East Coasters in the US...

[festive1]

Festive, it's going to be the derecho all over again. I'm going to come stay at your house until my air conditioning works again.

Sure, come on over, we can roast marshmallows! For whatever reason we've been very lucky when its come to power outages, so hopefully that will hold. *crosses fingers*

[popeyespappy]

at least it is not here.

I hear that. I'm currently sitting on Padre Island. Elevation about 6 feet.

[Annik]

It's just a hurricane and only a Cat 1 at that. Lololololol

[Jaysyn]

It's just a hurricane and only a Cat 1 at that. Lololololol

Yeah, but we are used to them.

[IATIA]

I hear that. I'm currently sitting on Padre Island. Elevation about 6 feet.

Kickin' back in the dunes.

[Annik]

It's just a hurricane and only a Cat 1 at that. Lololololol

Yeah, but we are used to them.

Don't make them anymore severe, we just don't freak out about them. I don't get nervous for anything lower than mid Cat 3.

[festive1]

Yeah, but we are used to them.

Don't make them anymore severe, we just don't freak out about them. I don't get nervous for anything lower than mid Cat 3.

The main issues are flooding and power outages, not so much direct wind damage, though the wind might cause problems with trees that still have their leaves. It's going to park itself over the eastern seaboard and we're in for heavy rains for about 3 days. New York is already suspending their subway service. Here in MD/DC we're expected to get 6-10 inches of rain... I live in the lowest area of my neighborhood... Flooding is something that concerns me. Pepco (our local electrical monopoly) sucks too. After the Derecho in July we had neighbors out of power for 8 days, during 90*+ heat. There's also projections of the low pressure system from the hurricane (or has it been downgraded to a tropical storm?) colliding with a regular low pressure system just west of us. The computer model doesn't know what that will produce, as there hasn't been an instance of this occurring since the computer models have been developed. Hopefully it'll be nothing, but better to be prepared than to be caught with just your dick in your hand.

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All that being said, I'll take a serious storm over an earthquake any day.

[Annik]

The main issues are flooding and power outages, not so much direct wind damage, though the wind might cause problems with trees that still have their leaves. It's going to park itself over the eastern seaboard and we're in for heavy rains for about 3 days. New York is already suspending their subway service. Here in MD/DC we're expected to get 6-10 inches of rain... I live in the lowest area of my neighborhood... Flooding is something that concerns me. Pepco (our local electrical monopoly) sucks too. After the Derecho in July we had neighbors out of power for 8 days, during 90*+ heat. There's also projections of the low pressure system from the hurricane (or has it been downgraded to a tropical storm?) colliding with a regular low pressure system just west of us. The computer model doesn't know what that will produce, as there hasn't been an instance of this occurring since the computer models have been developed. Hopefully it'll be nothing, but better to be prepared than to be caught with just your dick in your hand.

I still don't think you have much to worry about as long as you're not too close to the coast (the NHC seems to be concerned about storm surges). They always play these things up, but as long as you take precautions, there is nothing to be alarmed about. Flooding is always the thing to worry about, though. You always see weathermen on tv going "Look! The wind holds me up!", but it's often flooding that causes the most damages. Board your house, invest in some sandbags and everyone should have a small generator. To be clear, I'm not saying one shouldn't be prepared, I'm saying that the media generally stirs up more panic than needed. As long as you have what you need, there is no need to worry.

[festive1]

I'm more concerned about Pepco not being on the ball and getting lines fixed for an extended period of time... That and being trapped in my house with a rambunctious 4 and 6 year old, who are already driving each other (and me and my husband crazy).

[Annik]

It's just what happens in these situations. I seriously recommend getting a generator. A small one can power a fan (to regulate the temperature a little bit) or window A/C unit (if you own one) and your fridge (so the food doesn't spoil) and possibly a TV (for news updates, or you could just get a radio). When my dad got one, it made hurricane season that much more bearable. One season, my grandma had her RV around, so we lived in that for a week. It was a tight squeeze (there were 6 of us and a big dog), but so worth it for the ability to make meals and have A/C.