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by Jeff Lytle am not a psychologist. I don’t even play more intense feelings of fear and panic. Thankfully, hurricanes don’t
I happen in the blink of an eye, unlike tornadoes or flash floods; we
one on TV. But I know enough about the
have time to prepare and evacuate if needed.
human psyche to know when something is
off balance. Take, for example, the comments Although anxiety and worry are normal to feel when faced with
of a neighbor just after Hurricane Milton, the daunting reality of a hurricane, 24/7 coverage is unnecessary.
which came in the wake of Hurricane Helene. The National Hurricane Center issues updates every 6 hours — at
She told my wife, Susan, and I, who have 5 a.m., 11 a.m., 5 p.m., and 11 p.m. Tune into one trusted source a
been through many bad storms since 1979 in few times a day to check for any changes whether that be on TV
Southwest Florida, that she had been really scared. 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
She went on to say this was her first local hurricane season and assistance, be sure they are not contributing to your fear, or the
she became glued to the live storm track coverage on local TV. opposite — passing a storm off as not a big deal and dismissing
In other words, things seemed so bad that she could not look your concerns.
away. Hurricane woes aside, leaning on friends, neighbors or others
Sometimes in the heat of the moment, when fear, anxiety, for support is a great way to express emotions and provides an
uncertainty or all three take over, we can do things that we simply opportunity for connection and comfort.
don’t realize we’re doing. Would there be some advice for broadcasters on how just to
Our dear neighbor – who lives alone -- was so wrapped up in inform …?
the moment that she could not turn off the TV, which was loaded Broadcasters can be in a challenging position because they want
with the messages that were causing or heightening her stress. to deliver accurate information, but must do it in a way that attracts
The situation reminded me of people who watch partisan TV viewers’ attention.
news shows all day long. They are obsessed and crave having biases There needs to be emotion behind their news stories to keep
constantly stoked, and vice versa. people engaged and returning to watch again; theatrics maximize
There is, though, a difference between storm stress and politics viewership and ratings.
stress. A broadcaster should consider how the viewers most vulnerable
Politics stress is the result of a deliberate effort by media outlets to the storm will receive their updates and utilize a facilitation
competing for partisan passion. strategy that would be both informative and compassionate.
Storm stress is a result of professionals using the latest and By sticking to the facts, conveying transparency and maintaining
greatest technology to show what is and what is likely to happen consistency in messaging, viewers will feel secure and trust the
(though we could do without those time-killing live reports from information provided.
novice reporters, in full rain gear, on beaches while storms are hours … Or is it just up to viewers (us) to use the 24/7 info wisely?
away.) With any media source that provides information — TV news,
The 24/7 coverage lets us tune in for updates whenever we want, social media pages, websites — viewers should be thinking critically
but it consumes us when we stare at it for hours. about the information being received. These sources are businesses
Professionally speaking that operate on ratings and volume of viewers.
The community’s leading authority on and provider of mental The information that is completely up to viewers to use wisely,
health services is David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health. and something our broadcasters across SWFL do well to convey,
The DLC’s community outreach director, Jessica Liria, works to is how important preparation is at the start of hurricane season.
stay ahead of issues before they become problems for all ages. Stock up on supplies like non perishables, paper products, batteries,
She answers questions for The Naples Press: flashlights, water and any other essential goods in May/June. Take
Are there tips for people to watch 24/7 advance hurricane advantage of the tax-free dates too! Get hurricane shutters in order,
coverage without getting overcome with fear and maybe panic? test run the generator, and anything else that can be relieved from
Excessive exposure to hurricane coverage can absolutely cause the to-do list prior to a storm being only days away.

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