[Sam Cree]

I can't help feeling that the media concentrated on the Tampa Bay area because it is a major metropolitan center and a direct strike by a hurricane in such a place would create for them a gold mine of disaster stories, bad news and high ratings.

[snapperjk]

So true. Interesting about Charley approaching the coast on Friday was that 1 of the 3 major TV stations in the Tampa Bay area, Channel 10 (CBS), was forced to evacuate their entire complex at 11:00 AM. Dick Fletcher, the chief meteorologist tried to stay back but was forced out also. They had to go off the air for short time and had set up a makeshift studio across from the county crisis center. On the other hand, no commercials aired for many, many hours and the dollar cost to call up every employed and freelance reporter to get a story is pure expense.

[NautiNurse]

I'm not convinced the LEO came through neighborhoods in St. Pete at 3:00am Friday morning with bullhorns calling for evacuation based on television ratings.