Hurricane Katrina Asian View

I am watching some of the coverage of the storm on CNN in Taipei. So, we see the Asian version of CNN out of Hong Kong (and parts from the HQ in Atlanta). I must admit some of these TV journalist in America are just crazy. They actually have some goofy guys (WFOR -CBS4) running out into the street trying to show its strength. Trees falling, metal and glass in the street while some local street reporter, (Brian Adams -possibly his name) is hiding behind city trash-barrels to report. He even asks the camera man to watch out and yell to him if he sees anything that may hit him. (On top of that the reporter pulls a metal piece apart from the trashcan and tosses it down the street - maybe it may hit one of his fellow reporters). As he runs back to the hotel the guy’s feet are swept out from under him. "Things are being torn apart slowly and surely from this south wind," is being reported -- So why not send out some expendable extra staff we have. Now I hear "It is hell on earth," when the reporters TV van was totaled by falling debris. It is rather funny, but the humor is more an expression of exasperation. Jim Clancy, anchor and correspondent for CNN International, even commented on how silly some of these guys are in covering the storm.

Here in Taipei we get hit by a few typhoons a year. I guess since the death and serious injury of multiple reporters in the Asian region they have changed their coverage here. I just hope these US stations understand losing a reporter is not worth the video picture. Why not just point the camera out a building window. (Typhoon and Hurricanes are the same thing).

• Hurricane - in the North Atlantic and Pacific Ocean east of the dateline and South Pacific Ocean east of 160degreesE.
• Typhoon - Northwest Pacific Ocean west of the date line

Here in Taiwan we hunker down in our house and wait for the storm to pass. After being in 10 or more typhoons you really get a feel of how this country has found good ways to stay safe. The sad thing is people still do die in rural areas and at times downtown.