Weather Question (Eastport: power lines, house, neighborhood)

[CalieCat]

Besides snow storms, do you have any other major weather events?? Our area was just hit with what they are saying is a possible tornado last night....the last one was only 11 months ago and our house was slightly damaged! It seems like we live 1/2 of the Spring months in tornado watches/warnings!

[Northern Maine Land Man]

We have ice storms, heavy gales, torrential rains, fog you can cut with a knife and wind so cold you can't smile or your teeth will crack.

We also have awesome sunsets, dew on the flowers in the morning, balmy summer days, northern lights and stars that seem to wink on and off as they rise through the trees.

It balances out.

[elston]

Last spring we had something they called a "micro-burst" that took down a lot of trees and power lines and some buildings......I think a micro burst is a highly localized tornedo type event.

But I must say as things go.....Maine's weather is not a cause of anxiety or fear.....so yes we have weather and sometimes bad weather.....including floods.....but our weather won't send you running to a shelter or afraid that you will be blown away or buried by an earth quake or mudslide or lost to wild fires.

The average person can cope with Maine weather....without federal intervention.

[BacktoNE]

CalieCat, I have a couple of friends just outside of Atlanta. I heard about the horrendous night you all had last night.

Seriously, I will take a Maine winter over the threat of tornadoes any time. It is rare that a blizzard will destroy your home like a tornado can. Plus there is always plenty of warning ahead of a snow storm so you can prepare if necessary. You get what, 10 minutes warning with a tornado? I know that's about all we get in WI... yet another reason we can't wait to get back to Maine, or the northeast in general.

[CalieCat]

When I went to bed last night we were still under a tornado watch for several more hours. I have somehow managed to put our weather station radio somewhere nice and safe......meaning, I can't find it

One neighborhood about 15 minutes of our house there were 125 homes damaged and something like 4 destroyed. I hate having to worry all the time!

I grew up in Michigan and I miss the snow! Is 'heavy gales' something that you would only get close to the ocean?

[reloop]

Originally Posted by elston

Last spring we had something they called a "micro-burst" that took down a lot of trees and power lines and some buildings......I think a micro burst is a highly localized tornedo type event.

But I must say as things go.....Maine's weather is not a cause of anxiety or fear.....so yes we have weather and sometimes bad weather.....including floods.....but our weather won't send you running to a shelter or afraid that you will be blown away or buried by an earth quake or mudslide or lost to wild fires.

The average person can cope with Maine weather....without federal intervention.

Agreed. Typically your house doesn't get blown to another county. You may have issues with roofs during heavy snow loads, but overall comparatively speaking, there's nothing to fear at all.

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by CalieCat

Besides snow storms, do you have any other major weather events??

Rain, wind, snow, fog and ice.

In a culture where these are expected; they are easily dealt with.

IMHO other areas may actually get more of these, but the culture in those areas are seldom ready for it when it does happen.

We know when winter is coming, so we expect to see cold.

You can't predict tornadoes as easily. When a tornado rips away your house, your in shock. Nobody predicted that today's tornado would focus on your house.

Winter comes and we all know it, so it does not shock us when winter is cold.

I frequent forums where folks are starting up small farms and trying to live more self-sufficiently. Droughts hit them and it is a big shock. In drought prone areas they will only experience a drought once every so many years. So it is hard to prepare for. And when it does hit, the effects can be devastating. A Maine-style drought is still pretty wet.

Earthquakes are like that too. They happen so seldom that you might forget you live in an earthquake area. And over the years a person might have lived through dozens of earthquakes, but if none of them hit close by, then it is no big deal. But suddenly when one strikes your town directly, and everything is leveled, it shocks you. Your devastated by it.

I Prefer to live in an area where the only things we get are: Rain, wind, snow, fog and ice.

[mensaguy]

Maine has experienced hurricanes, but it is nothing like even a mild hurricane in Florida. We saw a Nor'easter take the roofing shingles off a store in Eastport a few years ago.