Hurricane Irene

I live on Long Island (right in the direct path of the storm). Fortunately we live inland. Yesterday I brought in everything from outside and I hope all of the neighbors did the same. We went shopping 2 days ago so no potential food or water problems. I have a battery operated radio buy you need earphones to listen to it, when I went around and tried to buy a regular battery operated radio all of the stores were sold it. Our only concern is the ancient oak tree next to the patio with branches high over the house.

Good luck to everyone that has to deal with this hurricane.

Can only batten down the hatchwes and wait it out.

[FIREngineer]

Here in the southern suburbs of Baltimore, we are fortunate to be outside the worst path of the storm and on relative high ground. My main concern is power outages and the number of old trees near the house.

This infographic from the Washington Post was very helpful for me to know what kind of damage the wind might cause (Beaufort scale) for those of us forecast to get strong winds but less than hurricane force. For our area they are predicting sustained winds of Force 6 or 7 with gusts up to Force 10.

[Nodak]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tiger I have a battery operated radio buy you need earphones to listen to it, when I went around and tried to buy a regular battery operated radio all of the stores were sold it.

Several years ago I bought a radio for emergency use. It requires no batteries; there is an internal spring powered generator, just wind the crank up to tension the spring and the radio will operate for about 30 minutes. Never have to worry about batteries leaking and destroying the device. It also has a small LED light on it. Purchased from C. Crane Radio.

[unclemick]

Thirty years in New Orleans equiped with weather radios, rechargeable batterys, bat operated small tv, sterno cans/camp stoves, etc.

2007 in MO kept none of that stuff and was totally unprepared for the ice storm in winter - after 4 days without power or heat decided to visit a female friend in Alabama.

I understand how one can get lax and fail to heed advice - til one experiences/survives the 'real thing'.

I wish everyone luck. And stay in the learning mode.

heh heh heh - Don't be blockheaded like I sometimes am.

[Gumby]

Yesterday, we filled all the cars with gas and took several hundred in cash from the ATM. This morning, we brought in every loose item (porch furniture, welcome mats, potted plants) from outside and removed the two window air conditioners. I went up on the ladder and cleaned out all the gutters (they'll be overwhelmed, I know, but I thought I might give them a fighting chance). We froze old gallon milk jugs full of water and packed the freezer as full as it can get. We always have about 15 gallons of emergency bottled water on hand, as well as enough canned food to last several weeks. We've also got the gasoline fired camp stove, a Coleman lantern and hand cranked radio.

Since we were fully prepared by 10 am, except for shutting the windows when the rain starts, we decided to go to the movies, where we watched "The Help". After the movie we went to lunch and then drove around town to see the preparations. Some people have boarded up windows, but most have not. I am amazed at the number of boats that are still tied up in the harbor next to my house. There will be substantial losses from the storm surge.

The town just called on the reverse 911 system with mandatory evacuation orders for many low-lying areas. Fortunately, I'm not among them. We are actually about 25 feet above sea level (in the old days, they weren't dumb enough to build right on the beach).

The cats have figured out that something unusual is happening and are currently hiding under the bed. The young wife and I are just hanging out and waiting.

[TromboneAl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tiger . I have a battery operated radio buy you need earphones to listen to it, when I went around and tried to buy a regular battery operated radio all of the stores were sold out.

Don't forget, you have one in your car.

[NYEXPAT]

As Hurricane Irene prepares to batter the East Coast, federal disaster officials have warned that Internet outages could force people to interact with other people for the first time in years. Residents are bracing themselves for the horror of awkward silences and unwanted eye contact. FEMA has advised: “Be prepared. Write down possible topics to talk about in advance. Sports…the weather. Remember, a conversation is basically a series of Facebook updates strung together"

[Purron]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYEXPAT As Hurricane Irene prepares to batter the East Coast, federal disaster officials have warned that Internet outages could force people to interact with other people for the first time in years. Residents are bracing themselves for the horror of awkward silences and unwanted eye contact. FEMA has advised: “Be prepared. Write down possible topics to talk about in advance. Sports…the weather. Remember, a conversation is basically a series of Facebook updates strung together"

[LOL!]

Irene went ashore directly on top of a summer beach home we have used routinely for vacations. Locals report "House is fine. No flooding."

[floridanurse]

just posted this as my facebook status.... hehe

IN THE NEWS.....As Hurricane Irene prepares to batter the East Coast, federal disaster officials warned that Internet outages could force people to interact with other people for the first time in years. Residents braced themselves for the horror of awkward silences and unwanted eye contact. FEMA advised: “Be prepared. Write down possible topics to talk about in advance. Sports...the weather. Remember, a conversation is basically a series of Facebook updates strung together."

[scrabbler1]

I am in southwest Nassau County, about 10 miles east-northeast of JFK Airport. It started raining earlier then stopped and has since resumed.

I live in an apartment building and am above street level but I can see the street from my window. If the water goes over the curb I will take notice of it. My car is inside the building's garage but it is slightly below street level. I may have to move it outside which I don't really want to do.

[Purron]

Rainy and blustery here in Northern Virginia. Hoping power stays on and trees don't come down. Isabel is still a bad memory for people around here. Paws crossed....

[FocusedInfinity]

Thankfully, so far things have been relatively mild. The eye of the hurricane is just to the east of my current location and I still have power/internet along with most of my friends/family.

Seen some minor wind damage, but it looks like unless you're worried about falling trees or flooding, there's not a whole lot to worry about. That is, unless you're a weatherman.

Warning - link may contain brief male nudity.

Weather Channel Streaker - YouTube

[Purron]

Our nephew who works for Lowes in the Roanoke, VA area has been called to Richmond, VA to help out with the hurricane issues there. From what we're hearing, things are pretty hairy in Richmond. He's in a hotel with no power and water leaks - said flashlights are selling for $50 each. Got this news from his dad, DH's brother. Anyone here from Richmond?

[RunningBum]

Not from Richmond, but a facebook friend posted a picture of a big tree down at his house. They are getting big gusts of wind. I get Richmond locals on Dish, but I've been switching between CNN and the Weather Channel. I'm another 80 miles or so inland from Richmond so we've just been getting some gusts and spotty rain.

[Telly]

Being far from the affected area, it's had to determine what exactly is going on as far as actual damage vs. the previous estimates. The Weather Channel seems hopeless. It looks like a TV weather version of CNBC. I'm expecting that the producer of Cramer is on the set, waving her arms up and down as a signal to pump it up.

They keep running a video from Richmond VA. of a big tree falling over, and the talking head blathers on about how much rain, that the ground is saturated, and trees are just falling over because of that. I guess she didn't bother to look at the base of the fallen tree in the video. When soil liquifies and a tree falls over, there are big big roots extending way out that come out with it. The tree in the video has at most about one foot of root extending out from it. Looks to me like an old tree that was on its last legs (no pun intended), and wind high up on it just broke it off with lever action.

I flipped over to TWC many times this evening, just saw the same CNBC-ism. So I have no idea how bad it really is.

On the other hand, a local TV weather guy here showed a time-lapse water vapor satellite loop, that showed very dry air from Texas and the South Central states getting sucked into the hurricane and wrapping up with it. He said that dry air was preventing the hurricane from intensifying. He said a downside to the dry air was that the chance of tornadoes increases.

[Nords]

My spouse the meteorologist has been glued to the TV for about three days now. My apologies to those of you who are getting pounded, but we all need to watch less of this and just listen to the NWS radio reports.

I can't help wondering how CNN picks the poor "reporters" who have to stand on the beach in a red slicker with a microphone. (They remind me of the Star Trek security staff on the away teams.) Sometimes it looks like a prop guy is standing just outside the shot spraying a 200-psi 2.5-inch Navy fire hose. I bet the mic's not even live, and the voiceover is being done by the real reporter from the nice dry minivan while the office intern has to wear the slicker and keep from being blown down the beach. "Hang in there, kid, another 20 minutes and we'll see if you can do it at night under the arc lights!!"

It seems to me that Wolf Blitzer is standing in a nice, dry, cool, air-conditioned "war room" studio that appears to be in DC but in reality could be anywhere-- even in Los Angeles. Since he probably hasn't been out in hurricane weather anytime during this millennium, then why the heck is he also wearing a red CNN slicker? In case someone trips and flings their cappuccino across the set?

[BigNick]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Purron flashlights are selling for $50 each

Ayn Rand would be so proud.

[Purron]

Things are OK here in Northern Virginia. No damage and never even lost power although thousands across Virginia are without power. Richmond, Norfolk and Virginia Beach folks may have to wait a long time to get service restored. Outages in the DC area are much less severe.

I'm so tired of cable news and weather. Very little useful information and lots of hype. I couldn't believe they had Ali Velshi out on the streets in a CNN slicker. What does he know about storms?

Best information is from the National Hurricane Center and local news sources. Good luck to everyone up north of here. Hope your worst aggrivation is having to endure 12 more hours of Jim Cantore and his "news crew".

[MichaelB]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Purron Things are OK here. No damage and never even lost power although thousands across Virginia are without power. Richmond, Norfolk and Virginia Beach folks may have to wait a long time to get service restored. Outages in the DC area are much less severe. I'm so tired of cable news and weather. Very little useful information and lots of hype. I couldn't believe they had Ali Velshi out on the streets in a CNN slicker. What does he know about storms? Best information is from the National Hurricane Center and local news sources. Good luck to everyone up north of here. Hope your worst aggrivation is having to endure 12 more hours of Jim Cantore and his "news crew".

Thanks for checking in, good to hear things are ok so far.

Fully agree on the news thing. It is very counterproductive because when a real threat approaches people don't pay attention because of all the hysteria-mania exaggerations.