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our power has been out for >30 hours now, and because we have well water, we don't have running water either.
i have 4 kids of 4 years old and under (the youngest being twins < 3 months old) - power outages seem to take on a rather bigger significance when you have young'uns to look after.
we made minimal preparations (bottled water, filled tubs, bought sensible groceries) and are surviving comfortably, but if things go on for more than a day or so longer, we will have to move out till power returns.
it certainly makes you appreciate electricity when you have it (well, for the first 5 minutes after it returns, anyway!)
i think there are still a few hundred thousand of us in the state without power - i suspect this hurricane seems a rather bigger deal to us than to those who didnt lose it!
One thing that struck me though was the absolute lack of preparedness of the people who went to the shelters. Given, people who evacuated by hopping a bus to a shelter aren't exactly the cream of society, but these people were complaining they had nothing after being there for less than 12 hours with a full day to get ready to go. The shelters were asking for diapers, clothes, formula, etc. What parent who needs those things for their kid doesn't bring them along? Then they were interviewing people who were complaining about being fed turkey sandwiches and apples, well ,what did you expect? I swear these people thought they were going to be given an all you can eat buffet and planned to stock up on diapers while they were at it. Pathetic.
Those are the same people who live their lives expecting the gubment (read that: taxpayers) to provide their basic needs 24/7.
It doesn't take that much effort to pack up some twinkies and diapers on the way to the shelter, lol.
Would you believe - when a weather event is forecast here in western NC, the item that flies off shelves first is - PopTarts???? LOL
i dont think katrina is possible here. the thing that made katrina so bad was that there were levees that hold back the mississipi that were lost and released the river on the city. so some flooding was probably the worst the city would see, and some trees knocking out power and blocking streets. i think long before it reached nyc, the most that was expected was a category 1, which isnt pleasant but historically this isnt likely to knock down many structures.
Well, that's the thing, it is POSSIBLE, just rather unlikely. Back in 1821 the "Cape May" hurricane made a direct hit on NJ and was measured as equal to a Cat4, with winds of 200mph along the Jersey shore. In 1944 and 1962, Cat3's passed within 30 miles of the coast and devastated the barrier islands and coastal communities. The difference between then and now, is that there wasn't even 5% of the development and population density that now exists in those areas, especially the barrier islands.
On September 3rd of 1821, a category 4 hurricane smashed directly into Cape May Point from where the center of the storm moved north following a route approximated by today's Garden State Parkway. Hurricane force winds were experienced as far West as the City of Philadelphia, while the New Jersey shore endured the eastern side of the storm with winds of 200mph.
Mercifully, in 1821, virtually no one lived on New Jersey's barrier Islands. Once over land the hurricane's strength rapidly diminished as it continued moving north, nevertheless as it passed over Long Beach Island it completely leveled a forest of cedar trees than covering much of our Island and irrevocably destroyed the islands numerous fresh water lakes. When finally the storm reached New York City, it brought with it massive flooding unsurpassed in the 136 years that have since passed.
As for NYC, it really does have to be a "perfect storm" for the city to be really devestated, but it has happened before and most likely will happen again. No, this storm turned out not to be the "perfect storm", but that doesn't mean that the next one might not be. The Jersey Shore ended up getting incredibly lucky this time. The storm moved faster then predicted and had already passed the main barrier islands by high tide. Had the coincided as predicted (it was a matter of a couple hours difference), the storm surge would have been 6-10 feet HIGHER than it was.
I'm not one to get all panicky, but I'm also not one to shrug off these events as nothing serious. If the "Cape May" hurricane were to happen today, the damage would be in the $100's of billions.
our power has been out for >30 hours now, and because we have well water, we don't have running water either.
i have 4 kids of 4 years old and under (the youngest being twins < 3 months old) - power outages seem to take on a rather bigger significance when you have young'uns to look after.
we made minimal preparations (bottled water, filled tubs, bought sensible groceries) and are surviving comfortably, but if things go on for more than a day or so longer, we will have to move out till power returns.
it certainly makes you appreciate electricity when you have it (well, for the first 5 minutes after it returns, anyway!)
i think there are still a few hundred thousand of us in the state without power - i suspect this hurricane seems a rather bigger deal to us than to those who didnt lose it!
Absolutely!
Do you have a grill you can use to cook the stuff out of your freezer b/f it spoils? We typically share food in our neighborhood and do cook outs when the power goes out.
I hope your power is shortly restored - or that you can get out and get what you need soon.
As for NYC, it really does have to be a "perfect storm" for the city to be really devestated, but it has happened before and most likely will happen again.
it will inevitably happen again, but with regard to irene i dont believe it ever had much chance of hitting us at anything more than a cat 1 hurricane.
it will inevitably happen again, but with regard to irene i dont believe it ever had much chance of hitting us at anything more than a cat 1 hurricane.
That oscillated back and forth in the days leading up. At one point they were calling for it to be a Cat2, then it looked like it might just be a TS, before they settled on Cat1, with a much lower overall impact. I will say, that deep down, I did agree with you. I thought, that at least for me in my area, it wasn't going to be that bad.
However, as little as Irene impacted most of us, there are still quite a few people dealing with large property losses, surrounded by flood waters and without power.
However, as little as Irene impacted most of us, there are still quite a few people dealing with large property losses, surrounded by flood waters and without power.
absolutely, if your basement flooded or a tree fell on your house, then it was the worst hurricane ever for you. but from the perspective of the overall losses, it was pretty minimal. a lot of people are very fortunate that they are crying about power loss.
^ this is absolutely true - as my wife was complaining about the power, i did remind her that we should grateful to still have a roof on our house, and no tree dividing it into two houses!
Here's some of the Transit Damage...to NY.....i heard some NJT are alot worse
Power Lines down at Valhalla (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtaphotos/6089441581/ - broken link) by MTAPhotos (http://www.flickr.com/people/mtaphotos/ - broken link), on Flickr
Glenwood mud slide (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtaphotos/6089986106/ - broken link) by MTAPhotos (http://www.flickr.com/people/mtaphotos/ - broken link), on Flickr
Tuckahoe Station tracks underwater (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtaphotos/6089275953/ - broken link) by MTAPhotos (http://www.flickr.com/people/mtaphotos/ - broken link), on Flickr
DSC00271 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtaphotos/6088642495/ - broken link) by MTAPhotos (http://www.flickr.com/people/mtaphotos/ - broken link), on Flickr
SpuytenDuyvilMudslide082811 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtaphotos/6088925329/ - broken link) by MTAPhotos (http://www.flickr.com/people/mtaphotos/ - broken link), on Flickr
bus hurricane damage 031 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtaphotos/6092649067/ - broken link) by MTAPhotos (http://www.flickr.com/people/mtaphotos/ - broken link), on Flickr
NYCT Trees (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtaphotos/6091180814/ - broken link) by MTAPhotos (http://www.flickr.com/people/mtaphotos/ - broken link), on Flickr
Croton River causeway under water (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtaphotos/6093150824/ - broken link) by MTAPhotos (http://www.flickr.com/people/mtaphotos/ - broken link), on Flickr
04 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtaphotos/6090523619/ - broken link) by MTAPhotos (http://www.flickr.com/people/mtaphotos/ - broken link), on Flickr
10 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtaphotos/6090523921/ - broken link) by MTAPhotos (http://www.flickr.com/people/mtaphotos/ - broken link), on Flickr
01 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtaphotos/6090523411/ - broken link) by MTAPhotos (http://www.flickr.com/people/mtaphotos/ - broken link), on Flickr
CP 33 007 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtaphotos/6088517373/ - broken link) by MTAPhotos (http://www.flickr.com/people/mtaphotos/ - broken link), on Flickr
Here's some of the Transit Damage...to NY.....i heard some NJT are alot worse
im sorry to hear that nexis, i know that must be very upsetting for you.
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