IMPORTANT: OFFICIAL HURRICANE THREAD

[asurfaholic]

Im excited. Big waves ahead. Btw... Ive lived oceanfront for years, and came back to see many homes on my street destroyed. Worst storm for me was hurricane fran, 1996, which was a cat 3 storm following a mean little bertha, cat 2, which had hit weeks earlier.

I cant even count how many hurricanes ive been through. Prepare for the worst, have food and water, at least 20 gal of gas in cans. But usually they are tame. People who usually die are those who are hit by falling trees.

 

[Warrior_of_Freedom]

I'd never evacuate my home. I'd come back to see it was ransacked by some dipshit.

 

[Elwar]

I am on the west coast of Florida. The predictions for over here are just some high winds.

Not too big of a deal.

 

[libertygrl]

Libertygrl, after reading up a bit on the storm, I wouldn't worry about the high winds or possibility of snow. The winds are supposed to top out at 65mph gusts, which sounds scary but usually just means you'll be picking up sticks and limbs (and your neighbor's trash cans) the next day.

The biggest threat to your area is going to be the threat of flooding. If I were you, that would be my number one concern at this point.

Are you in a low-lying area? Do you know if your neighborhood has ever flooded before?

I don't know what state you're in, but as an example (and useful to Brandon, who mentioned eastern PA) you should be able to look up maps like this one, which can give a better idea of areas prone to flooding:

http://climate.met.psu.edu/features/Floods/PEMA_flood.php

You can also get on to Google maps and hit the "terrain" feature and pull up topographic maps of your area.

The weather service is predicting up to five inches of rain for NYC and surrounding areas. If you live *anywhere* other than really high ground (top of hill or bluff, or well up the side of a hill) you'll want to be vigilant about flash flooding. If you're in a flat, open area, or near a creek or river, or near the bottom of a valley or ravine, it should be of special concern.

Don't panic, just keep the car packed and get set to run to higher ground. Worst case? If you're prepared, you might have to spend a night or two in a motel, or with friends or relatives. (Although in my case, spending the night with MY relatives would BE the disaster, ha!!!)

Stay alert, be prepared, and you'll be fine. Keep us posted on how things turn out!

Thanks KCIndy. You're right. The flooding is going to be more of a concern- especially since I live along the shore and we are supposed to also be a high tide as well. We've had some nor'easters over the years. Last year we evacuated further north to a relative's house (a relative that I actually like - LOL). Unfortunately she has since moved. But the storm did not cause any major flooding. Only one time did I actually see some flooding in the streets. That was back in the early 90's. The water was slowly building up over the sidewalks. I actually drove through it after leaving work early because of a bad cold. It was not a fun sight to see. It was very unnerving to say the least. Thankfully it didn't get any worse than that and it receeded.

So... we'll see how it goes. At least I have until Sunday night to prepare. Besides the concern factor I guess I'm a little spoiled as well. I hate the inconvenience of it all! :o

 

[libertygrl]

Im excited. Big waves ahead. Btw...

This is probably like Christmas time for you surfer dudes.

 

[cajuncocoa]

Libertygrl, after reading up a bit on the storm, I wouldn't worry about the high winds or possibility of snow. The winds are supposed to top out at 65mph gusts, which sounds scary but usually just means you'll be picking up sticks and limbs (and your neighbor's trash cans) the next day.

The biggest threat to your area is going to be the threat of flooding. If I were you, that would be my number one concern at this point.

Are you in a low-lying area? Do you know if your neighborhood has ever flooded before?

I don't know what state you're in, but as an example (and useful to Brandon, who mentioned eastern PA) you should be able to look up maps like this one, which can give a better idea of areas prone to flooding:

http://climate.met.psu.edu/features/Floods/PEMA_flood.php

You can also get on to Google maps and hit the "terrain" feature and pull up topographic maps of your area.

The weather service is predicting up to five inches of rain for NYC and surrounding areas. If you live *anywhere* other than really high ground (top of hill or bluff, or well up the side of a hill) you'll want to be vigilant about flash flooding. If you're in a flat, open area, or near a creek or river, or near the bottom of a valley or ravine, it should be of special concern.

Don't panic, just keep the car packed and get set to run to higher ground. Worst case? If you're prepared, you might have to spend a night or two in a motel, or with friends or relatives. (Although in my case, spending the night with MY relatives would BE the disaster, ha!!!)

Stay alert, be prepared, and you'll be fine. Keep us posted on how things turn out!

All good advice...also, be sure to stock up on food and water to have at home, just in case stores aren't open for awhile. You might also lose electricity, so be prepared for that. We were without electricity almost a week after Isaac. Get some batteries and flashlights ready.

 

[libertygrl]

I think I'll just accept what this guy is saying first, instead of freaking out over what the cable news stations are broadcasting. He sounds more level headed:


2. Local Long Island, NY weather report:

Hurricane Sandy: Another Perfect Storm?
As the hurricane tracks towards Long Island, experts say it's too soon to compare it with the deadly 1991 storm.

Despite Internet buzz that Hurricane Sandy could equal another Perfect Storm, experts say it's too soon to tell if the weather tracking toward Long Island will be as devastating as that deadly 1991 storm.

According to David Stark, meteorologist for the National Weather Service office at Upton, experts are now "confident that Long Island will see some impacts from Sandy."

The new official forecast track, Stark said, has the storm hitting 100 miles southwest of Riverhead on Tuesday at 8 a.m.

The Perfect Storm, in 1991, was a lethal combination of a low-pressure system, a high-pressure system, and Hurricane Grace, that came together to wreak widespread havoc on the Northeast, resulting in 13 deaths.

Hurricane Sandy slammed Jamaica on Wednesday and unleashed her wrath on eastern Cuba on Thursday. NWS sources said the official track indicates the hurricane first moving northward across the Bahamas, and then, eventually, turning northeast out over the western Atlantic and toward Long Island.

The storm will run "well to the east of the mid-Atlantic, North Carolina area" over the weekend, NWS meteorologist Peter Wichrowski said. By Monday or Tuesday, it is expected to make a turn toward Long Island, or just east of the area, near Montauk.

On Thursday, Stark said the hurricane could transition to a post-tropical storm but could still be a "significant event," impacting Long Island.

"The biggest uncertainty we have is in the details," Stark said. "If the track does pan out, we can expect heavy rains, strong winds, coastal flooding and strong waves."

Downed trees and power lines are also a strong possibility.

The storm, however, is still five days out, Stark said. "It does appear that, rather than the storm going out to sea, there is a growing confidence that we will be impacted. We just don't how bad it could be."

Forecaster Jim Cisco of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration prediction center in College Park, Maryland, told the Huffington Post, "We don't have many modern precedents for what the models are suggesting."

The storm, Huffington Post reports, is likely to hit during a full moon when tides are near their highest, increasing coastal flooding potential, according to NOAA forecasts — with all the earmarks of a billion-dollar storm.

Internet speculation is rampant that the Sandy could rival the Perfect Storm of 1991 — haunting scores of residents scared of Halloween devastation.

When asked about the Perfect Storm comparison, Stark said it's too soon to tell. "A Perfect Storm — making those comparisons right now is a little premature. This far in the game, to make a comparison like that, is not a good idea," he said. "We don’t really know how it’s going to evolve."

Stark said that Sandy has the potential to be a "significant storm. We'll have to see how the forecast scenario pans out," he said.


h ttp://westislip.patch.com/articles/hurricane-sandy-another-perfect-storm

 

[libertygrl]

All good advice...also, be sure to stock up on food and water to have at home, just in case stores aren't open for awhile. You might also lose electricity, so be prepared for that. We were without electricity almost a week after Isaac. Get some batteries and flashlights ready.

I know. In was a kid when we were out of electricity for 2 weeks! We ate plenty of Spam back then! (To this day, I still don't know exactly what I was eating! Maybe it's better that I don't find out!) LOL. Thanks!

 

[Lucille]

Im excited. Big waves ahead...

I hope you like it! Great show. I was one of its "dozens of fans!" /David Milch

 

[Dianne]

Luckily it looks to be heading straight for Washington D.C.

LMAO

 

[libertygrl]

Luckily it looks to be heading straight for Washington D.C.

Now that, WOULD be the perfect storm.

 

[libertygrl]

I hope you like it! Great show. I was one of its "dozens of fans!" /David Milch

OMG. I'm totally liking that song! I'll have to check them out on iTunes. I'm always looking for bands I haven't heard of. Can't stand what's on the radio these days...

 

[Nirvikalpa]

My area was a mess after Hurricane Irene (hundreds of houses deemed 'uninhabitable'). The NYC-area is probably going to be a mess - the metro will probably be shut down, and Amtrak/NJ Transit service will be down too. We have a lot of nursing homes and senior citizen living apartments right alongside the rivers here (whoever thought that was a good idea deserves to be smacked)...

Hoping all my buds in Cape Hatteras, NC can enjoy the surf... but that it stays far, far away from my house.

 

[Dianne]

I would say everyone on the east coast should prepare. There are some great suggestions on the board .. I would suggest you have plenty of plastic, disposable eating utensils and paper plates and garbage bags in case you lose water and power.

I don't trust anything weather people have to say. I lived through Hurricane Hugo in the Charlotte area, back in the 80's. I stayed up until 1:00 a.m. watching the reports and we were told we might have wind gusts up to 35 mph. At 5:00 a.m. the winds were over 100 mph, there was a freight train sound for about two hours (loud like the track was right outside the door), trees snapping, fireballs bouncing in the yard from transformers blowing. We were without power and phone service for 15 days and were not at all prepared. All the stores and gas stations were closed due to power outages and huge trees across the roads. We couldn't go anywhere, had little in the way of canned goods.. All the stuff in the fridge and freezer spoiled.
It looked like a war zone when it was over. The neighbors all pitched in together to share what resources we had.

I'm just suggesting everyone on the east coast be vigilent, and if it going to come close; just get the hell out of there. It was a terrifying experience !

 

[QuickZ06]

If it is a bad one, good luck and hope everyone makes it out ok. Can't be losing these liberty lovers to HAARP.

 

[MoneyWhereMyMouthIs2]

October is still considered "hurricane season."

http://www.stormfax.com/hurmonth.htm

Only goes to 2006, but there are plenty of US hurricane strikes in OCT.

Having a few weeks of food and water are a good idea.

Reported!

It is strictly for hurricanes. Once the hurricane is gone, we eat it all up and drink the water as quickly as possible. We used to call it Chris Christie time, but we might call it Honey Boo Boo time next time.

But one of the meterologists did say that the particular tracking system they use has been pretty accurate so far.

Didn't they just have it running into western FL just a day or two ago? These things do change, and this one just did. Otherwise, there'd be nothing new to report. I think their latest forecast (your video) is quite ambitious.

This is probably like Christmas time for you surfer dudes.

Too much wind, I hear.


But I've heard a hurricane going into NY at the right angle would be just plain nasty, and they've been saying that for years... kinda like bowling where you want to curve in between the first two pins. The right strike would be an amazing disaster.

 

[Lucille]

I wonder how many people don't prep for disasters like this since the govt said it's a "potential indicator of terrorist activities.”

 

[cajuncocoa]

I think I'll just accept what this guy is saying first, instead of freaking out over what the cable news stations are broadcasting. He sounds more level headed:

The Weather Channel people seem to take delight in freaking out over hurricanes. Fear sells.

Evacuate if you think it's not safe to stay in your current location....remember, your life is more important than your stuff. If it's not unsafe to stay, prepare properly and keep your wits about you during the storm. If you do that, there won't be any need to fear.

 

[MoneyWhereMyMouthIs2]

I wonder how many people don't prep for disasters like this since the govt said it's a "potential indicator of terrorist activities.”

Not sure, but a lot of people have the sense to prepare for a hurricane headed straight for them.

 

[brandon]

All that hype over Irene last year and then all he got here in eastern pa was heavy rains for a few hours. I imagine this will be the same thing. Folks on the coast may have more to worry about.