BBTF's Newsblog Discussion :: The Hurricane Irene Thread

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Friday, August 26, 2011

The Hurricane Irene Thread

There was the Swine Flu thread, so why not the Hurricane thread. Isn’t that right, New York Mets and the rest of the Northeast teams?

The New York Mets say they have postponed Saturday and Sunday’s games against the Atlanta Braves because of Hurricane Irene.

Both games will be rescheduled as a single-admission doubleheader on Sept. 8 beginning at 4:10 p.m.

Major League Baseball already had moved Sunday’s games at Philadelphia and Boston to Saturday to make them part of day-night doubleheaders. The Phillies play the Marlins and the Red Sox play the Athletics.

So to the primates on the Eastern coastal regions- stay safe.

Gamingboy Posted: August 26, 2011 at 08:49 PM | 912 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
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1. ERROR---Jolly Old St. Nick

Posted: August 26, 2011 at 09:28 PM (#3909862)

Goddammit, the hurricane's supposed to hit the DC area tomorrow afternoon just when the best Linda Darnell movies are about to be shown on TCM. Is there no justice?

2. Gamingboy Posted: August 26, 2011 at 09:31 PM (#3909865)

By the way, I saw on the NYC evacuation maps that if Irene were to hit NYC as a Category Two (unlikely, it's currently predicted to hit NYC as "only" a Category 1 or a particularly bad Tropical Storm), there would be a chance that Citifield would get flooded by the storm surge. Which, well, would be just such a Mets thing.

3. Pat Rapper's Delight (as quoted on MLB Network) Posted: August 26, 2011 at 09:36 PM (#3909867)

A Yankee fan friend of mine in NYC posted on Facebook that D-cell batteries were impossible to find.

I asked him if the Yankees were at the end of a particularly long homestand.

4. Stormy JE

Posted: August 26, 2011 at 09:37 PM (#3909869)

By the way, I saw on the NYC evacuation maps that if Irene were to hit NYC as a Category Two (unlikely, it's currently predicted to hit NYC as "only" a Category 1 or a particularly bad Tropical Storm), there would be a chance that Citifield would get flooded by the storm surge. Which, well, would be just such a Mets thing.

How strong would the storm have to be over Baltimore for John Sterling and Michael Kay to be swept away?

5. UCCF Posted: August 26, 2011 at 09:37 PM (#3909870)

We had a hurricane thread for Katrina. It was awful, even in comparison to the actual hurricane.

6. Mike Emeigh

Posted: August 26, 2011 at 09:59 PM (#3909877)

Good news, such as it is, is that the storm is expected to be a Cat 1 when it hits the Outer Banks tomorrow. Should be no more than gale force winds in the Triangle per the current expectations.

-- MWE

7. formerly dp Posted: August 26, 2011 at 10:03 PM (#3909881)

I'm on the coast of South Carolina and it hasn't really done much to us. Some wind and rain, but that's it. They closed most of the schools and campus shut down at 2, but that was precautionary. Bridges out to the barrier islands didn't even get closed.

8. The Anthony Kennedy of BBTF (Scott) Posted: August 26, 2011 at 10:27 PM (#3909893)

Water was sold out at the first supermarket I went to here in Boston. Peanut butter was almost all gone too. And flashlights? Good luck.

Imma be pissed if all we get is drizzle.

9. Shooty would run in but these bone spurs hurt!

Posted: August 26, 2011 at 10:42 PM (#3909897)

People have their priorities in New York: Duane Reade and D'agostino's have been plundered of all their D batteries, beer and chips.

10. flournoy Posted: August 26, 2011 at 11:00 PM (#3909905)

I'm on the coast of South Carolina and it hasn't really done much to us.

Well it got my race tomorrow postponed until late September, so I'm none too happy about that.

11. there isn't anything to do in buffalo but 57i66135 Posted: August 26, 2011 at 11:04 PM (#3909910)

saturday night's phillies game has been postponed and rescheduled for 15 september. this means that after sunday, the team will be playing 32 games in 31 days without a single off day.

should be fun.

12. RB in NYC (Now Semi-Retired from BBTF) Posted: August 26, 2011 at 11:34 PM (#3909935)

People have their priorities in New York: Duane Reade and D'agostino's have been plundered of all their D batteries, beer and chips.

I just put 12 beers in the fridge, Shooty. So if we lose power, I'm going to need help drinking them before they get warm. Feel free to come over anytime.

13. Fred Lynn Nolan Ryan Sweeney Agonistes Posted: August 26, 2011 at 11:47 PM (#3909941)

I just finished reading "Zeitoun," so maybe this makes me a little nervous-er than usual.
Hope this whole Irene thing turns out to be no big deal.

14. Phil Coorey. Posted: August 27, 2011 at 12:54 AM (#3909986)

All the best to everyone on the East Coast - take care my friends.

15. Textbook Editor Posted: August 27, 2011 at 01:23 AM (#3910005)

I'll be spending the wee hours of Sunday morning manning 2 pumps, hoping to keep ahead of the creek water rising against my house. Should be loads of fun.

16. Srul Itza Posted: August 27, 2011 at 01:39 AM (#3910023)

We haven't been hit since Iniki, knock wood.

I remember Manhattan being largely deserted during the work week for some early 80's Hurricane scare, and walking around in some medium winds and light rain, enjoying the emptiness.

Here's hoping that's all you get this time, as well.

17. villageidiom Posted: August 27, 2011 at 01:43 AM (#3910026)

Going to the final pre-Irene game at Fenway. Not too excited about the drive back to CT late Saturday, but we should be OK. Most hurricane models have the storm going right through here on Sunday.

18. Rally Posted: August 27, 2011 at 01:43 AM (#3910027)

"Good news, such as it is, is that the storm is expected to be a Cat 1 when it hits the Outer Banks tomorrow. Should be no more than gale force winds in the Triangle per the current expectations.

-- MWE"

Hope that holds true. We were thinking of finding a pet friendly hotel in WVA for the weekend, but decided to stick it out in the Baltimore area.

19. villageidiom Posted: August 27, 2011 at 01:52 AM (#3910036)

And on a side note, isn't the WTC memorial site something like 50 feet below sea level?

20. Topher Posted: August 27, 2011 at 01:53 AM (#3910037)

We had a hurricane thread for Katrina. It was awful, even in comparison to the actual hurricane.

Ummm .... what???

I think the Katrina thread was some of the best "work" ever achieved on BTF. I remember NTN God was reporting things on police scannners left and right that weren't being reported anywhere else by the media and countless others chimed in with info that wasn't found anywhere else. The fact that the hurricane was physically destroying the city was reported by the media. The complete breakdown in social order was reported through the various BTF posts much better than any big media source was reporting. It wasn't the first time, but it was one of the more pronounced times where I was much more aware of what was transpiring than my friends and family were due to this "silly little baseball site".

21. Bernal Diaz has an angel on his shoulder Posted: August 27, 2011 at 02:01 AM (#3910041)

The Northeast could use a good cleansing.

22. Bob Tufts Posted: August 27, 2011 at 02:19 AM (#3910052)

Buck Turgidson is stocking up on extra grain alcohol to mix with the plentiful rainwater.

23. McCoy Posted: August 27, 2011 at 02:21 AM (#3910053)

Whenever the media is prepared for something you can pretty much guarantee that nothing is going to happen. I haven't prepared for this thing at all. I've got so much booze, wine, and knives that I figure I can barter for any other kinds of essentials and whatever I can't get, well, that is what the knives are for.

24. Bernal Diaz has an angel on his shoulder Posted: August 27, 2011 at 02:35 AM (#3910069)

It is NYC. It will be the worst storm in the history of everything. And then the Yankees will have a moment of silence and wear a patch.

25. Forsch 10 From Navarone (Dayn)

Posted: August 27, 2011 at 02:48 AM (#3910081)

And then the Yankees will have a moment of silence and wear a patch.

And from then on, they'll play GBA twice during every seventh-inning stretch.

26. catomi01 Posted: August 27, 2011 at 03:36 AM (#3910096)

just spend 200 bucks at target on long island - half that was alcohol...I'm set...

27. Howie Menckel Posted: August 27, 2011 at 03:46 AM (#3910099)

I think Jersey Shore and Long Island will fare worse than North Jersey or Manhattan, with Queens and Brooklyn in between. At least a chance for a smaller area getting actual hurricane winds, anyway.

I think/hope Bloomberg will be found to have overplayed his evacuation hand, but that beats the extreme alternative by a lot. #fingerscrossed

28. Chicago Joe

Posted: August 27, 2011 at 03:47 AM (#3910101)

Here's the Katrina thread:
Red Cross/Katrina

29. Count Vorror Rairol Mencoon (CoB) Posted: August 27, 2011 at 03:53 AM (#3910102)

In honor of #28:

GILFORD, N.H. -- After a lunch speech today, Ron Paul slammed the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, and said that no national response to Hurricane Irene is necessary.

"We should be like 1900; we should be like 1940, 1950, 1960," Paul said. "I live on the Gulf Coast; we deal with hurricanes all the time. Galveston is in my district.

"There's no magic about FEMA. They're a great contribution to deficit financing and quite frankly they don't have a penny in the bank. We should be coordinated but coordinated voluntarily with the states," Paul told NBC News. "A state can decide. We don't need somebody in Washington."

30. Gold Star - just Gold Star Posted: August 27, 2011 at 04:01 AM (#3910103)

Buck Turgidson is stocking up on extra grain alcohol to mix with the plentiful rainwater.

Wrong guy. Gen. Jack D. Ripper is stocking up on grain alcohol. And speaking of "the physical act of lovemaking," Turgidson is plowing Miss Foreign Affairs.

31. Harold can be a fun sponge Posted: August 27, 2011 at 04:02 AM (#3910104)

Ummm .... what???

I think the Katrina thread was some of the best "work" ever achieved on BTF. I remember NTN God was reporting things on police scannners left and right that weren't being reported anywhere else by the media and countless others chimed in with info that wasn't found anywhere else. The fact that the hurricane was physically destroying the city was reported by the media. The complete breakdown in social order was reported through the various BTF posts much better than any big media source was reporting. It wasn't the first time, but it was one of the more pronounced times where I was much more aware of what was transpiring than my friends and family were due to this "silly little baseball site".

Agreed completely -- you said this much better than I could. I was just as confused by Eamus's post. Eamus, please explain what you were getting at.

32. Gold Star - just Gold Star Posted: August 27, 2011 at 04:03 AM (#3910105)

Agreed completely

Thirded.

33. Tulo's Fishy Mullet (mrams) Posted: August 27, 2011 at 04:09 AM (#3910108)

I was at an even more crowded and miserable than usual LaGuardia terminal much of yesterday afternoon and evening and the gate agent was saying how they were trying to re route and (borrow) as many aircraft as they could to get as many planes out of LaGuardia by Saturday morning as possible. Rain and other 'air traffic' delays was making that difficult. It was particularly nasty in 'B' concourse last night, worst I've seen it in a long time. That sucky panini bar was shoulder to shoulder and that was the most pleasant place in the whole concourse. I'm guessing today wasn't much better.

34. The District Attorney Posted: August 27, 2011 at 04:09 AM (#3910109)

EDIT: Ehhh, I shouldn't predict, maybe it'll be a disaster and I'll look callous. (But I bet my optimism is correct.)

35. Roger McDowell spit on me! Posted: August 27, 2011 at 04:19 AM (#3910114)

I think/hope Bloomberg will be found to have overplayed his evacuation hand, but that beats the extreme alternative by a lot. #fingerscrossed

I hope so too. My daughter is a block away from the evacuation zone. She's also got plenty of booze, food and water.

I'm personally wondering what kind of vermin will come up from the sewers if NYC gets too much water. I personally can't wait to see the sewer alligators make there way to city streets.

36. Pasta-diving Jeter (jmac66) Posted: August 27, 2011 at 04:23 AM (#3910119)

I personally can't wait to see the sewer alligators make there way to city streets.

ahhh--I lived in NYC for many years--the sewer gators are exaggerated (none are more than 7 feet--8 tops)

37. Jose Bautista Bobblehead Day Posted: August 27, 2011 at 04:25 AM (#3910121)

I just bought tickets to the second game of the A's-Red Sox doubleheader (bleachers were $4, plus fees on StubHub). Anyone have an idea on the odds of it being delayed/called off?

38. smileyy Posted: August 27, 2011 at 04:41 AM (#3910129)

So, that's irony by Ron Paul, right? "Galveston is in my district". You know, the city that was destroyed by a hurricane in 1900? The hurricane that they didn't know was coming because they lost track of it?

To be fair, I guess he's going after FEMA and I have no real love for FEMA. But NOAA is getting their funding cut too.

39. Gold Star - just Gold Star Posted: August 27, 2011 at 04:43 AM (#3910131)

Probably best not to ask what he thinks of the National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center.

40. NTNgod Posted: August 27, 2011 at 05:03 AM (#3910137)

Advance planning!

More than half the people who live on two remote islands, Hatteras and Ocracoke, had ignored orders to leave, and as time to change their minds ran short, officials ordered dozens of body bags. The last ferry from Ocracoke left at 4 p.m. Friday.

"I anticipate we're going to have people floating on the streets, and I don't want to leave them lying there," said Richard Marlin, fire chief for one of the seven villages on Hatteras. "The Coast Guard will either be pulling people off their roofs like in Katrina or we'll be scraping them out of their yards."

41. Tuque

Posted: August 27, 2011 at 05:08 AM (#3910141)

the sewer gators are exaggerated (none are more than 7 feet--8 tops)

They're also much friendlier than you might expect. I had one let me pet it a little bit.

42. Athletic Supporter is USDA certified lean Posted: August 27, 2011 at 05:54 AM (#3910148)

So, that's irony by Ron Paul, right? "Galveston is in my district". You know, the city that was destroyed by a hurricane in 1900? The hurricane that they didn't know was coming because they lost track of it?

That's the thing about Ron Paul. He's not afraid to completely throw historical precedent out the window. Gotta respect that.

43. LooseCannon Posted: August 27, 2011 at 06:32 AM (#3910159)

The thing about Ron Paul is that he's nuts. There are two things nuttier than Ron Paul: his followers and his son.

44. Gold Star - just Gold Star Posted: August 27, 2011 at 06:43 AM (#3910160)

Gotta respect that.

I loved that meme.

45. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: August 27, 2011 at 10:06 AM (#3910164)

Probably best not to ask what he thinks of the National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center.

When cavemen rode dinosaurs and Rick Santorum was still a senator, he tried very hard to kill the National Weather Service. Fortunately, he failed.

46. Drew (Primakov, Gungho Iguanas) Posted: August 27, 2011 at 11:49 AM (#3910175)

Given the usual availability problems on Peapod, I ordered eight gallons of water, arriving this morning. I expect to get two.

47. BDC

Posted: August 27, 2011 at 12:04 PM (#3910180)

Relief and rebuilding efforts after the 1900 Galveston hurricane were funded by local government and national charities (both established and ad hoc). There's even a baseball connection: "Relief funds were raised by an organ recital in Scranton, Pa., and by a baseball game in Anaconda, Mont." The federal government didn't get involved much except in building some sections of the Seawall that protected federal property.

By contrast, the aftermath of the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and the Mississippi River "Great Flood" of 1927 featured a lot of federal involvement, especially from two departments run by future conservative Presidents: William Taft's War Department in 1906 and Herbert Hoover's Commerce Department in 1927.

I don't know what lessons to draw from that. The rebuilding of Galveston was a far-sighted, ingenious success, full of local thinking and private-public partnerships. But the responses to 1906 and 1927 were model national efforts, characterized by energy and activity. One thing I would bet is that Ron Paul has no real idea what he's talking about. He just assumes that "back when" the federal government didn't do anything, and it was a kind of pre-New-Deal Eden in the land.

48. Misirlou doesn't live in the restaurant Posted: August 27, 2011 at 12:15 PM (#3910186)

"I anticipate we're going to have people floating on the streets, and I don't want to leave them lying there," said Richard Marlin, fire chief for one of the seven villages on Hatteras. "The Coast Guard will either be pulling people off their roofs like in Katrina or we'll be scraping them out of their yards."

A**hole. That kind of attitude is not helpful, and actually counterproductive.

49. Weekly Journalist_ Posted: August 27, 2011 at 01:53 PM (#3910215)

Seems like it's going to be a bit of a dud. By the time it gets up to Maine I doubt it will even knock out power. Praise jeebus!

50. Crispix Attacksel Rios Posted: August 27, 2011 at 02:04 PM (#3910221)

When cavemen rode dinosaurs and Rick Santorum was still a senator, he tried very hard to kill the National Weather Service. Fortunately, he failed.

That was because Pennsylvania's own Accuweather was one of the corporations that sponsored him, not because of any sort of principle.

51. Gamingboy Posted: August 27, 2011 at 03:05 PM (#3910244)

Seems like it's going to be a bit of a dud

Dud is all relative (even a tropical storm or a particularly bad depression can totally mess up your day, if not week or month), but yes, it does appear it will not be worst-case scenario that was earlier believed. Although, again, all relative. Much of the NE corridor isn't built as well for hurricanes, so what Miami or Texas could "take" might not be true for Philly, NYC and Boston.

BTW, surprised that nobody has mentioned that Nate Silver looked at how much a NYC hurricane could theoretically cost.

52. ERROR---Jolly Old St. Nick

Posted: August 27, 2011 at 03:15 PM (#3910245)

I knew all those bomb shelters they built back in the 50's were eventually going to be good for something.

53. Infinite Yost (Voxter)

Posted: August 27, 2011 at 03:28 PM (#3910248)

Would anybody mind if we didn't talk about politics in this thread? I really, really would rather this not turn into some ####### political shitfight.

54. base ball chick Posted: August 27, 2011 at 03:38 PM (#3910250)

hello boys

it ain't so much the wind, it's the water from flooding/storm surge. houston missed a death blow in 08 when ike landed juuuuust a little east of where it was originally supposed to. we would have been katrina v.2
- didn't nobody care real too much that ike pretty much destroyed galveston

make SURE you fill your bathtub full of water - it's to flush the toilet because the water pressure might could be off

prolly too late to get the fresh water, flashlights and batteries you NEED - and cell phones might not work neither

i got NO idea why people buy milk and eggs when they hear a storm is coming - no fridge and you can't cook anyhow - too hot

55. Athletic Supporter is USDA certified lean Posted: August 27, 2011 at 04:00 PM (#3910259)

Would anybody mind if we didn't talk about politics in this thread? I really, really would rather this not turn into some ####### political shitfight.

Typical liberal, if you hadn't created FEMA we wouldn't have to.

56. Gamingboy Posted: August 27, 2011 at 04:17 PM (#3910270)

Typical liberal, if you hadn't created FEMA we wouldn't have to

I'm not doing this as a political statement but more as a historical note, but FEMA can actually draw it's lineage to various other agencies, some of them created by Democrats (the Federal Civil Defense Administration and parts of the Bureau of Public Roads, for example) while others by Republicans (the Reconstruction Finance Corporation and the Federal Disaster Assistance Administration, as examples).

57. smileyy Posted: August 27, 2011 at 04:18 PM (#3910271)

I don't know what lessons to draw from that. The rebuilding of Galveston was a far-sighted, ingenious success, full of local thinking and private-public partnerships.

Where it continues to thrive as the commercial hub of Texas :)

58. base ball chick Posted: August 27, 2011 at 04:23 PM (#3910274)

smileyy

it WOULD have been - the problem was that it took 8 years to build the seawall (interrupted by another hurricane) and have the ship channel reopened. over that 8 years the port of houston took over and so did port arthur

the galveston merchants didn't want to lower their prices to compete and well, that wasn't smart.

and next thing you know galveston isn't the center of the state no mo - i remember being told at one of those history tours that for a long time galveston was just behind NYC for immigrants coming (by boat) to america

59. stig-tossled, hornswoggled gef the typing mongoose Posted: August 27, 2011 at 04:32 PM (#3910277)

I've not had much experience with hurricanes & such (lived in Slidell, outside New Orleans, in the late '80s, but nothing of consquence ever blew in during that time), so was a bit surprised after dinner last night when a friend who's lived here (Alabama) all her life expressed scorn for the alarm-raising along the East Coast over a mere Category 2.

Of course, as I reminded her, the East Coast takes large snowstorms pretty much in stride, whereas 2 inches here would shut things down like a nuclear blast. It's all relative.

Over the last couple of years I've read books on both the 1900 Galveston & 1930something Northeast hurricanes. Extremely sobering.

60. Mike Emeigh

Posted: August 27, 2011 at 04:47 PM (#3910290)

Wind gusts in the mid-30s here, fair amount of rain, no power interruptions, minimal Internet outages.

Down east looks pretty bad, but nothing like the Dennis/Floyd back-to-back wallops. New Bern got slammed by storm surges.

Storm track is hooking back to the west a little bit, which means that more land will be affected. Exit point back into the ocean has moved north to the NC/VA border (was originally supposed to be closer to Nags Head).

-- MWE

61. McCoy Posted: August 27, 2011 at 04:53 PM (#3910293)

I was thinking about it and about the only "disaster" that I can think of that the media was able to get ahead of was the snowstorms from a couple of years ago. But even those I think surprised them. I remember the media talking about it but not like this and I remember the next year they hyped the hell out of a snowstorm or two only to have it fizzle.

62. Rafael Bellylard: The Grinch of Orlando. Posted: August 27, 2011 at 05:23 PM (#3910314)

Irene is a Cat1 and weakening. There will be a lot of rain and heavy wind gusts, some damage and a lot of inconvenience. By Tuesday 95% of the population in the DC-NYC-Boston corridor will be back to normal and the media can find something else to hype.

63. jack the seal clubber (on the sidelines of life) Posted: August 27, 2011 at 05:45 PM (#3910336)

From north central Virginia; winds picking up , minor rain.
The fact that the Weather Channel is hyping "damage to dock in North Carolina" suggests not much has happened.
Funny video from Va Beach showing guys running around in front of the Weather Channel guy while he pontificates about the irresponsibility of it all.

64. Ray (CTL)

Posted: August 27, 2011 at 05:52 PM (#3910339)

so was a bit surprised after dinner last night when a friend who's lived here (Alabama) all her life expressed scorn for the alarm-raising along the East Coast over a mere Category 2.

I've chosen not to participate in the hysteria that's gripped the city of New York. I'm at work today in midtown, as usual, and when I leave later this evening I'll walk home in the rain rather than taking the public transit that they've already put into an unprecedented shutdown. When I go home I'll look onto the evacuation area that borders my street.

People have stampeded the stores, stocking up on enough non-perishable food, D batteries, and candles to last through the next 100 years of hurricane warnings. It seems just a wee bit of overkill. I understand why Bloomberg needs to over-prepare. But most of us don't.

65. Mike Emeigh

Posted: August 27, 2011 at 05:55 PM (#3910340)

The fact that the Weather Channel is hyping "damage to dock in North Carolina" suggests not much has happened.

Three deaths in NC reported so far, lots of reports of trees down, somewhere around 600,000 people without power in NC and VA.

-- MWE

66. jack the seal clubber (on the sidelines of life) Posted: August 27, 2011 at 06:00 PM (#3910345)

Three deaths in NC reported so far, lots of reports of trees down, somewhere around 600,000 people without power in NC and VA.

-- MWE

Mike, I don't disagree that the three deaths are tragic, but given the media hype related to this event to this point the actual damage has been relatively low. Let's hope it continues.

67. Fernigal McGunnigle Posted: August 27, 2011 at 06:05 PM (#3910348)

i got NO idea why people buy milk and eggs when they hear a storm is coming - no fridge and you can't cook anyhow - too hot

During Smowmageddon back in January someone in Georgia (the governor?) claimed that Georgians buy up all the bread, milk, and eggs when it snows because the only way to survive a natural disaster is to eat lots of french toast.

68. Kiko Sakata

Posted: August 27, 2011 at 06:17 PM (#3910351)

My hometown (I'm now living safe and dry in Chicago) has imposed a curfew from 1:00 pm today until 7:00 pm tomorrow.

69. Edmundo got dem ol' Kozma blues again mama

Posted: August 27, 2011 at 06:31 PM (#3910364)

Mike, I don't disagree that the three deaths are tragic, but given the media hype related to this event to this point the actual damage has been relatively low. Let's hope it continues.

Considering the storm hasn't hit the heaviest populated parts that it's going to, you might be a little dismissive. The real problem will be flooding, as the NE is completely saturated. Philly has already set the "wettest month of all time" record this month, 6-8 inches of rain might break the previous monthly record by as much as 50%.

70. Bernal Diaz has an angel on his shoulder Posted: August 27, 2011 at 06:33 PM (#3910368)

Sunny and 82F here in West Lafayette.

71. Heinie Mantush (Krusty) Posted: August 27, 2011 at 06:33 PM (#3910369)

There are no double a batteries left on the Upper West Side. :O

(I learned this while stocking up on beer and chips.)

72. Swedish Chef Posted: August 27, 2011 at 06:36 PM (#3910371)

(I learned this while stocking up on beer and chips.)

It's a good thing that essentials like beer are still available.

73. phatj Posted: August 27, 2011 at 06:40 PM (#3910375)

74. Kiko Sakata

Posted: August 27, 2011 at 06:40 PM (#3910376)

Considering the storm hasn't hit the heaviest populated parts that it's going to, you might be a little dismissive.

This was the reaction to Hurricane Katrina in its immediate aftermath, too. There's this perception that once you survive the heavy rain you're in the clear. The levees broke in New Orleans a day or two later and that's when hell broke loose. Likewise, the flooded rivers and lakes will come later with this one too (if they come).

75. McCoy Posted: August 27, 2011 at 06:47 PM (#3910379)

I bought two gallons of milk today, but eggs were sold out. I have the milk in a cooler full of ice and my family of four (two small children) will probably drink it before the ice melts, assuming the power isn't on by then. Eggs will keep for a week or so at room temperature.

Milk and eggs are some of the most deadliest (or a better term than "can make you really sick) foods (especially for little ones, old ones, and anybody with a weakened immune system) you can eat if they are stored or cooked improperly.

76. dave h Posted: August 27, 2011 at 06:49 PM (#3910380)

Katrina was the 6th strongest Atlantic hurricane of all time, and hit an especially vulnerable city. It's ludicrous to compare the two.

77. Bernal Diaz has an angel on his shoulder Posted: August 27, 2011 at 06:49 PM (#3910381)

It is sorority rush today so we have been really busy serving girls wearing short tight clothing. So I feel your pain northeasterners.

78. Bernal Diaz has an angel on his shoulder Posted: August 27, 2011 at 06:51 PM (#3910384)

I think a cloud just went by.

79. Ray (CTL)

Posted: August 27, 2011 at 07:09 PM (#3910388)

I bought two gallons of milk today, but eggs were sold out. I have the milk in a cooler full of ice and my family of four (two small children) will probably drink it before the ice melts, assuming the power isn't on by then. Eggs will keep for a week or so at room temperature.

I've made not a single preparation for this storm, have purchased not a single extra battery or flashlight or candle or food item.

When I go home tonight I'll take a few steps in case we lose power: make sure there's ice in the freezer for a cold drink, charge all of my chargeable devices, and fill the bathtub with water. That'll be about 5 minutes of hurricane prep. Done and done.

(Yes, I consider myself above it all.)

80. Drew (Primakov, Gungho Iguanas) Posted: August 27, 2011 at 07:13 PM (#3910392)

It is sorority rush today so we have been really busy serving girls wearing short tight clothing. So I feel your pain northeasterners.

You forgot to mention whether any of them are wearing white. This is very important.

It's rainy but otherwise calm here, ten miles north of Boston.

81. Bernal Diaz has an angel on his shoulder Posted: August 27, 2011 at 07:14 PM (#3910393)

Actually quite a few are wearing white shorts.

82. RB in NYC (Now Semi-Retired from BBTF) Posted: August 27, 2011 at 07:18 PM (#3910395)

I've made not a single preparation for this storm, have purchased not a single extra battery or flashlight or candle or food item.

I've gotten some of these items (well, stolen them from my out of town parents) on the same theory that when I carry an umbrella, it never rains.

(Yes, I consider myself above it all.)

We'd never have guessed.

83. Edmundo got dem ol' Kozma blues again mama

Posted: August 27, 2011 at 07:21 PM (#3910399)

It is sorority rush today so we have been really busy serving girls wearing short tight clothing.

Now, imagine them in those same clothes but rain soaked!

84. Edmundo got dem ol' Kozma blues again mama

Posted: August 27, 2011 at 07:23 PM (#3910400)

Katrina was the 6th strongest Atlantic hurricane of all time, and hit an especially vulnerable city. It's ludicrous to compare the two.

I think he was saying it's ludicrous to declare this event over-hyped in the first few hours, not that this will scale to anything like Katrina.

85. Fernigal McGunnigle Posted: August 27, 2011 at 07:24 PM (#3910402)

Considering the storm hasn't hit the heaviest populated parts that it's going to, you might be a little dismissive. The real problem will be flooding, as the NE is completely saturated. Philly has already set the "wettest month of all time" record this month, 6-8 inches of rain might break the previous monthly record by as much as 50%.

This was why Hurricane Floyd was such a disaster in NC back in 1999. Hurricane Dennis had dumped a bunch of rain on the state a couple of weeks earlier. When Floyd came through the ground was still saturated and the rivers were still high, and the result was a record flood in every river in the eastern half of the state and something like $1.5 billion in flooding damage. You can't ever tell with a hurricane and rain. If it hits land and keeps going, you're usually OK. If it decides to just sit there and dump rain, you're not.

86. McCoy Posted: August 27, 2011 at 07:36 PM (#3910405)

I think he was saying it's ludicrous to declare this event over-hyped in the first few hours, not that this will scale to anything like Katrina.

Considering that it basically hit America at category 1 and will be downgraded to a tropical storm well before it reaches NY I think the hype was on the level of "over".

87. Gamingboy Posted: August 27, 2011 at 07:49 PM (#3910406)

Here's the thing though:

This is what happened at NYC subway after just a particularly bad rain storm.

Imagine what even a tropical storm could do, especially a tropical storm THE SIZE OF EUROPE that could potentially go ALL DAY LONG.

NYC will have problems, but it won't be the doomsday scenario some had been predicting. Although it'll be really inconvenient for most everyone.

Of course, let's face it. We have no ####### clue what's going to happen. None. We can only guess.

88. The Anthony Kennedy of BBTF (Scott) Posted: August 27, 2011 at 07:53 PM (#3910411)

McCoy, estimates are that it'll still be a Cat 1 when it gets near NYC. A weak Cat 1, but still a hurricane.

I just wish it'd stop raining here in Boston. Stupid thunderstorms.

89. Ray (CTL)

Posted: August 27, 2011 at 07:54 PM (#3910413)

Here's the thing though:

This is what happened at NYC subway after just a particularly bad rain storm.

Imagine what even a tropical storm could do, especially a tropical storm THE SIZE OF EUROPE that could potentially go ALL DAY LONG.

That video isn't very useful without an explanation of the circumstances -- where it was, how long the falling water lasted for, how many of the other subway stations were similarly affected, how much rain had fallen, whether the subway was underneath a particularly flood-logged street, etc.

90. . . . . . . Posted: August 27, 2011 at 08:02 PM (#3910417)

Am I the only person here with any kind of atmospheric sciences/met background? Because this thread reads like the foxsports.com baseball comment threads must read to most of you...

91. McCoy Posted: August 27, 2011 at 08:04 PM (#3910420)

You need that background to talk about politics, milk, eggs, and batteries?

92. Bernal Diaz has an angel on his shoulder Posted: August 27, 2011 at 08:05 PM (#3910422)

My son will be studying Applied Meteorology here in a couple years.

93. Crispix Attacksel Rios Posted: August 27, 2011 at 08:06 PM (#3910423)

Am I the only person here with any kind of atmospheric sciences/met background? Because this thread reads like the foxsports.com baseball comment threads must read to most of you...

I think all the comments here either are anecdotes, or consist of somebody saying "I am too smart to be fooled by the sensationalist media", so I would guess you are.

94. Swedish Chef Posted: August 27, 2011 at 08:08 PM (#3910425)

Because this thread reads like the foxsports.com baseball comment threads must read to most of you...

I was unaware that most people here were professional baseball players.

Also: Isn't it sweet that Ray has such great faith in NY's public infrastructure?

95. dave h Posted: August 27, 2011 at 08:08 PM (#3910426)

Am I the only person here with any kind of atmospheric sciences/met background? Because this thread reads like the foxsports.com baseball comment threads must read to most of you...

Care to pass on some of your tremendous knowledge, oh wise one?

96. . . . . . . Posted: August 27, 2011 at 08:13 PM (#3910428)

I haven't been watching the tv, so I can't speak to "hype", but this thing, even as a tropical storm, has the potential to be a major PItA in metro NYC. Seems a little early to be writing off a storm with a 950mb central pressure and a giant wind field, even if the max winds aren't going to exceed 75mph or so, since the real damage is caused by surge/storm tide. Winds, even in the strongest NE hurricanes, are rarely strong enough to cause structural damage anyways, but this storm is taking an unusual near shore track, so the surge in NYC is likely to be worse than Bob and Gloria. Probably as bad or worse than the 1992 nor'easter, and that made a huge mess.

97. ERROR---Jolly Old St. Nick

Posted: August 27, 2011 at 08:14 PM (#3910429)

Also: Isn't it sweet that Ray has such great faith in NY's public infrastructure?

I just hope his apartment isn't on the 80th floor.

98. Bernal Diaz has an angel on his shoulder Posted: August 27, 2011 at 08:16 PM (#3910430)

Libertarian Ray is relying on the government to have done its job.

99. . . . . . . Posted: August 27, 2011 at 08:18 PM (#3910431)

The other issue is skyscraper windows. The storm actually has fairly strong winds aloft, they're just not being transported to the surface efficiently since the storm lacks deep convection in it's eyeball (actually, arguably lacks a true eyewall altogether). But 500ft up- different story. And if windows start blowing out - see Alicia, 1982, in Houston, TX. Glass everywhere.

100. Gamingboy Posted: August 27, 2011 at 08:22 PM (#3910432)

'Zop, would the the "urban canyon effect" of the cities change anything as far as wind, or would it not really matter?

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