage is unnecessary. The National Hurricane Center issues updates every 6 hours — at 5 a.m., 11 a.m., 5 p.m., and 11 p.m. Tune into one trusted source a few times a day to check for any changes whether that be on TV or radio, or you can follow the source on social media and check in. After hearing the update, turn it off and engage in a coping skill to manage any stress being experienced: go for a walk, read a book, practice a relaxation technique, listen to music, write in a journal, or talk to someone. The list can go on and on.

But be sure to avoid coping mechanisms that can exacerbate the problem, like using alcohol or other substances.

Would having friends or neighbors to talk to be helpful?

It may be helpful to talk with friends or neighbors who have experienced hurricanes in your same area in the past. They can give an idea of what was witnessed previously and what to be most aware of. For example, neighborhoods that are farther from the coast will not be impacted by storm surge, but there may be a higher risk for wind related damage.

Although friends and neighbors can offer support and assistance, be sure they are not contributing to your fear, or the opposite — passing a storm off as not a big deal and dismissing your concerns.

Hurricane woes aside, leaning on friends, neighbors or others for support is a great way to express emotions and provides an opportunity for connection and comfort.

Would there be some advice for broadcasters on how just to inform …?

Broadcasters can be in a challenging position because they want to deliver accurate information, but must do it in a way that attracts viewers’ attention.

There needs to be emotion behind their news stories to keep people engaged and returning to watch again; theatrics maximize viewership and ratings.

A broadcaster should consider how the viewers most vulnerable to the storm will receive their updates and utilize a facilitation strategy that would be both informative and compassionate.

By sticking to the facts, conveying transparency and maintaining consistency in messaging, viewers will feel secure and trust the information provided

.… Or is it just up to viewers (us) to use the 24/7 info wisely?

With any media source that provides information — TV news, social media pages, websites — viewers should be thinking critically about the information being received. These sources are businesses that operate on ratings and volume of viewers.

The information that is completely up to viewers to use wisely, and something our broadcasters across SWFL do well to convey, is how important preparation is at the start of hurricane season. Stock up on supplies like nonperishables, paper products, batteries, flashlights, water and any other essential goods in May/June. Take advantage of the tax-free dates too!

Get hurricane shutters in order, test run the generator, and anything else that can be relieved from the to-do list prior to a storm being only days away/

From the front lines

Southwest Florida’s TV chief meteorologists weigh in with their sides of the story:

Allyson Rae on the job at NBC-2

Allyson Rae from NBC-2:

We really pride ourselves in giving a calm, trusting voice with facts and reasoning on our side.

Watching storm coverage may seem overwhelming but try to really understand the forecast and what it means to you and your home and prepare accordingly.

Not every storm will be life threatening, but there will be more storms in the future that threaten life and property again.

Anxiety and fear can be managed with information, and we will be here for you with that information.

Katie Walls from Fox 4

Katie Walls from Fox 4:

The biggest issue that I’ve seen develop and worsen in the past two years is the fear-mongering posts circulating on social media. One of the worst: someone actually photoshopped an old forecast cone with a new name and timeline for a storm hitting Florida, when there was nothing forecast to develop. Those are the kinds of posts that spread like wildfire, especially when you’ve gone through back-to-back storms.

Likewise, be very wary of “social mediarologists” posting deterministic models beyond seven days. There’s a reason we, as actual meteorologists, don’t show particular models out that far in time; they will inevitably change.

When forecasting beyond seven days, meteorologists use specific models called “ensembles.” So, if you see a single model “snapshot” beyond seven days out, showing a hurricane hitting Florida or the Gulf, for example, take it with a grain of salt!

The most important thing our viewers and neighbors can do is know your source. If you see something floating around on the web that’s questionable, verify the source. Weather information should come from a degreed meteorologist, one of the local meteorologists you see on TV, for example, or from NOAA or the National Hurricane Center (NHC). If something looks fishy, don’t share it. Verify it.

How can you stay informed? Follow our updated forecasts online and on TV –even YouTube.

The hurricane season officially ends on Nov. 30. Though we’ve kicked into our wonderful “dry season,” it’s still important to check in regularly with your local meteorologists or the NHC to knowwhat is (and isn’t!) out there.

Matt Devitt from WINK-TV reading with the children

Matt Devitt from WINK-TV:

People get nervous or scared of hurricanes because of the unknown. What wind can I expect? Will I see surge? Will I be flooded? My job is to fill in those holes with calm information to feel better about the situation or take action.

You also want to turn a negative into a positive. Make the best of the situation. Make your favorite food, listen to your favorite music, watch your favorite shows (between coverage), or hang out
with friends or family.

Find comfort.
Find a sense of normalcy in a not-so-normal time.

Jeff Lytle is the retired editorial page editor and TV host of the Naples Daily News. Contact him at jlytle1951@gmail.com