As usual, the great hype machine was working overtime this week. A slow television news week resulted in the birth of "Frankenstorm."
Indeed, there were wind warnings and a potential for power outages, which materialized in some areas, but the local devestation 24-hour news channels led us to believe would happen is nowhere to be found.
Those channels have a lot of time to fill, and apparently they had little else to fill it with.
The impact of Hurricane Sandy is significant ... along the east coast.
My heart goes out to everyone affected by the storm in those areas, and the families of the people who were killed. I don't mean to belittle what they're going through.
It's the sensational approach taken by some members of the media that stick in my craw. They're an embarassment to us all.
There was no need to induce panic, or attempt it anyway.
The wind blows, power goes out. With the cemented arrival of autumn, both should be expected to happen more regularly.
As with in past events, we at The Banner did our best to present the information as it is known. It's then up to you to decide how best to respond to the situation.
I encourage everyone to look at the facts, not the overblown dramatic music and graphics of television. Nor, when considering local impact, to give much weight to photos and video from the the heart of the storm (at least when its as far off as its was in this case).
That's not to say I don't believe in being prepared. It's a good idea to have your emergency supplies ready, whether or not television news is predicting the end of the world as we know it.
My wife and I boiled several jugs of water (for baby formula) and bottled some more just in case, and she made a trip to the store for extra batteries and a couple flashlights, and stopped at a bank machine to take out some cash too.
Our emergency supplies aren't perfect, but we'll work on that. We certainly have enough food to get us through a few days, a gas fireplace and blanets for heat, books and non-electronic games to keep us occupied, etc.
Based on Dufferin County's emergency supply recommendations, we have a few things to add, including copies of vital documents (passports, insurance), a crank radio and backup supply of medications.
Panic and a threat of impending doon — real or imagined —shouldn't be needed in order to get yourself prepared for an emergency. In fact, being ready may help to lessen any television-induced stress you feel about a blustery day.
With the white stuff coming, no doubt we'll hear about another Snowpocalypse or Snowmageddon this winter.
