[LizardQueen]

What I think happened is they said "We've found them, we are checking vital signs now" and someone heard "We found them, we are checking their vital signs", assuming that meant they were ok and they were checking BP and such.

I agree completely. And most lay people would just assume that "checking vital signs" means that the people actually had vitals signs to check, and must therefore be alive.

What disturbs me the most is the 3 hour delay before the rumors were quashed. It would have been immensely helpful if the Command Center were to put out a prompt one-line statement saying "Please stop running around. The report of 12 found alive is NOT yet confirmed and may not be entirely accurate".

LQ

[UB355]

I have been in these situations. The Command Center is concentrating on the operation and safety of the rescue crew. They are not watching television much less Cable TV. Same happened in Katrina.

[Howlin]

It would have been immensely helpful if the Command Center were to put out a prompt one-line statement saying "Please stop running around. The report of 12 found alive is NOT yet confirmed and may not be entirely accurate".

According to what I hard, it was the governor's assisstant in the Command Center who was the one spreading the "good news."