In western MA we are expected to get hit on Sunday with strong winds and massive rains as a result of Irene. We have a back-up generator for power, but I will be making a point of stocking up on a few supplies just to be on the safe side.
In western MA we are expected to get hit on Sunday with strong winds and massive rains as a result of Irene. We have a back-up generator for power, but I will be making a point of stocking up on a few supplies just to be on the safe side.
When it comes to hurricanes there are several explanations. The three most common ones I have seen are:Originally Posted by Tradd
1. They've never experienced one so they don't comprehend and respect it.
2. They've been through a couple of false alarms and have grown weary of following directions and making preparations only to have the storms veer away from them.
3. They think of it only in terms of the storm itself instead of the aftermath. If the hurricane is a Cat 1 or 2 (or even a low level 3) your odds of getting hurt by the storm itself are pretty minimal. But people just don't look beyond it. They don't think about the fact that they may be without electricity or cell phones for a week or two. Lot of fun being in a high rise without food, or water or an operating elevator. They don't think about the fact that even if they can get out of their homes and the roads are clear, and the downed power lines have been turned off, the cops and national guard may not let you on the roads for several days and all the stores near you are out of supplies and don't have any electric or staff.
The government shuts down areas not only after natural disasters but also immediately prior. A few years ago when a Hurricane was threatening South Florida a county emergency manager was being interviewed on the radio and was asked by a caller what they should do if someone stays and is seriously injured or sick. He responded gently and appropriately but the (non politically correct) translation was something to the effect of " That person will suffer and possibly die. I'm not going to send my employees into a hurricane to save someone who refused to evacuate. That is why we tell you to evacuate. We may not be able to get to you for days"
On a lighter note. I highly recommend comedian Ron White's routine on hurricanes. It's probably on Youtube. My favorite lines...
"There was a guy, down in Florida, who said that the age of 53 years old he was in good enough physical condition to withstand the wind, rain, and hail of a force-5 hurricane. Now, lemme explain somethin' to ya: It isn't *that* the wind is blowin'. It's *what* the wind is blowin'. If you get hit by a *Volvo*, it don't matter how many sit-ups you did that mornin'. "
For me, I find it hard to get too caught up in the hurricane warnings, for two reasons. One, the path of hurricanes can change quickly and radically. No one really has a grasp on where the hurricane will end up more than, say, two days ahead of time. Two, the media do tend to hype up every. single. storm. that appears, so it's hard to tell a really bad storm from your basic thunderstorm.
I have emergency stuff in the house at all times--some big jugs of water, canned food, batteries, candles, a small camp stove. I also have a gas stove, so cooking isn't a huge issue even if the power goes out. If I need to evacuate, I could put everything I need to take together in about 15 minutes, and most of that would be stuffing the cat into her carrier.
I am going out for some food today, because I'm moving to a different state next week, and I've let the food supply dwindle on purpose. So I need to go out and get a few "emergency rations" in case we get hit hard. They are now predicting that Irene will be significantly west of where I live, instead of coming directly at us, but that could change.
I've never had to evacuate my home for any reason, but I suspect if I did, I'd be out of there like a shot. I admit I don't get the mindset of, "Oh, every single newscast is telling me to leave, the rain is pouring down, the wind's taken down two trees, but I think I'll stay here and watch the storm." If things get bad, I'm out of here. I just have to figure out where I'll go before Sunday.
We're in Eastern Coastal NC and Irene has us in her cross hairs, her eye's supposed to make landfall about 15-20 miles from us...nonetheless, as of right now, we're staying out. Talked to a bunch of old-timers today and they're all staying put...as they've been through many hurricanes, I listened to them carefully and we've made our decision to hunker down.
We're not right on the ocean and our house is not in a flood zone, though the 17 inches of possible rain could bring some water in...
Wish us luck, hope we're not being foolish. We do have a hobie-cat type boat right next to the house so a flood might see us aboard...floating somewhere, dog aboard and wondering WTH...
peaceful, easy feeling
HappyHiker
So how does that hobie-cat handle in 120 mile winds?
Good luck and stay safe.
I think one problem is that the local weather people seem to cry wolf alot. Then when something really awful is coming, people are less likely to believe it. But it seems like everyone everywhere is saying this could be a horrendous one....even the hurricane experts. Its hard to know........but I would sure err on the side of safety, even if it ends up being an inconvenience.
I have to say I'm thinking I was right this summer. Whenever there's a huge lack of rain around here in the summer, it seems to mean its being collected somewhere else........like for a hurricane. I have the feeling there will be several more bad ones this year. But I hope not.
Seems like places on the coast are either heaven or hell.
How does the Hobie handle 120 MPH winds? I suspect she'd be damned fast! But we'd be sailing under a bare pole come a flood...and rowing...
peaceful, easy feeling
I think this is true. If they would stop making every event the event of the century, people might listen. I saw this with my DH when we had the 2011 blizzard. Weather Service said don't leave the house, let alone drive, because it was too dangerous. DH insisted on taking the kids to a friend's house. Made it to the sidewalk in front of our building before turning back because they couldn't take the wind (thank goodness - the kids who did go were stranded at friend's house for 2 days!) I don't blame him, though. Like I said, every storm is made out to be the storm of the century.
The NYT just had a news alert that NYC is shutting down ALL mass transit at noon tomorrow.
There's a difference between having a reasonable amount of food at home, some water, and a flashlight or two to rushing out to the stores, stripping them bare and not doing a danged thing.
I spent a good amount of time yesterday giving hurricane prep advice over email and Facebook to clueless East Coasters who don't know a thing about ANY sort of emergency prep. They wouldn't know what to do for a blizzard, let alone a hurricane!
There are a big bunch of dumb clucks out there who are just clueless and lack the most basic common sense. My friend in Baltimore still has her fingers stuck in her ears, singing "lalalalala." She readily admits she's not done a thing - and won't!
I have another friend in NYC who is only taking this seriously because she lived through 9/11. She said that if she'd not been through 9/11, she have her fingers stuck in her ears, singing "lalalalala" too.
<rolls eyes>
Speaking as someone who had one go right over her house (Charley, in August 2004), a Cat 1 is still nothing to mess around with. Power lines will be down, trees will be down, there will be roof damage and flooding. Be ready!
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