Our inland cities seemed to ignore us

[jes]

Governor Riley told us all to evacuate if we could. He made it mandatory in many places. I went 160 miles North to Montgomery. The storm was all over the news, but as it concerned Montgomery - not the coast. Montgomery was expecting a cat 1 when it got to them. Well, the outer bands hit around 6:00 a.m.because when we woke up the entire city had no power or phone service. We had to go grocery shopping the night before to prepare for their cat 1. I thought, my gosh, I should have brought my things from home. I thought they were over doing it on the news Wed. evening so didn't refill my gas tank -----BIG mistake. It did not end up being a cat 1 storm in Montgomery -- it was a tropical storm. I was not at all scared. Of course, at 6:00 when I woke up I wanted to know how Mobile did. Since there was no power we didn't have TV. I used the radio, but could find no mention of the Gulf coast areas. All they talked about was Montgomery and caller after caller wanted to know when the power would be restored. I couldn't believe it. On Friday morning we came home, but I never once heard the Montgomery radio stations mention whether I65 was open all the way home. Montgomery has tons of motels and they were all full of people who had evacuated from the florida coast to Miss. coast. That was the only fun part - we were all in it together. After getting more than half way home I was able to pick up a Mobile radio station. That is when I learned that the Pensacola people who usually travel all the way down I65 to Bay Minette would have to go back to Greenville and go a back way home. I felt so sorry for them. The Montgomery radio stations should have let all of us know what was going on, but I was never able to find a station that did so. It amazed me.

[Brent]

What about TWC, CNN etc.? I don't get it. LOCAL Montgomery stations are only going to cover the local aspect.

[Doc Seminole]

Of course, at 6:00 when I woke up I wanted to know how Mobile did. Since there was no power we didn't have TV. I used the radio, but could find no mention of the Gulf coast areas. All they talked about was Montgomery and caller after caller wanted to know when the power would be restored.

Apparently they didn't have any other source of information other than local radio who had no regional interests or cares.

[birdwomn]

There was very little national coverage of Pensacola. Most of the coverage was of Mobile and a little of Gulf Shores, initially.
What you heard was "It wasn't nearly as bad as we thought it would be." and "We dodged another one", etc. Meanwhile Pensacola, Perdido Key, and Orange Beach look to be pretty bad, IMO.

It will be interesting to see how the total analysis gomes out on Ivan.

WIthout places like this and other forums, and the Pensacola News Journal website, there would be a real dearth of information.

[jes]

Brent,
There was no power - so no TV- so no CNN or Weather ch. I'm still going to write gov Riley and ask him to request his city be more considerate of all the people who had to evacuate. The city made lots of money off us those two nights.

[wxwatcher2]

jes,
I'm not familiar with the radio stations in the area yo mentioned. Let me ask, do you listen to AM or FM. The reason I ask is some folks these days only listen to FM radio.
I think if you had tuned around on the AM dial, perhaps you could have picked up a station out of Mobile or Pensacola telling of the terrible damage in that area.

The thing is, the local stations in Montgomery are actually there to serve the local residents of the Montgomery area and that is what they will probably continue to do.

Another suggestion is to pick up a NOAA weather radio. SOmetimes they can provide more info as well.

Hopefully, you won't have to go through this anytime again in the near future.

[Lindaloo]

There was very little national coverage of Pensacola. Most of the coverage was of Mobile and a little of Gulf Shores, initially.
What you heard was "It wasn't nearly as bad as we thought it would be." and "We dodged another one", etc. Meanwhile Pensacola, Perdido Key, and Orange Beach look to be pretty bad, IMO.

It will be interesting to see how the total analysis gomes out on Ivan.

WIthout places like this and other forums, and the Pensacola News Journal website, there would be a real dearth of information.

I beg to differ. When I returned home there were 11 radio stations broadcasting and reporting damages from MS all the way to Panama City!

[Aslkahuna]

are concerned, usually the various State DOTs have toll free numbers that can be called.

Steve