You think? I can understand not knowing a death toll given the lack of communication, but holding back?
Not arguing, I trust your instincts. Like you, if they are holding back, I wonder why?
They are bound to be seeing the bodies; and I just do not know why, unless their editors have heard from the government asking them not to number the dead until they are more certain.
To avert panic? There's no communications, they may not be able to handle a large influx of concerned survivors "looking" for family members. Right now, the #1 priority is saving those who are still alive. And most counties and states have laws that will not allow them to "confirm" deaths outside of the 'powers' of a coroners office.
So that after this idiot in charge in LA kills a bunch of people in the superdome, she can add in those numbers to the totals and people will think it was from the hurricane.