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Post by John S. Damm on Aug 26, 2011 12:33:27 GMT -5
Hurricane Irene is heading for the U.S. East Coast in what could be the worst hurricane to hit that part of the country in decades if not hundreds of years. I have seen reports that "storm surge" could flood the areas around the former World Trade Center site and other places in NYC. All major U.S. East Coast cities are at significant risk. For our East Coast friends, please check in as permitted over the weekend to let us know you are okay. I just listened to the Mayor of Philadelphia speak and it was sobering. It gave me chills even from the safety of Indiana. Maybe our effected posters can tell us what they are doing to prepare. Just offhand, I think of OldFred, JoeK, MikeV, and BigK who are all on the East Coast. My apologies if there are others I can't think of offhand. I hope I am being unduly worried but we all remember the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and I recently witnessed how even a 15 second gust of wind can kill. Our thoughts, prayers and/or good vibrations go out to those in the path of Irene, especially our friends here living in its path! Godspeed friends and be careful. Heed public warnings and be well-stocked up or make evacuation plans. Hope to hear of your ultimate safe-being! JSD
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Post by OldFred on Aug 26, 2011 13:24:47 GMT -5
Doing the best to prepare. Got batteries for the radio, extra water, canned goods, etc., so hopefully my mom and I (and my little dog, too) will be OK. Keep us in your prayers, Guys, and all the best to everyone. "OK, where's the best place to get a sufficient supply of Milk Bones?"
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Post by John S. Damm on Aug 26, 2011 14:12:12 GMT -5
Fred, I was particularly worried about your Mother. Are you folks on higher ground? And your dog is awesome(I am a huge dog lover as some here know).
That reminds me, the Mayor of Philadelphia reminded evacuating residents to take their pets! Good call Mr. Mayor! In the City of Brotherly Love, at least, service animals and pets are welcomed in all city shelters!
Please folks, don't forget your pets. They need support too in times of crisis.
When my house almost caught on fire four years ago when our gas shut-off valve melted and smoke started coming out all vents, I first got my two beloved dogs out safely to the fenced-in backyard(they tried to seek safety in our upstairs bedroom, the worst place to go!), then I started grabbing Beatles' stuff in a mad scramble and then, only then, did I stop and think where my wife was(Oh yeah, she was still at work!). ;D
Seriously, help the elders, children and pets. They are so vulnerable!
God bless you and your Mom, OldFred, and keep us updated assuming you have power.
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Aug 26, 2011 14:41:51 GMT -5
I dunno. So many times the damn media makes it sound like it's THE COMING APOCALYPSE!!! If you watch TV or listen to the radio around here they are trying to scare everyone to death -- "evacuate now! Get yourself days and days worth of food! Make sure your gas tank is filled now!" I really hope I'm right, that this turns out to be much ado about NOTHING. We've been fooled before.
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Post by mikev on Aug 26, 2011 15:22:46 GMT -5
Thanks for your concern. I live near the Bayshore (north facing baywaters off the Atlantic) and the adjacent town has already been ordered to evacuate. We are on a little higher ground, and will likely stay put if it is Category 1 or less as predicted. Anything higher and we will leave Dodge (and our little dog too!!!)
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Post by winstonoboogie on Aug 26, 2011 18:42:43 GMT -5
What JSD said. I have nothing further to add. We're (thankfully) safe here in Florida.
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Post by John S. Damm on Aug 26, 2011 20:32:09 GMT -5
I dunno. So many times the damn media makes it sound like it's THE COMING APOCALYPSE!!! If you watch TV or listen to the radio around here they are trying to scare everyone to death -- "evacuate now! Get yourself days and days worth of food! Make sure your gas tank is filled now!" I really hope I'm right, that this turns out to be much ado about NOTHING. We've been fooled before. I hope you're right JoeK! But be careful nonetheless and seriously, at least buy extra water and some canned food. LOL, maybe they'll name the next one Hurricane JoeKarlosi! ;D Hurricanes don't scare our JoeK! MikeV, same goes for you about being careful and your location is more worrisome to me but you know your situation best! In the Mid-West my wife and I have been riveted to the news on this.
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Post by sayne on Aug 27, 2011 8:08:43 GMT -5
I dunno. So many times the damn media makes it sound like it's THE COMING APOCALYPSE!!! If you watch TV or listen to the radio around here they are trying to scare everyone to death -- "evacuate now! Get yourself days and days worth of food! Make sure your gas tank is filled now!" I really hope I'm right, that this turns out to be much ado about NOTHING. We've been fooled before. Know what you mean. No doubt that this is going to be a dangerous situation, so I don't want to trivialize people's concerns or come off like I don't have concerns that people will have various levels of losses, but this in "only" a Category 1. Man, what would the media be saying if this was going to be a Category 3 or higher? What is really going on here? The East Coast experiences these things every year. Is there going to be some type of "perfect storm" situation like high winds, high tides, shivers of sharks, nuclear fuel runoff . . . ? Or, is this another case of the media hyping the ordinary along with the penchant for people nowadays to quickly victimize themselves. I do hope that everyone is able to take care of themselves and that they come out of this well. As I said earlier, I know that all hurricanes are dangerous. By the way, you might be surprised that with all of us in California living in "earthquake" country, very few of us are prepared. Most of us don't have earthquake insurance (I do). Most of us don't have food, water, first aid kits, batteries, radios, blankets, flashlights, candles, cooking tools, etc set aside (I do). But, even I am missing some stuff like generators and tents. Also don't have a family contact protocol. I guess the poor preparedness of people here might have to do with the fact that there is no "earthquake season." You know, out of sight, out of mind. It's hard to prepare for an unknown. So, I'm curious. How prepared are most people in the East and the South? I would think that since hurricanes and tropical depressions happen every year, everyone would have ready at their disposal things like wood for boarding up windows, and all the stuff needed to survive for a few days.
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Post by OldFred on Aug 27, 2011 11:53:58 GMT -5
OK, my mom and I (and our little dog too) are staying with friends in Nutley, New Jersey, further inland, so I think we'll be fine. Hopefully whatever damage that emerges will be extremely minimal. Everyone, please be safe. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers they'll be returned in kind. Blessings to you all.
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Post by winstonoboogie on Aug 27, 2011 13:16:41 GMT -5
OK, my mom and I (and our little dog too) are staying with friends in Nutley, New Jersey, further inland, so I think we'll be fine. Hopefully whatever damage that emerges will be extremely minimal. Everyone, please be safe. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers they'll be returned in kind. Blessings to you all. That's great, Fred! Please keep us posted!
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Post by Snookeroo on Aug 27, 2011 14:30:56 GMT -5
People here on Long Island are overreacting like crazy. I heard that one Lowe's store sold 200 electric generators in 45 minutes. There isn't a "C" or "D" battery to be found. We took the basic precautions like moving things indoors that could blow around. It's like the typical calm before the storm now. It's so quiet now, with hardly any wind. We're supposed to get hit with the brunt of it here during the night which stinks. I'd rather deal with it in daylight. According to the reports the whole thing will be pretty much done 24 hours from right now. And as I said, it's so quiet outside right now that it's almost creepy.
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Post by mikev on Aug 27, 2011 16:36:34 GMT -5
I dunno. So many times the damn media makes it sound like it's THE COMING APOCALYPSE!!! If you watch TV or listen to the radio around here they are trying to scare everyone to death -- "evacuate now! Get yourself days and days worth of food! Make sure your gas tank is filled now!" I really hope I'm right, that this turns out to be much ado about NOTHING. We've been fooled before. Know what you mean. No doubt that this is going to be a dangerous situation, so I don't want to trivialize people's concerns or come off like I don't have concerns that people will have various levels of losses, but this in "only" a Category 1. Man, what would the media be saying if this was going to be a Category 3 or higher? What is really going on here? The East Coast experiences these things every year. Is there going to be some type of "perfect storm" situation like high winds, high tides, shivers of sharks, nuclear fuel runoff . . . ? Or, is this another case of the media hyping the ordinary along with the penchant for people nowadays to quickly victimize themselves. I do hope that everyone is able to take care of themselves and that they come out of this well. As I said earlier, I know that all hurricanes are dangerous. By the way, you might be surprised that with all of us in California living in "earthquake" country, very few of us are prepared. Most of us don't have earthquake insurance (I do). Most of us don't have food, water, first aid kits, batteries, radios, blankets, flashlights, candles, cooking tools, etc set aside (I do). But, even I am missing some stuff like generators and tents. Also don't have a family contact protocol. I guess the poor preparedness of people here might have to do with the fact that there is no "earthquake season." You know, out of sight, out of mind. It's hard to prepare for an unknown. So, I'm curious. How prepared are most people in the East and the South? I would think that since hurricanes and tropical depressions happen every year, everyone would have ready at their disposal things like wood for boarding up windows, and all the stuff needed to survive for a few days. The big difference here is that this is a rare direct hit. Usually we get reflected or diminished hurricanes. I spenty hours putting all loose furniture in the garage. People less than a quarter mile from me had mandatory evacuation mostly because of water surge. That is the biggie for the whole area- there will be flooding. Earthquakes and hurricanes-there's a bad moon on the rise.
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Post by John S. Damm on Aug 27, 2011 18:05:57 GMT -5
Snookeroo, I totally forgot that you were in NYC too! For some reason I always think you are more in the Western part of the State of New York! Not Buffalo! ;D
But be careful. I hope that the State National Guard is ready for not just rescues and relief efforts but also security! I am afraid that in the least you folks will lose power.
I hope Irene is not as wicked as predicted.
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Post by mikev on Aug 27, 2011 18:14:15 GMT -5
Snookeroo, I totally forgot that you were in NYC too! For some reason I always think you are more in the Western part of the State of New York! Not Buffalo! ;D But be careful. I hope that the State National Guard is ready for not just rescues and relief efforts but also security! I am afraid that in the least you folks will lose power. I hope Irene is not as wicked as predicted. Lowbasso is closer to the Jersey shore than me. Check in when you can. Be safe.
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lowbasso
A Hard Day's Knight
Posts: 2,776
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Post by lowbasso on Aug 27, 2011 21:12:08 GMT -5
Snookeroo, I totally forgot that you were in NYC too! For some reason I always think you are more in the Western part of the State of New York! Not Buffalo! ;D But be careful. I hope that the State National Guard is ready for not just rescues and relief efforts but also security! I am afraid that in the least you folks will lose power. I hope Irene is not as wicked as predicted. Lowbasso is closer to the Jersey shore than me. Check in when you can. Be safe. My condo is 8 miles inland from the coast in (Shrewsbury) Monmouth County, NJ. There is a mandatory evacuation of Sea Bright, and on down thru Asbury Park, and all shore towns. The sea wall (10-12 feet hight) along the coast, as well as the boardwalks in Long Branch and Asbury Park will certainly be breached with major flooding. I have lived on the Jersey Shore since 1964. We've never had a hurricane pass this close to us, so we are in uncharted waters. No pun intended. Then again we haven't had a 5.8 earthquake either until last Tuesday... All three NYC airports are now closed, the subways in NYC, and trains from Washington thru Boston are all shut down. If the water surges from the ocean up thru Upper NY Bay (where the Statue of Liberty resides) as well as Long Island Sound, the East River and Hudson Rivers will flood Manhattan, filling the Ground Zero pit at the World Trade Center like a bathtub, as well as lower Manhattan. And La Guardia and JFK Airport runways will all be under water for quite a while. They are only about 5 feet above sea level. Just heard power is being turned off in Lower Manhattan to protect the lines from salt water flooding. Imagine being in a tall building in NYC with no power and no elevators working.... Worst news of all; there are now deaths being reported in Virginia and Maryland where the storm is currently situated.
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Post by John S. Damm on Aug 27, 2011 21:28:10 GMT -5
Be safe lowbasso! Hope you and yours get through this safely, same with all of our friends here. To try to be somewhat lighthearted, I picture JoeK standing outside, cursing the storm! ;D We have lost power here for several hours before and that drives me crazy. I can't imagine a day or days! What did folks do in the early 1800's with just candles? That would blow. I pray the worst won't happen! Batten the hatches fellows! JSD
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Aug 28, 2011 6:18:07 GMT -5
To try to be somewhat lighthearted, I picture JoeK standing outside, cursing the storm! ;D JSD You weren't far off -- I WAS at the window cursing something ... but it was my landlord and my horizontal blinds!!! At about 5pm yesterday my elderly landlord decided that he wanted to put tape all over my huge front living room window, just as a precaution to protect it from breaking due to heavy winds. In order to accomplish this I had to pull the strings to raise up my blinds (which are always down), to gain access to the window. Well, the blinds are now "stuck" up, and I cannot lower them -- the strings are tight as hell and aren't about to release. I have tried everything, with screwdrivers and all else. But to no avail. I may have to buy an expensive new set of blinds for this window, and they're something like 5 or more feet wide!
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Post by OldFred on Aug 28, 2011 7:43:42 GMT -5
I heard that power was turned off in my area. I hope when we return everything in the fridge will have kept, with the door being closed that should be the case. The park near my friend's place in Nutley, NJ is flooded, but we're 10 feet above the park, so we should be fine. Hope everyone will be OK. Thoughts and prayers to everyone.
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Post by sayne on Aug 28, 2011 9:30:40 GMT -5
. . . I picture JoeK standing outside, cursing the storm! . . . ;D That's funny. I pictured that, too. Think of Charleston Heston as Moses standing on the rock conjuring the Red Sea to divide or Amanda Plummer as "Honey Bunny" in Pulp Fiction standing up in the restaurant and yelling, "C'mon you motherfucker!" LOL
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Post by sayne on Aug 28, 2011 9:37:35 GMT -5
Too lighten things up for people a bit:
. . . and for the next one:
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Post by John S. Damm on Aug 28, 2011 10:29:52 GMT -5
There have certainly been deaths scattered throughout the States(now at 10, including a surfer in a death that I am afraid will not cause mass sympathy) which will cause profound grief for those families; power is out for 4 million right now and counting; and there is flooding in certain areas, including lower Manhattan. Yet, the storm does not seem to have been as initially ferocious as originally thought although I remember they said that about Katrina until the dams and levies of New Orleans failed a couple hours after the storm hit. I feel the reporting media is somewhat disappointed(they would never admit that) and some are trying to find stories out of insignificant things. Some examples I saw: 1. Weather Channel just showed film from lower Manhattan and the reporter said, "Look, garbage bins have been tipped over!" The garbage was thankfully still in the bins. Maybe the reporter could walk over and stand the bin back up! 2. CNN showed a live feed from N.C. yesterday afternoon panning a field near the ocean and we saw two small pieces of plywood lying in the field which was commented on. 3. Last night CNN showed a reporter actually in the sea at the end of the pier holding on to it while reporting live in the waves. I suspect that in Hurricane Camille(1969), Hugo, Andrew or Katrina, there were no reporters in the water and reporting live! Irene is a tropical storm now and still dangerous. It is the surges and flooding that will be most dangerous per the experts on television. I continue to keep my fingers crossed for our friends there. JoeK, in protest of your landlord's actions which caused your blinds to stick, you should start vigorously working out naked with the lights on in front of the five foot windows! It would not be your fault!
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Post by John S. Damm on Aug 28, 2011 14:22:52 GMT -5
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Post by winstonoboogie on Aug 28, 2011 15:24:11 GMT -5
. . . I picture JoeK standing outside, cursing the storm! . . . ;D That's funny. I pictured that, too. Think of Charleston Heston as Moses standing on the rock conjuring the Red Sea to divide or Amanda Plummer as "Honey Bunny" in Pulp Fiction standing up in the restaurant and yelling, "C'mon you motherfucker!" LOL Interesting! I was thinking more of Gary Senise as Lt. Dan in "Forrest Gump" sitting on the top of the ship during the hurricane, screaming, "Is that the best you can do?" ;D
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Post by sayne on Aug 28, 2011 22:03:54 GMT -5
Interesting! I was thinking more of Gary Senise as Lt. Dan in "Forrest Gump" sitting on the top of the ship during the hurricane, screaming, "Is that the best you can do?" ;D THAT's the best one.
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Post by OldFred on Aug 28, 2011 22:14:51 GMT -5
Well, me, my mom and our little dog Cookieta survived Irene. We stayed at the home of my friend Linda and her parents in Nutley, New Jersey, which is inland next to a park. There was a lot of heavy rain during the night and we watched the news and later a DVD documentary on Walt Disney. We managed to sleep that night and the next morning the rain was much heavier. Behind my friends' house is a porch facing a city park that has a stream. The stream had overflowed and flooded a good portion of the park. One thing that struck me was seeing a park bench deep in the middle of the flood. Hours later the worst of Hurricane Irene had passed and the rain started clearing and my friend Linda, myself and Cookieta went to survey the area along with the neighbors. One of the main streets were flooded and in the distance we could see a fallen tree. Later on we rode around the neighborhood and saw heavy flooding and fallen trees in the aftermath of the hurricane. Back at Linda's place I noticed a Cardinal perched on top of a street sign after Hurricane Irene had passed. We later got the all clear that it was safe to go back to New York. I found out electricity was turned off in our neighborhood but the power was put back on much later, which is good since we needed the elevator as my mother can't climb steps. Most of the apartment was OK except for my mother's bedroom which had at least 2 inches of water in it due to water either coming in through an opening in the air conditioner or from the walls. My other room had a minimal amount of water which damaged three posters, one a Beatles poster I got in Liverpool which I had to throw away, but if that was the worst damage to my collection, that was OK. I know my mom and I got off much luckier than others have, and my thoughts and prayers go to those who suffered much worst damage than us, and I especially think about those who lost their lives during Hurricane Irene and my condolences go to their loved ones. I hope everyone who got through Hurricane Irene are safe and to reflect on and appreciate those who love you and less on possessions. Nutley Park stream over-flowing Park bench in middle of Nutley Park flood. Nutley Street flooded Downed tree in flooded street Cookieta and I surveying the damage A Cardinal sings 'Goodnight Irene'
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Post by John S. Damm on Aug 28, 2011 22:55:44 GMT -5
Wow, thanks for the report and photos Fred! I am so glad your mother got through this unharmed. I am sorry to hear about the water damage.
You, your mom, and Cookieta are safe and that's all that matters!
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Post by sayne on Aug 28, 2011 23:08:04 GMT -5
For the record, I just have to say that although I think the media hype and coverage of Hurricane Irene was way overboard, at least it's REAL weather.
You should see the media coverage here in SoCal when there is 1/8 of an inch of rain. It's like, "This is Dave Jones with breaking news. IT'S POURING! Let's send it out our reporters in the field who are braving this deluge. Mark, out in Hollywood, what's happening there?"
"Well, (out of breath and excited) we walked down Hollywood Boulevard and passed two cars with raindrops on the windshield and there was a car heading north that actually had its wipers on for a couple wipes."
"Incredible, Mark. Stay right there, stay dry if you can and we'll be back to you. Now, let's go out to Santa Monica where we hear there are actually clouds in sky. Linda, can you hear us?"
"Yes, Dave, I can. I must say, people here in Santa Monica are real daredevils. They're going about their business although every once in a while a drop hits them on the head. Real troupers they are - and brave."
And so on.
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Post by vectisfabber on Aug 29, 2011 3:49:52 GMT -5
Glad you, Mom and pooch are all safe, Fred.
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Post by mikev on Aug 29, 2011 10:16:01 GMT -5
We didn't get power at our house until 2AM last night. Otherwise we are okay, but a lot of flooding is still taking place in New Jersey. Many people are homeless. Trains are down possibly for several days.
It was not Katrina and not a mega killer- but there was loss of life and generally still pretty bad.
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Post by Blackguard on Aug 29, 2011 10:32:38 GMT -5
We took 8 inches of rain in our area. I had a few inches of rainwater in the basement that needed to be bailed out. The fire departments were busy pumping out basements all over Dutchess County. NY. Some had over 3 foot of water.
I heard a few trees go down in the back yard, and my brother in law had one come down in his backyard right across his lawn furniture. That was in Saratoga, NY.
That's all I have to report from the scene.
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