Stay safe, all you East Coasters

Getting ready here. We've had go-kits for some time now so we just check that none of the food packets and such are not out of date. Some that we have are the type where you put water in a heater packet and then the food packet in and a couple of minutes later you have a meal. Doing this brings up a point most people don't consider: have plenty of water on hand. Unless you have a well of your own and some way to get the water out (power for the pump for example) you can't depend on the city water people to keep going.

And make sure you secure or even better bring in everything you have outside.

Clean out the storm drains out in the streets if you have them so water can get in. You wouldn't believe how fast things can back up when the drains are clogged on top (street level).

And for safety's sake if you're using a wet/dry vac to pump out your home or basement make sure all the AC cords are safe and not laying in the water - that's assuming you still have power. If you're running a portable generator don't run it in the house - the fumes will get you.

Yeah ...as of last night they're calling for a landfall on NC coast somewhere.... 

I'm about 100 miles or so from the beach so if it simply hits the coast while continuing on a northerly route, we'll get some tropical storm force winds, and rain.  I've seen estimates of 2" to 10" of rain in this area predicted.... 

The ones that hurt us are the ones that come in with a north westerly path. A few hurricanes back we had the eye pass over us here in Wilson.... 

Our biggest issues are generally the wind and rain, which conspire against the tall trees, dropping lots of them on the power lines and houses. Past storms have helped to remove many of the larger trees. Still, with the storm passing so close, I am expecting to have no power here for a day or two. I've got a gen set that will run the mission critical things like lights and fridge, tv and computers, but the internet might be out with no power to the local telephone/hub buildings. 

this will also test the cell phone network.... I saw a story on TV last night, talking about the outter banks.... the cell towers are not set up or designed to withstand more then about 110 to 120 mph winds.... OK so when you get a CAT 2 or 3 storm you're at that limit.... I guess it's cheaper to rebuild a tower than it is to make them all CAT5 resistant? 

I heard this morning that it's coming early on Saturday... so I'm guessing that by the time I wake up, it'll be gone.... and the damage done.  Yeah, I can sleep through a hurricane. Fran was one big storm that chewed NC up and spit her out again.... trees down in my yard, trees on the neighbors, power out, shingles off roofs, big damage next morning... So I wake up the morning after, and ask my wife if the storm ever came though. She said, get up and look outside. It looked like a warzone, and I never heard a bit of it. The power was off for 4 or 5 days IIRC. I was running a chainsaw for the first 2 or 3 days helping neighbors. 

As I type this, I just heard my neighbor behind me fire up his generator.... I tested mine yesterday evening. Got my gas tanks filled up, just gotta secure the loose objects in the yard...and get ready for tomorrow. 


2 gas cans filled for my generator.... headed out to check the mail, and buy some Sam Adams and 2 more gas cans.... just the essentials. 

Hey Jack, it only just occured to me that your forum name has your callsign.

I'm M0GSJ and my Andy is M0ONQ.

Count me in, too. Everyone be safe and dry.

I've been in many Hurricanes. Never take them lightly and be prepared. I made it  through super typhoon Pamela in 76'.  

Good luck out there!

Hang in there, folks.  We're all pulling for you.  You're in my prayers.  Hunker down and stay safe.  See you on the other side.

Unplugged and off the floor.

Well, we are evacuating the good folks at Factory Yoyo tonight. Hopefully there will be studio to come back to!

Evacuation pretty likely here - we live just 2 minutes from the Hudson, almost sitting on it, in one of those gigantic glass towers. Wasn't too worried until I read the latest news. :s

EDIT: We're straight on the line between orange and yellow flood alert zones. A bit worried about my little portable rig, guitars and all. We're too high to have water coming in from the ground, but with all the windows, this place might suffer some damage. My fiancée's shows for the weekend on Broadway have already been cancelled. 

Getting to spend the weekend in an evacuation center really isn't a fun perspective. 

LOL yeah, I actually like the rain, and I'm from up north, by the sea, so I'm used to stormy weather. It's usually the sunny weather I can't stand.

If just for me, no biggie, but I'm not alone into this.

I just wanted to chime in with a stay safe.

Please remember how dangerous water is... the flooding form rain is likely to cause issues that can be much worse than the effects of wind.

The tidal surge can be deadly... but it seems like it is less likely on the Atlantic coast than what we have seen on the flat shallow waters of the Gulf Coast.



I got called last night to go to the beaches of North Carolina with the 24/7 networks... and I felt lucky that I had prior engagements that prevented my getting to go to stand in the wind and rain.



best regards,
mike

mike_mccue


I just wanted to chime in with a stay safe.

Please remember how dangerous water is... the flooding form rain is likely to cause issues that can be much worse than the effects of wind.

The tidal surge can be deadly... but it seems like it is less likely on the Atlantic coast than what we have seen on the flat shallow waters of the Gulf Coast.



I got called last night to go to the beaches of North Carolina with the 24/7 networks... and I felt lucky that I had prior engagements that prevented my getting to go to stand in the wind and rain.



best regards,
mike

Tidal surge is going to be a huge problem this weekend because of the new moon. This brings abnormally high tides even without storms so Irene is just added material that's not needed.

Authorities have blocked roads going to some NJ shore communities because a lot of these places are really on islands with only one or two bridges in and out. Seaside (NJ) is only allowing outbound traffic from the island, Cape May county is under mandatory evacuation orders and much more. My worry here in Trenton is if the Delaware River gets storm surge coming up from the bay. Because of the storm drain situation we could be looking at big problems and lots of flooding. I have a cousin who lives with her family just across from the Trenton Thunder baseball field which is right on the Delaware River so I hope they get out before it gets too heavy.

My mom's family all live right on edge of the Jamaica Bay Wild Life Refuge near Rockaway Beach Long Island in small old wood waterfront homes that have been flooded by hurricanes numerous times over the past 120 years. I guess they are going to get hit again along with everyone else.

I'm not trying to make light of the tidal surge.

It's just that the tidal surges we fear are 30 feet over *dry* ground level and can extend for 20-30 miles inland. The 1926 Miami Hurricane was like that and Katrina was like that on the coast of Mississippi.


Never the less.... even 18" of water can incapacitate a car and let it float with a current.

Water is incredibly powerful... and it is inexorable. Best to avoid it.

There's a common slogan we hear often... turn around, don't drown.

I worked live TV on the beach for Katrina's landfall in Gulf Port... I could tell stories... but I'm trying to forget. That's why I was thankful to have a professional obligation to use as an excuse to not go out to North Carolina.


Stay safe Jack and the same for everyone else out there!!!


all the best,
mike


edit to add:


Another type of flooding I am thinking about being a issue to discuss is the unexpected accumulation of record level rains in the small valleys up in the hills that rarely have such events. That sort of stuff seems to take people by surprise when a flash flood comes screaming down a normally peaceful creek.

No bread left anywhere on the way home - there goes my "peanut butter sandwich" survival kit. 

In fact, people seem to have gone after 3 things - bread, milk and chips. They've literally cleaned the store from those - nothing remotely close to bread - no bagels, no nothing.

So it'll be fruits, water and protein bars - not a big change in my case. :)