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Sorry I don't meet your strict policies in adherence to approaching hurricanes but a lot of it is media hype. Yes, people need to take heed and do what they need to do to stay safe but there's such a thing as going overboard and prolonging the stress. I didn't say I was grabbing a boogie board and heading to the beach!
Well how many hurricanes have you had to prepare for? Evacuate for? Keeping in mind the definition of a hurricane.
FWIW - I don't think this storm was over-hyped. Especially considering the level of preparation/common sense I've observed when it comes to lots of people in the affected states. I just had to shake my head looking at that crane in Manhattan that broke. In at least parts of Florida - leaving a crane like that unsecured in a storm like this is a crime. What a bunch of negligent dumb bells. And it wouldn't surprise me if there were some deaths in Atlantic City. Robyn
Well how many hurricanes have you had to prepare for? Evacuate for? Keeping in mind the definition of a hurricane.
FWIW - I don't think this storm was over-hyped. Especially considering the level of preparation/common sense I've observed when it comes to lots of people in the affected states. I just had to shake my head looking at that crane in Manhattan that broke. In at least parts of Florida - leaving a crane like that unsecured in a storm like this is a crime. What a bunch of negligent dumb bells. And it wouldn't surprise me if there were some deaths in Atlantic City. Robyn
Actually, we lived in Vero Beach, FL for six years and every year we put up our corrugated shutters, brought in our outdoor things, and left to return to New England whether there was a hurricane or not. I'm well aware of the definition of 'hurricane'. I have plenty I'd like to say to you right now, Robyn, but the mod would just cut it out so have a good day.
...We are talking about two separate things...putting up friends genuinely in need (and if they're even moderately well to do, they should have prepared for both staying in place and evacuation) and putting up friends who are (yes, even good friends can be...) moochers...
And I'll go one further. Say I have a neighbor I don't like - but that neighbor has prepared for a tropical storm (which means we'd still be at home). And a tree crashes through their roof in the middle of a storm (entirely possible considering the general lack of tree pruning here) - and they can't leave. Well - they'd be welcome at my house (with or without food or supplies). At least until the storm passed over (most of our neighbors have 2-3 kids - they wouldn't be welcome long term). I mean I'm not going to let people sit outside in the street during a storm.
But that's a heck of a lot different than asking to share a generator because you're too lazy/cheap to get one. A generator is a convenience item. Not a safety item.
Note that there are much worse situations. I remember after Hurricane Andrew - we were able to get from Orlando to a Residence Inn in Boca Raton the day after Andrew passed through (we weren't able to get to our place for a couple of days after that). And at that Residence Inn - we saw the faces from he**. A lot of people - both military and non-military - who lived in Homestead. Young people driving north - arriving at the Residence Inn in cars that had no windows - no windshields. People who were filthy and wet and cold and hungry. With their filthy wet cold hungry kids. It was heart breaking seeing them. But that Residence Inn was one class act. It put notes under guests' doors saying there had been a disaster - and people coming from the disaster area needed rooms. And it asked guests to leave early if they possibly could. Management allowed families to double up in rooms. And it held all the "manager's night" specials even though the place was "standing room only". During the 6 weeks that I lived there (our place was uninhabitable) - I traveled a lot to visit friends. I brought food and ice to my friends - and carried back trash. Management at the Residence Inn never complained about the trash I threw in its dumpster - even the dirty diapers. Like I said - that hotel was a class act.
I think that I judge people in these storm situations harshly because Andrew was the worst storm I ever went through. And I thought our damage was only about a 4 on a scale of 1 to 10 - because we knew so many people who wound up so much worse than we did. Robyn
As it is just getting dark here at 6:00 pm my locale is still getting pretty strong winds and some rain, but nothing dangerous like downed power lines. We have an overnight alert. What it seems to be amounting to is a very uneven affect over a vast territory. My sister a half hour away is getting heavy rain, while I have just some. NJ and MD shore getting pounded. The nature of this kind of storm is unpredictable area to area, so it's not over till it's over. Those who prepared well probably won't regret it because being prepared is always a good thing; those who thought it would amount to little or nothing in their area may downplay even more any future predictions. I hadn't heard about the "dangling crane" in NY, it's probably all over the news.
ETA: Spoke too soon, here come the heavier winds and rain...I hope this is all there is to it.
As it is just getting dark here at 6:00 pm my locale is still getting pretty strong winds and some rain, but nothing dangerous like downed power lines. We have an overnight alert. What it seems to be amounting to is a very uneven affect over a vast territory. My sister a half hour away is getting heavy rain, while I have just some. NJ and MD shore getting pounded. The nature of this kind of storm is unpredictable area to area, so it's not over till it's over. Those who prepared well probably won't regret it because being prepared is always a good thing; those who thought it would amount to little or nothing in their area may downplay even more any future predictions. I hadn't heard about the "dangling crane" in NY, it's probably all over the news.
ETA: Spoke too soon, here come the heavier winds and rain...I hope this is all there is to it.
Well I'll tell you - living in Florida - I'm a storm watcher by habit. And this is like no storm I've ever seen. Combination hurricane (like around southern New Jersey) - northeaster in many other areas - and big deal snow storm in others. And it's *so* big. Here in north Florida - we had stiff breezes today as a result of the storm.
Anyway - if I lived up north - I would pay attention to my particular location and any possible storm effects there (flooding - rain - wind - whatever). I sure as heck wouldn't have stayed in Atlantic City (I grew up outside Philadelphia in New Jersey and my parents owned a boat that they docked in Atlantic City - so I'm familiar with the area).
OTOH - there are a lot of lower middle or low income people in Atlantic City and other Jersey shore points these days. I saw some who stayed interviewed on TV. They said they decided to stay because their experiences in shelters last year during Irene weren't comfortable (note that these were younger people - not elderly/disabled people who can't move very easily). I don't know what these people are smoking. I am not exactly into discomfort - but I'd rather be uncomfortable than dead.
After something like this storm - I think emergency officials should do what most in Florida do. If you're under an evacuation order - and you don't evacuate - you're on your own once any rescue puts first responders at risk. One way to accomplish that goal is by removing emergency responders from areas like barrier islands before they're cut off from the mainland by rising waters. Another in multi-family dwellings is turning off all utilities - and removing everyone who works there (that's what happened to us during Andrew).
Anyway - I don't know exactly where you are in New England - but you should be relatively ok best I can tell. Let us know how things are going. Robyn
Yup - morons - yes? And this is not exactly an inexpensive project. The most expensive place there to date sold for $90 million according to news reports. Robyn
This storm has truly become Frankenstorm. The backside of it has now grown enormous and has engulfed NC and will for perhaps another day.
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