Rush Limbaugh's Dismissal of Irma ‘Panic' Riles Forecasters
The conservative radio personality's swerve into meteorology had Al Roker, the "Today" show weatherman, saying Wednesday that Limbaugh was putting lives at risk
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A satellite time-lapse from Sept. 2, 2017, to Sept. 5, 2017, shows Hurricane Irma moving west toward the Leeward Islands as it changed from a Category 3 to a Category 5 hurricane.
Rush Limbaugh has created a storm of his own by suggesting that the "panic" caused by Hurricane Irma benefits retailers, the media and politicians seeking action on climate change.
The conservative radio personality's swerve into meteorology had Al Roker, the "Today" show weatherman, saying Wednesday that Limbaugh was putting people's lives at risk.
Limbaugh's lengthy soliloquy on his radio show the day before was apparently set off by seeing a rush on supplies of bottled water in south Florida, where he lives. The powerful Hurricane Irma is still in the Atlantic Ocean, but forecasters warn it could affect Florida by the weekend.
"There is a desire to advance this climate change agenda, and hurricanes are one of the fastest and best ways to do it," Limbaugh said. "You can accomplish a lot just by creating fear and panic. You don't need a hurricane to hit anywhere. All you need is to create the fear and panic accompanied by talk that climate change is causing hurricanes to become more frequent and bigger and dangerous."
Businesses that sell supplies like batteries and water prosper amid fears of an impending hurricane, he said.
"The media benefits with the panic, with increased eyeballs," he said, "and the retailers benefit from the panic with increased sales, and the TV companies benefit because they're getting advertising dollars from the businesses that are seeing all this attention from customers."
He said the media makes impending storms appear bigger and more dangerous than they are. "These storms, once they actually hit, are never as strong as they're reported," he said.
The constant challenge for authorities during an approaching hurricane is persuading people to get out of harm's way, a task made more difficult by instances where storm tracks shift and predicted mayhem doesn't materialize. Florida Gov. Rick Scott urged Floridians to keep a close eye on Irma, prepare for the worst and not ignore an evacuation order when it is issued.
Their task is made more difficult when an influential figure like Limbaugh delivers a contradictory message.
Desmond Boylan/AP
Residents walk near downed power lines felled by Hurricane Irma, in Caibarien, Cuba, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017.
Ramon Espinosa/AP
Strong waves brought by Hurricane Irma hit the Malecon seawall in Havana, Cuba, late Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017.
Adalberto Roque/AFP/Getty Images
Damages caused by the passage of Hurricane Irma in Caibarien, Villa Clara province, 330km east of Havana, on Sept. 9, 2017.
AP
A boy walks in a water from his home which was flooded by rains brought on by Hurricane Irma, in Fort-Liberte, Haiti, Friday Sept. 8, 2017. Irma rolled past the Dominican Republic and Haiti and battered the Turks and Caicos Islands early Friday with waves as high as 20 feet.
Caribbean Buzz Helicopters via AP
This photo provided on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, shows storm damage in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma in Virgin Gorda's Gun Creek in the British Virgin Islands. Irma scraped Cuba's northern coast Friday on a course toward Florida, leaving in its wake a ravaged string of Caribbean resort islands strewn with splintered lumber, corrugated metal and broken concrete.
Caribbean Buzz via AP
This photo provided by Caribbean Buzz shows boats clustered together after Hurricane Irma Friday, Sept. 8, 2017.
AP
Lucita Leonce 71, stands in front of her home flooded by heavy rains brought on by Hurricane Irma, in Fort-Liberte, Haiti, Friday Sept. 8, 2017. Irma rolled past the Dominican Republic and Haiti and battered the Turks and Caicos Islands early Friday with waves as high as 20 feet.
Carlos Giusti/AP
Juan Negron, right, prepares to start up a power generator in front of what is left of his damaged property, after the passage of Hurricane Irma, in the island of Culebra, Puerto Rico, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017. About a million people were without power in the U.S. territory after Irma passed just to the north, lashing the island with heavy wind and rain. Nearly 50,000 also were without water.
Ian Brown/AP
A post office is heavily damaged by Hurricane Irma in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017. Hurricane Irma weakened slightly Thursday with sustained winds of 175 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm boasted 185 mph winds for a more than 24-hour period, making it the strongest storm ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean.
Tatiana Fernandez/AP
A home is surrounded by debris brought in by Hurricane Irma in Nagua, Dominican Republic, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017. Irma cut a path of devastation across the northern Caribbean, leaving thousands homeless after destroying buildings and uprooting trees. Irma flooded parts of the Dominican Republic when it roared by Thursday, just off the northern coast of the island it shares with Haiti.
Anika E. Kentish/AP
Damage is left after Hurricane Irma hit Barbuda on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017. Hurricane Irma battered the Turks and Caicos Islands early Friday as the fearsome Category 5 storm continued a rampage through the Caribbean that has killed a number of people, with Florida in its sights.
Ian Brown/AP
Neighbors clear debris from the road in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017. Hurricane Irma weakened slightly Thursday with sustained winds of 175 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm boasted 185 mph winds for a more than 24-hour period, making it the strongest storm ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean.
AP
Hurricane Irma approaches Samana, Dominican Republic, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017. Fearsome Hurricane Irma cut a path of devastation across the northern Caribbean, leaving at least several dead and thousands homeless after destroying buildings and uprooting trees.
AP
Kids have dinner at a shelter in a local church during the evening before the arrival of Hurricane Irma in Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic, Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017. Dominicans wait for the arrival of Hurricane Irma after it lashed Puerto Rico with heavy rain and powerful winds, leaving nearly 900,000 people without power as authorities struggled to get aid to small Caribbean islands already devastated by the historic storm.
AP
In this Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017 photo, a man looks at a vehicle turned upside down by winds brought on by Hurricane Irma in the British overseas territory of Anguilla. Irma scraped Cuba's northern coast Friday on a course toward Florida, leaving in its wake a ravaged string of Caribbean resort islands strewn with splintered lumber, corrugated metal and broken concrete.
AP
A man covers a bodega's windows before the arrival of Hurricane Irma in Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic, Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017. Dominicans are getting ready for the arrival of Hurricane Irma after battering Puerto Rico with heavy rain and powerful winds, leaving more than 600,000 people without power as authorities struggle to get aid to small Caribbean islands already devastated by the historic storm.
AP
The heavy rains and wind of hurricane Irma cross through the northeastern part of the island in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017. The US territory was first to declare a state of emergency las Monday, as the National Hurricane Center forecast that the storm would strike the Island Wednesday.
AP
Julio Feliciano, left, and Adrian Colon both rescue staff members from the Municipal Emergency Management Agency toured the streets of the Matelnillo community searching for citizens in distress during the passage of hurricane Irma through the northeastern part of the island in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017. The US territory was first to declare a state of emergency las Monday, as the National Hurricane Center forecast that the storm would strike the Island Wednesday.
Courtesy Jonathan Falwell
St. Martin is seen shredded by Hurricane Irma in a photo taken by Jonathan Falwell on Sept. 6, 2017. Falwell, who took his wife to St. Martin for a surprise anniversary trip, said there were "no power, no water, everything destroyed."
Courtesy Jonathan Falwell
St. Martin is seen shredded by Hurricane Irma in a photo taken by Jonathan Falwell on Sept. 6, 2017. Falwell, who took his wife to St. Martin for a surprise anniversary trip, said there were "no power, no water, everything destroyed."
Courtesy Jonathan Falwell
St. Martin is seen shredded by Hurricane Irma in a photo taken by Jonathan Falwell on Sept. 6, 2017. Falwell, who took his wife to St. Martin for a surprise anniversary trip, said there were "no power, no water, everything destroyed."
Courtesy Jonathan Falwell
St. Martin is seen shredded by Hurricane Irma in a photo taken by Jonathan Falwell on Sept. 6, 2017. Falwell, who took his wife to St. Martin for a surprise anniversary trip, said there were "no power, no water, everything destroyed."
FEMA
Debris ripped from buildings by Hurricane Irma is seen on the U.S. Virgin Islands on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017.
FEMA
People survey the damage left behind by Hurricane Irma on the U.S. Virgin Islands on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017.
Gerben Van Es/AFP/Getty Images
Aerial photography taken and released by the Dutch department of Defense on Sept. 6, 2017, shows the extent of the damage Hurricane Irma left behind in Philipsburg, on the Dutch Caribbean island of St. Martin. Hurricane Irma sowed a trail of deadly devastation through the Caribbean on Wednesday, reducing to rubble the tropical islands of Barbuda and St. Martin.
Gerben Van Es/AFP/Getty Images
Aerial photography taken and released by the Dutch department of Defense on Sept. 6, 2017, shows the extent of the damage Hurricane Irma left behind in Philipsburg, on the Dutch Caribbean island of St. Martin. Hurricane Irma sowed a trail of deadly devastation through the Caribbean on Wednesday, reducing to rubble the tropical islands of Barbuda and St. Martin.
Jose Jimenez/Getty Images
Debris is seen during a storm surge near the Puerto Chico Harbor during the passing of Hurricane Irma on Sept. 6, 2017, in Fajardo, Puerto Rico.
Carlos Giusti/AP
A man drives through rain and strong winds during the passage of Hurricane Irma, in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, Sept. 6, 2017. The U.S. territory was first to declare a state of emergency last Monday.
Jose Jimenez/Getty Images
A rescue team from the local emergency management agency inspects flooded areas after the passing of Hurricane Irma on Sept. 6, 2017, in Fajardo, Puerto Rico.
Jose Jimenez/Getty Images
A rescue team from the local emergency management agency inspects flooded areas after the passing of Hurricane Irma on Sept. 6, 2017, in Fajardo, Puerto Rico.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's satellite captured close-up imagery of the Category 5 storm over the Caribbean on Sept. 6, 2017.
AP
A woman looks outside from a shelter set up at the Berta Zalduondo elementary school during the passage of Hurricane Irma in Fajardo, northeastern Puerto Rico, Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017. Heavy rain and high winds lashed Puerto Ricou2019s northeast coast Wednesday as Hurricane Irma roared through Caribbean islands.
AP
People stand near the shore before the arrival of Hurricane Irma, in luquillo, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017. Irma roared into the Caribbean with record force early Wednesday, its 185-mph winds shaking homes and flooding buildings on a chain of small islands along a path toward Puerto Rico, Cuba and Hispaniola.
AP
Motorists head north on US 1, Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017, in Key Largo, Florida, in anticipation of Hurricane Irma. Keys officials announced a mandatory evacuation Wednesday for visitors, with residents being told to leave the next day.
AP
Carla Perroni Aguilera of Miami Beach, Fla., holds a cart as her husband Ronald Aguilera and her father Joe Perroni load sheets of plywood at The Home Depot store in North Miami, Fla., Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017. Florida residents are preparing for the possible landfall of Hurricane Irma, the most powerful Atlantic Ocean hurricane in recorded history.
AP
A fisherman brings his boat ashore as a precaution against Hurricane Irma, in the seaside slum of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017. Heavy rain and 185-mph winds lashed the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico's northeast coast Wednesday as Hurricane Irma roared through Caribbean islands. The northern parts of the Dominican Republic and Haiti could see 10 inches of rain.
Getty Images
Vehicles are lined up at a gas station in hopes of getting gas to prepare for Hurricane Irma on Sept. 6, 2017, in Doral, Florida.
Getty Images
People put up shutters as they prepare a family members house for Hurricane Irma on Sept. 6, 2017, in Miami, Florida.
Getty Images
Florida Governor Rick Scott gives an update to the media regarding Hurricane Irma on Sept. 6, 2017 in Doral, Florida.
"We have to be very vigilant," Roker said on MSNBC. "There are some out there who say we should ignore this, that it's hype. That it's fake news. That it's part of a climate change kind of conspiracy. It is not. This is life threatening. It could be devastating, and if anyone tells you otherwise, it is almost criminal."
Roker didn't mention Limbaugh's name on MSNBC, but on Twitter, he made it clear whom he was referring to.
Do not listen to @rushlimbaugh when he says #Irma is not a dangerous #storm and is hype. He is putting people's lives at risk
Limbaugh's voice is part of the "noise" of uninformed opinions that is detrimental to getting a clear message across to citizens, said Bryan Norcross, senior hurricane specialist at The Weather Channel. But he's less concerned than Roker, believing that most people know that their local authorities are the most important voices to listen to in the case of an impending storm, and that Limbaugh is not a weather expert.
"People may love Rush for many things, but they're not going to ask him what the pain in their chest is all about," Norcross said. "They're going to go to their doctor."
Norcross said he's concerned about climate change and that research may show that man's impact on the environment fuels more powerful hurricanes. Right now, he said, he's more concerned about the impact of Irma.
Limbaugh briefly addressed the issue again on his Wednesday show, apparently upset that Ben Jacobs, a political reporter at The Guardian, tweeted that the radio host was "a hurricane denier."
