1 You-know-who is a you-know what.

2 I'm tmi3rd, and I'm sitting at the Moron Central Weather Desk If your weather lady in front of the map is ginger and topless, I'm riveted.

3 Ginger, yes. Topless, I'll ask her.

4 At least we have a responsible President for this hurricane that actually cares about the American people.

5 Oh, and Navin, were you going to say that Barack Obama is a Stuttering Clusterfuck Of A Miserable Failure? Googling Googlers want to know.

6

O/T:Meanwhile, up on the Vineyard: (CNN) – There have been no discussions about President Barack Obama changing his vacation plans and leaving Martha's Vineyard early, according to White House Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest.

But White House officials are "watching the weather reports" and tracking the progress of Hurricane Irene closely, Earnest said.

Bloomberg has asked NYC folks not to swim in rip tides (no joke, it was in NYT). I have a feeling his "Katrina" moment with the blizzards last winter will be fond memories if Irene hits.

Governors declaring emergency (note NY is not one of them):

Miami (CNN) -- Four governors declared states of emergency Thursday as Hurricane Irene threatened to wreak havoc along the United States' Eastern Seaboard.

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley declared emergencies for their states, while North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue declared a state of emergency in counties east of Interstate 95. The emergency declarations allow states to free funds and prepare resources that may be needed.

If Irene continues along its current track, "from a flooding perspective, this could be a hundred-year event," Christie said. He encouraged voluntary evacuations to begin immediately. "Anybody who is on a barrier island should go," he said, adding that on Friday people along the beaches should start thinking about moving to higher ground.

7 I was really going to blow this off until Tmi3rd's post. Not sarcastic, that's what I usually do. Okay, I will get water, candles and flashlight, and some canned food.

8
Come on, Irene.

9 Hey, perfect time for an east coast moron meet-up!!!! Seriously, I am 17 stories up in lower Manhattan. And I felt that quake the other day (used to live in LA). So, I don't know whether to shit or wind my watch. I guess I will stay put, but then again, Bloomberg is our nanny-in-chief and we all remember what happened during the blizzard last January. Oh boy....

10 Shit- thanks for reminding me, Dr. Varno.

11 Great post, tmi3rd.  Thanks for your insight and work on this.

12 state of emergency? ugh. Looks like it's going to bad in DC/Md on Sunday.

13 Great.  I frickin' lost power for 8 days after Isabel in 2004.  Can't wait for this fucker!!

14 Bloomberg said earlier that the winds would be down to 40 to 50 mph by the time it reached NYC. He only advised a voluntary evac of coastal areas.

I would not expect much a storm surge when it reaches NYC.

15 Pickled hobo keeps in all weather, hot or cold. Just sayin'.

16 Vic, that's a dangerous assumption. If the storm doesn't go ashore on its current track, it'll still be quite potent by the time it gets to NYC.

17 Why, yes tmi3rd, I did mean to say that Barack Obama is a Stuttering Clusterfuck of a Miserable Failure

18 Stocked up on kitteh food and litter this afternoon-- the really critical items in this moron household.

19 Don't be waiting on the buses.

20 Posted by: Vic at August 25, 2011 04:15 PM (M9Ie6) I seem to recall that Sea Gate (a gated community at the tip of Coney Island) got swamped a few years back during a nasty tropical storm. As long as Nathan's and the Cyclone remains intact, no worries.

21 Make sure you get vaccinated before the storm hits, just in case.

22 Crap! Can't remember how to embed. "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oc-P8oDuS0Q" and blame it on Kim Jong-Il.

23
It will be the Irene Ryan of all storms.

24

Ace you better hurry up and get those candles.  They sell out quick.

And fill your bathtub with water.  And eat as much of your frozen food you can while the power's still on.  Make freinds with someone who has a grill.

The power could be out for days....weeks even.

25 Great post, tmi3rd. (Good job spelling Eastern Seaboard, btw    )

If you yankees were of a mind, we sure could use some rain down here.

Just sayin'.

26 This is serious! It seriously is going to effect my me time.

27 Funny, I left DC early to head back to Florida and board up in preparation for Irene.  Now I'll just be having mojitos on the deck, watching Shep Smith whine about the devastation in NYC.

You suppose Shep will whine about rapes and murders going on at shelters at Madison Square Garden?

Anyone up north need plywood? I've got a couple dozen sheets, I'll let em go cheap *sly wink*

28 One thing to remember is that the storm surge models do not account for the super saturated conditions of most water sheds in the tri-state area.  As a kicker it's going to start raining tonight. These waterways are going to be full, be slowed down by the storm surge and the 10" of rain behind it has no where to go.

Remember the flooding from Hurricane Floyd?  It was really a tropical storm when it hit the tri-state. Irene is not only bigger then Floyd but will probably be more then a Tropical Storm.  Places that have never seen a flood in New Jersey might see one this weekend.

29 Okay, I will get water, candles and flashlight, and some canned food.


Don't forget basic first aid and a manual can opener.

30

As has been mentioned before.

Batteries, radios that run on batteries, extra water, dry good, medicine, a first aid kit, bleach(to purify water), and lots of liquor/beer.  If you power goes out and you have a cooler, take the ice from your ice maker and whatever frozen goods you want to try and save and put them in there.

Heck if you have good meat you might want to cook  it for dinner tonight incase you lose power for a few days.

Also, I've been told filling up your bathtubs with water is a good idea.

31 Thanks, Quilly. There are so many bizarre local effects at the Tri-State corner that I didn't even want to bother with the hydrology.

32 I suppose I have to go elsewhere to play golf. Thankfully, you are there to support my extended vacation in Hawaii.

33

1) Don't panic. 

In the immortal words of Woody from Toy Story now is the perfect time to panic!

I find it hilarious that I'm safer from hurricanes now that I'm in NC than I was when I was in PA. 

Boy BFF and his wife are supposed to be flying back in from their honeymoon on Saturday.  I'm thinking they aren't going to make it.

34 Don't be waiting on the buses.

Teh Won has already got dibs on them for his next campaign tour.

35 so, about what can we expect in the DC area? I'm in Alexandria (not terribly near the river). Flooding of empty government buildings would be a fitting Augean stables moment.

36 This is Allah's divine judgment upon Jersey Shore!

You are all doomed.

37 Effect -> affect. Whatever.

38 I want to see Geraldo reporting from a small boat off the Carolina coast.  That would be TV worth watching.  

39 Also, I've been told filling up your bathtubs with water is a good idea.


Ick.

I would have to scrub my bathtub first.

Just ick.

40 Chrisitie just threatened to murder Irene if she struck New Jersey. He also called her a dirty whore who owed him money.

41 so have the local news broadcasts started to whip people into a frenzy of impending doom yet?

42 Posted by: Vic at August 25, 2011 04:15 PM (M9Ie6)

If Bloomberg actually said that he is even stupider than I thought.

43 "Also, I've been told filling up your bathtubs with water is a good idea." If water goes out, you can flush your toilet by scooping water into it.

44 As Michael Caine said in "A Shock To the System," "...Okay, you, you and you panic. You and you stay calm."

45

Batteries, radios that run on batteries, extra water, dry good, medicine, a first aid kit, bleach(to purify water), and lots of liquor/beer.

Holy crap,  I forgot the liquor.  When the power's out for days that is a neccessity.  Also, you will discover that 80% of you neighbors are alcoholics.

And you will be getting to know your neighbors.

46 Vic, that's a dangerous assumption.

That is what Bloomberg said in the NYP article this morning.

I seem to recall that Sea Gate (a gated community at the tip of Coney Island) got swamped a few years back during a nasty tropical storm. As long as Nathan's and the Cyclone remains intact, no worries.

I think Coney Island was one of the areas that Bloomberg recommended people evacuate.

47 Fabius, I want to see the afternoon model run before I weigh in on that too heavily- my brother-in-law works for Treasury and asked me the same question. Offhand, I'd say you're going to get a decent amount of rain, but probably no worse than 50 mph winds. That's given its current track and assuming it doesn't wobble west, but I don't think that's terribly likely at the moment.

48 if NY City gets hit does that mean the hole where the world trade center was will fill with water?

49 "Holy crap, I forgot the liquor. When the power's out for days that is a neccessity." The last thing you want is to be four days into no power and have nothing left but vermouth.

50 "what can we expect in the DC area?"

During Floyd, all of Alexandria, about 6 blocks in, flooded.  That is why the Torpedo Factory is brand new, it was washed out.

During Agnes in 1973, Ellicott City was under 17 feet of water.

51 Great summary, but Philly? I mean some sacrifices must be made

52 Everyone please be careful and be safe!  Praying for all of you. 


And, Obama is a stuttering clusterfuck of a miserable failure.

53 New York is gonna be a chocolate city!

54

This is Allah's divine judgment upon Jersey Shore!

Wait, aren't they all in Italy?

(I can't believe I know that.)

55 Any suggestions on food to pick up?  I keep hearing "canned or non-perishable food," but I'm not really keen on what tastes good eaten cold out of a can.

56

As Michael Caine said in "A Shock To the System,"

God I love that movie. 

And, yes, I agree that we should nobly offer Philly as a sacrifice to Blessed Mother Gaia. 

Is Geraldo chained to a tree yet? 

57 Cool, thanks, that's about what I was expecting.

58 49 if NY City gets hit does that mean the hole where the world trade center was will fill with water? Posted by: Bannor at August 25, 2011 04:26 PM (6AXh/) That will happen anyway; that's what the memorial is - a waterfall/reflecting pool... (and Islamic mikvah).

59 "I keep hearing 'canned or non-perishable food,' but I'm not really keen on what tastes good eaten cold out of a can." Hunger is the best sauce.

60 My backup generator is all set to go and I have plenty of gas!

61 Shit, I just realized that if power does go out in NY, that means no posts.

62

Is Geraldo chained to a tree yet? 

I thought you said Gerardo.

(Sorry, Rico Suave.)

63 35 so, about what can we expect in the DC area? I'm in Alexandria (not terribly near the river).

Flooding of empty government buildings would be a fitting Augean stables moment.

I probably wouldn't want to be around the Georgetown Waterfront area.

64 Things to remember:
No electricity means no ATM's. You need cash.
Filling your bathtub and washing machine can provide water to flush your toilets.
After the storm, the mosquitoes will be horrific. Get some deep wood Off.
Make sure your pet ALSO has enough food.
You will need a hand operated can opener
 

65 46 Holy crap,  I forgot the liquor.  When the power's out for days that is a neccessity.  Also, you will discover that 80% of you neighbors are alcoholics.

And you will be getting to know your neighbors.

You will learn to love grilled pizza.

66 Posted by: alexthechick at August 25, 2011 04:28 PM (VtjlW) Caine totally saved that flick.

67 I'm sure Bloomberg is getting his info from the NWS, just like I am. These storms have traditionally stayed east of the forecast path. I'm not claiming absolution here; I'm just saying that if if stays a hair east of its current forecast, it won't weaken as much as we'd like, and this forecast is not at all reliable.

68 "1) Don't panic." But I already called my boss at work and told her she's a Hairy Chested Aggressively Man Hating Bull Dyke, right before I proceeded to throw all our furniture out of the second story window! NOW you tell me not to panic. Jeesh...

69 Just don't get SPAM.  Trust me on this.

70 Don't forget to get ice and an ice chest if possible.

71
bottom line is that if you're 10 miles inland, that's far enough inland that the storm surge would have a hard time getting to you

That goes into the maybe/maybe not category. You should check the interactive coastal flooding map.

If, for instance, the expected storm surge is 15 feet, and the highest point between you and the shore is 3 feet, you're going to have a problem.

Remember: the biggest cause of death in US landfalling hurricanes is fresh-water drownings. Don't cross the streams.

72 I live in Hoboken, NJ and my mayor already suggested that if you got some place to go you should leave town over the weekend.  Basically any type of Hurricane that hits will cause massive flooding where I live.  I'm taking tmi3rd advice and going inland to my mom's for the weekend.  God I hope this is all post Katrina hype but I'm not taking any chances.  Good luck to any morons in harm way. 

73 "suggestions on food to pick up?"

Tuna fish and bread staples are always good.  Stuff that you can open easy and doesn't need to be refrigerated.

Also, get several cases of bottled water.

Fill up your gas tanks in case you need to evacuate.  If that happens, you will be in traffic for a very long time.

74 If power goes out in NYC, I am stranded 17 stories up. The wife lived through the '03 Blackout. Not fun.

75 we need a liberal projection thread, I am reminded of Michael Moore on 9-11, "if this is God's idea of punishing America for electing booosh, then NYC's full of people who voted against him."

76  71 Just don't get SPAM.  Trust me on this. Posted by: eleven

How 'bout Deviled Ham?

77 IRENE.  AGAIN I SAY IRENE.

78 Don't forget  the French Toast Effect

People gonna be crowding the stores to buy milk, bread and eggs.

79 Food- dunno. Usually, the canned soup is safe, but remember that the Chunky Soup can give you some serious gas. Don't forget, as well, that if you've got a grill, you can still cook. Anything freeze-dried will work as well.

80 56 Any suggestions on food to pick up?  I keep hearing "canned or non-perishable food," but I'm not really keen on what tastes good eaten cold out of a can.

Soup, fruit, beans, ravioli, etc.

81 Irene better not interfere with UFC 134! Damn you, mercurial satellite dishes!

82 Lot's of people don't like to eat cold food out of a can. I made several of these for our disaster kits.  They're easy to make, heat well and the rubbing alcohol fuel is cheapo and easy to get. Cat can stove.

83 Tobasco SPAM is ok cold and raw.  Get Deli-Cat even if you don't have a cat, good stuff.

84

Thanks for posting tmi3rd.

J.J. Sefton, please do not stay in your high rise if this thing goes to NYC as the wind gets stronger with each elevation. (So, windows blown out: remember the hotels in NOLA or Miami? You will be taking shelter in your hallway).

Most of you have not experienced the grocery stores with NO food, water, ice, etc. and the National Guard directing traffic. Prepare now, do not wait for the gubment to tell you to get the heck out of Dodge. In INLAND Mississippi on my parent's farm (120 mi away), after Katrina, power was out for two weeks. Same for some living close to me on this barrier island in Florida in 2004 after two hurricanes. My house is on the emergency grid and has underground cable...we had power but our next door neighbor was on a generator for over a week). Most homes are not built as strong as ours (concrete block with concrete re-inforced rebar every few feet, windows to 110mph plus metal shutters on every door and window), yet we leave.

Here in Florida Gov. Jeb Bush knew how to run a hurricane. We have massive preparations. It still can take a couple of days for things to get running (Salvation Army food lines with bags of ice, etc). Please have enough food and water for about a week, a weather radio, flashlight, batteries,candles,valu-rite, etc.

We are having our first large rain band from the hurricane right now(Irene is a couple of hundred miles away) right now. Strong winds (tropical storm gusts now) most of the day ahead of this. Have been hearing the surf since last night from inside house (beach 1/4 mile away...this is not unusual, depending on tides, but we know it means bidness when it is all day).

 

85 Two thoughts, before I forget: 1) People evacuate, and the storm misses them. They get pissed because they had to shut down their businesses. People don't evacuate and they get hit. They get pissed because their businesses were destroyed and they had to cut their way out. 2) We lost cell phones in the 504 area code for weeks because the exchanges in New Orleans were flooded and the backup generators ran out of gas. Is that going to happen here? I doubt it, but it's something to think about.

86 Make friends with someone who has a grill.

Or get yourself a decent camping stove.

87 Excellent post.   I went through Hugo with no power for 14 days.  Remember batteries and gas.  With no power? the gas pumps will not work, get a couple of 5 gallon gas cans filled up. You car and generator don't work without gas.  Canned food. Iodine will purify water, 8 drops per quart, let sit for 30 minutes.  Go get some bottled water and lots of beer and valu rite.  Remember all your shit in the frig is going to rot, so don't get frozen or refrigerated shit. 

I also went to Katrina to work after the storm.  My advice, pack up your shit and head West.  Storm surges can completely submerge your house. 

Don't forget your pets, have food and keep them inside.  They will disappear if you don't.

Be safe.

88 So what you're saying is that the Moron Meetup caused all this drama?

89 I'd say the biggie to prepare for is that craptastic time of power outage.. 3 to 5 days ,, maybe more..  That is a long time with no interweb.

A few years back here in Texas we actually had this storm that dropped one of my tree limbs on the pwr lines out back and fried the transformer for our block.  It took the power company 5 days to come out and restore power because we were an isolated pocket vs major damage that happened in other areas... areas that got all the attention and power restored earlier.  THAT sucked my friends..  some of my neighbors really hated me for that ... a few beers took care of that.

90 New York is gonna be a chocolate city! Posted by: Mayor Ray Nagin at August 25, 2011 04:27 PM (ursg4) Actually I think that is Hymie town

91 The satellite imagery of this hurricane is wild. This thing should definitely be taken seriously. Glad to hear the WH is "monitoring"

92
Also: the new moon occurs on Sunday, so the regular tides will be higher. That also means that the storm surge will be higher, too.

93 My family had a beach front rental in Ocean City, MD. I'm tempted to head out there for the weekend.

94 Posted by: ChristyBlinky at August 25, 2011 04:35 PM (fNdyx) So, okay. You just scared the living shit out of me. Just had a note slipped under my door from building management to stay indoors and keep windows shut. Oy vey...

95 Mp...we're getting teased here in SA. got just enough to make the ground wet.

96 Goodnight Irene

97 You don't have to get water at the store.  Just fill all the pitchers and glasses and bowls in the house for drinking water.  Fill the tub for filling the back of the toilet for flushing.

98 I am personally holding Barky responsible for any damage that will be caused by this storm "surge".

If he had kept his promises to us regarding the war in Afghanistan, the continued practice of the failed and destructive "surge" policies of the Bush Administration forever would have been laid to rest. But he didn't. So now millions of blameless women and children will be cast adrift due to his heartlessness and selfishness.

99

Food: from Walmart, freeze-dried food (Mountain House, in sporting goods section, boaters eat it). I have some but have thankfully not tried it yet. You boil water and pour in pouch. Some say it is the best of freeze-dried stuff.

You can also find rice that you can boil in a pouch (if you have power or gas stove) plus beans (yeah, not fine cuisine but will keep you from starving until the Salvation Army gets there).

Power bars, gatorade, bottled water, soda, beer, booze. Packaged cheese (not velveta, other stuff where you can find beef jerky, etc that does not need fridge). Crackers. Tuna. Poptarts, cereal bars, etc.

Have prescription medications plus OTC meds and a first aid kit.

Hope this helps.

100 Okay, I will get water, candles and flashlight, and some canned food. Posted by: ace at August 25, 2011 04:11 PM (nj1bB) This is different from a regular Saturday night now?

101 Okay, I will get water, candles and flashlight, and some canned food.

I assume you didn't mention Valu-Rite because you've already got a two month supply on hand.

102

O/T:Meanwhile, up on the Vineyard: (CNN) – There have been no discussions about President Barack Obama changing his vacation plans and leaving Martha's Vineyard early, according to White House Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest.

Will they take separate planes again, you know, since we are so damn rich.

103 In 2004, with Jeanne, I got caught traveling back to Florida, and only had enough time to board up the house then had to ride it out.  She was a Cat 3 and the eye came over the house.

I recommend not riding out a hurricane.  It is psychologically very traumatic, because the howling wind continues for hours.  You won't sleep through it, and it will constantly sound like your roof is being ripped off (mine turned out to be fine, didn't even lose shingles).

BTW, rain bands from Irene are coming through now, pretty heavy rain here.

104 Don't forget to charge your cell phones before it hits.

105 Also, I've been told filling up your bathtubs with water is a good idea. Ick. I would have to scrub my bathtub first. Just ick. There is this thing called a water bob, solves that problem - big bag for your tub with a hand pump.

106 Meh...pikers.

107 Mp...we're getting teased here in SA. got just enough to make the ground wet.



You think you're being teased?

We've got cloud cover, we can smell rain, but no rain.

Talk about yer blue balls.

108 I've got my gear ready.

109 Margot Kidder is looking like SHE's gone thru more than a few hurricanes: http://media.hotair.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/kidder-cardinal.jpg What the hell happened to there? Age alone is not enough to explain this.

110

It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself.

111 Is Pat Robertson still around?  He can pray it away.

112 There is this thing called a water bob, solves that problem - big bag for your tub with a hand pump.


Naw, I'm just thinking of my husband's hairy ass sitting in that tub.

But I guess if the suggested use is to flush toilets and not actually drink it, that might be ok.

113 114 Margot Kidder is looking like SHE's gone thru more than a few hurricanes:

http://media.hotair.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/kidder-cardinal.jpg

What the hell happened to there? Age alone is not enough to explain this. Posted by: CoolCzech


Dang!  She's got hick-lip.

114 How are you going to cook the canned food in a NYC apt?

115 Sunny and breezy, with just a hint of fall in the air, here in Chicago burbs today.

just sayin'

116 Folks, I've got to go pick up tmi4th, so I'll be out of pocket for a couple of hours. By all means, shoot me a message if you have something you need me to answer. In terms of general disaster preparation, your fellow Morons seem to have the matter well in hand. We may disagree slightly about what kind of ammunition gives fresh hobo meat its proper flavor, but this is a subtle thing. I'll be back once tmi4th hits the sack, and there's always Twitter.

117 DC area the model is looking better than it was - this am we were looking at 100 mph winds about noon Sunday - now looking at 80ish. My biggest concern is a repeat of Isabel - and a lot of areas were out of power for a week or more.

118 I don't feel like working on physics right now

Oh come on.  We need to know the avg velocity, avg acceleration, circular force, and wave mechanics of this storm.  Not to mention momentum and its conservation.

119 One more point, move your cars to an elevated parking garage or just leave.  Storm surge will swamp them and then you are fucked.  Boats?  get them tied up or moved. 

Remember that most motels and hotels have generators, so you can easily ride out the storm by moving into a hotel 100 west of the track.  The Mts of PA and NY are mighty nice this time of year, go see them.

PS  Perry told me this was God's revenge on the Blue states, so you bastards take your medicine.

120 This will be Commander Clusterfuck's excuse for the next stimulus.  He'll save the world by giving a trillion dollars for the rebuilding of the east coast, regardless of damage severity.

The only job the government can create is a government job or a construction job.

121 Check out the 8/18 Day by Day cartoon: the sex redhead is showing some serious nippleroni...

122 How are you going to cook the canned food in a NYC apt?

You can eat Spaghettios right out of the can.

123 Musical theme set: "You Are Like a Hurricane" - Neil Young "Hurricane" - Bob Dylan "Stormy Weather" - Lena Horne "Riders on the Storm" - The Doors "Stormy" - Classics IV and that one hit wonder from '73, Hurricane Smith

124 Guy, the fun part for me is that this is just general physics, not technical. That means I may sneak into medical school without ever having endured calculus (insert maniacal laughter here).

125 The hurricane is a diversion!  Aliens are coming!  ALIENS!!!

126 114
Margot Kidder is looking like SHE's gone thru more than a few hurricanes:
What the hell happened to there? Age alone is not enough to explain this.
Posted by: CoolCzech at August 25, 2011 04:43 PM (niZvt)

She underwent some form of unhingement a decade or so ago. What hinges she still has apparently are not well hung.

127 And, yes, I agree that we should nobly offer Philly as a sacrifice to Blessed Mother Gaia. Is Geraldo chained to a tree yet? Posted by: alexthechick at August 25, 2011 04:28 PM (VtjlW) Hey hey HEEEEY, you got some loyal morons in the Philly area! Unfortunately, we went from bone dry to soaked with rain in a space of about a month, so we're going to get some flooding for sure. timi3rd, thanks for the update.

128 127 How are you going to cook the canned food in a NYC apt? You can eat Spaghettios right out of the can. Or rub 2 wino's together to create an ignition source.

129 "Fill the tub for filling the back of the toilet for flushing." You can dump water straight into the bowl. In fact, it's a good idea to identify a pot or bowl that has enough volume to initiate a flush in one or two scoops while you still have water and power.

130 What the hell happened to there? Age alone is not enough to explain this.

Posted by: CoolCzech at August 25, 2011 04:43 PM (niZvt)

She's batshit fucking crazy.  That tends to add to the diminishing effect.

131 Musical theme set:

"You Are Like a Hurricane" - Neil Young
"Hurricane" - Bob Dylan
"Stormy Weather" - Lena Horne
"Riders on the Storm" - The Doors
"Stormy" - Classics IV
and that one hit wonder from '73, Hurricane Smith

High Water - Rush

132 re Margot Kidder - from 2005: Not too long ago, Margot Kidder was found hiding in the bushes behind a house in suburban Los Angeles. She had been missing for over a week. When the police arrived, they tried to convince her to leave the bushes on her own by saying, "There are black widow spiders living in those bushes, you better come out." But Margot merely replied, "Ha! There are much worse things than black widow spiders after me." When Margot did emerge from the bushes the officers saw that her head was nearly shaved and that she was missing her two front teeth. They could recognize her only from her voice.

133 "Uh oh... I've got Hurricane Irene... in my panties!"

134  How are you going to cook the canned food in a NYC apt?

You can cook heroin in a spoon.

135 Musical theme set:

"You Are Like a Hurricane" - Neil Young
"Hurricane" - Bob Dylan
"Stormy Weather" - Lena Horne
"Riders on the Storm" - The Doors
"Stormy" - Classics IV
and that one hit wonder from '73, Hurricane Smith


What?  No Scorpions?

136 We actually have some of those MRE's that heat up just by adding water in the pantry just in case.  Haven't tried them yet, but they sound kinda good, anybody have any insight on the actual taste?

137 120 Sunny and breezy, with just a hint of fall in the air, here in Chicago burbs today. just sayin' Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at August 25, 2011 04:45 PM (f9c2L) Go eat a pan pizza - which is NOT pizza!

138

There was actually a good tip on CNN so I'd bet most of you didn't see it, CNN being crap and in league with evil.

In terms of money, make sure you have plenty of $1s and $5s in case you're in a situation where you want to buy something small but they don't have change.

139 Nate Silver is doing his own panicky model of economic impact now. Shit, I have to go get the little guy. Ah wish ah knew how ta quit yew...

140 119 How are you going to cook the canned food in a NYC apt?

This is a joke right.  Almost all canned food is already cooked, think canned tuna.  That is how they can it, they cook it to sterilize  it while canning it.

Yankees, the stupid is large.

141 What? No Scorpions? Posted by: mpurinTexas, Evil Conservanatrix, supports Rick Perry, bitch at August 25, 2011 04:49 PM (ignDe) Oops.. Meh, their krauts anyway. Although I do like Kraftwerk.

142

You lost me back at

I don't feel like working on physics right now

(I always feel like working on Physics)

143 "You Are Like a Hurricane" - Neil Young
"Hurricane" - Bob Dylan
"Stormy Weather" - Lena Horne
"Riders on the Storm" - The Doors
"Stormy" - Classics IV
and that one hit wonder from '73, Hurricane Smith

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at August 25, 2011 04:47 PM (UlUS4)

"Rock You Like a Hurricane" - The Scorpions

144 Destroy everything, my pretty!

145 My sister lived through Andrew in Miami.  Waited too late to evacuate, due to a POS boyfriend who shacked up with an ex.

She was renting a carriage house at the time that had survived other hurricanes, and had little structural damage, but this is what she dealt with afterward:

1)  For three weeks, no running water or electricity.  She was able to get to her office in a high-rise in the city by bike to shower in the gym.

2)  Living with no lights, water, or air-conditioning was a bitch.  Not to mention insects and snakes.

3)  There were of course, roving bands of thugs looting the neighborhood, which scared her to death.

She learned to never, ever try to sit through a hurricane again.  When an order to evacuate is given, get the hell out.

We live on an island four miles from the Atlantic (marsh and tidal creeks, and an un-inhabited barrier island separate us).  We would have a 20 storm surge with a Cat 2 at high tide.  Good-bye lower floor of house.

Good luck, fellow morons.  Stay safe and pay attention.

Smooches.

146

Ok, I'm in South Philly, about a mile from the Delaware and about 2 miles from the Schuylkill river. I assume that you're telling me to get my ass up to Roxborough at the very least.

Or maybe Pittsburgh.

Everyone around here seems to be treating this as a snowstorm..loading up on bread, milk and eggs. But I don't know anyone with a power generator.

147 Some douche on the radio was recommending everyone go out and get bread and milk.

Milk? So you can entertain yourself making cheese when the power goes out?

148

Oh and good luck everyone.

I hope the potential economic stimulus benefits that may potentially be seen by Hurricane Irene are not realised.

149 Posted by: Damn Sockpuppet at August 25, 2011 04:52 PM (YmPwQ) Better get your ass up to the Poconos!

150 dammit.  20 foot storm surge.

151 Oops.. Meh, their krauts anyway. Although I do like Kraftwerk.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at August 25, 2011 04:51 PM (UlUS4)

Autobahn was catchy, but overall, that shit is unlistenable.

IMHO, of course.

152 Well, at least the Hurricane will finally force Obama to leave Martha's Vineyard.

153 Posted by: CoolCzech at August 25, 2011 04:46 PM (niZvt)

You need help.

154 They need the rain in eastern Carolina and most of the Chesapeake but large parts of the northeast are a different story.   Inland flooding because of torrential rains on already saturated ground was a the big killer in Floyd.

When I lost power for 5 days I found the LED solar landscape lights came in handy.   I stuck them in the ground in the morning and put them in a bucket in the house at dusk.  With a good charge they'd last the entire night.  They are $2-3 each at Walmart.

The land line phones were restored a lot faster than the electric power, but that didn't help people who only had cordless systems.  An old fashion phone that doesn't need a power assist came in handy.  Also have a paper copy of key phone numbers such a relatives you will need to call to say you are OK.  They found out during the Joplin tornado that a lot of people don't bother to memorize such numbers these days because of speed dial and on line phone books.

155 152 My sister lived through Andrew in Miami.  Waited too late to evacuate, due to a POS boyfriend who shacked up with an ex.
Posted by: Jane D'oh at August 25, 2011 04:52 PM (UOM4

Did she served up the POS' parts with fava beans and a nice chianti?
_{^{(Only until food and utility services were restored, of course - we're not savages here.)}}

156 This site has more expertise and technical know how than most tier one universities. Excluding Chico state.

157 Although I do like Kraftwerk.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at August 25, 2011 04:51 PM (UlUS4)

Autobahn was catchy, but overall, that shit is unlistenable.

IMHO, of course.

Posted by: © Sponge

"We are showroom dummies.  Showroom dummies."

I like it.  The stuff that sucks is so bad,  it's cool.

158
Some douche on the radio was recommending everyone go out and get bread and milk.

"Buy as many perishables as you can."

I always thought it was a racket between local news and the supermarkets.

159 My sister lived through Andrew in Miami.  Waited too late to evacuate, due to a POS boyfriend who shacked up with an ex.

Posted by: Jane D'oh at August 25, 2011 04:52 PM (UOM4


Sorry, but WHY do you women put up with that shit?  I mean, there's plenty of fish in the sea (and soon on land!!!!).  I mean, my wife did the same shit with her first husband....a complete douche.  I'm like....WTF!?!

160 Yankees learn what Southerns do when it snows.

Go to the grocery store and buy bread and milk, if there is any left.  Remember that milk is going to rot after a day or two of no electricity,

If you can find one, get a solar phone charger, NYC has lots of stores that sell them. 

Digital portable TV are for sale too, get one.

161 Go eat a pan pizza - which is NOT pizza!
Posted by: J.J. Sefton
..........
As if that crap youse guys in NYC eat IS pizza???

Now, I must say, y'all got pastrami to die for.. but pizza? fuggedaboutit..

(I (and most Chicagoans) don't eat the real deep dish crap anyways.. that's mostly for tourists..)

162 That didn't work. Try this.

163 I like Weather Underground...is there something I should know about that site that would give me pause?

164 "We may disagree slightly about what kind of ammunition gives fresh hobo meat its proper flavor, but this is a subtle thing." I find that unplated .22lr leaves a sweetness to the meat that is reminiscent of the color-matched manna that used to appear on the windowsill in my childhood bedroom.

165

"We are showroom dummies.  Showroom dummies."

I like it.  The stuff that sucks is so bad,  it's cool.

Posted by: Dang at August 25, 2011 04:56 PM (TXKVh)

Heh.  I guess I didn't get that far into the discography.  8^)

166 Peanut butter!  It is cheap and has lots of protein. 

Flashlights!  Actually head lamps that you wear.  Much better than flashlight.

Just leave, let the others tell you the war stories.

167 Soy milk, rice milk and almond milk don't need refrigeration until you open them.

168  Oh,  make sure all you chargeable stuff is charged.  Cell phones,  laptops etc.

And everyone should have a landline phone in the house.  The cordless won't work when the electricity goes out.

169 "I like Weather Underground...is there something I should know about that site that would give me pause?" Just the name. It made me bristle when I first heard of it in 2003 or so.

170 I lost power for a week during Hugo. There were more remote parts of the State though that lost power for a month.

But usually the main street areas of the local towns will get power back fairly quick unless the poles and lines are taken out. Then it will take a little longer.

That allows you to go into town and eat at restaurant. But don't count on buying any ice or bread even if the stores have power. The stores will be stripped. Also, hardware stores will triple the price of portable generators. 

171 ^{Although I do like Kraftwerk.}

^{Posted by: J.J. Sefton at August 25, 2011 04:51 PM (UlUS4)}

Actually, Trans-Europe Express is a great "driving" album. _{(And I'd assume Autobahn would be too, but I haven't heard it.)}

Ralf und Florian has some good early stuff.

172

This may sound crazy but I think it helped me from going insane in 2004 and evacuating from two hurricanes to son's college 1 bedroom apt (power out there for 30 hours. Fun times): a small LCD reading light. Seriously, I would have gone crazy without it.

Don't forget a hand-held can-opener. Even hobos know that one.

Seriously, prayers for those in Irene's path. I hope she starts tracking east and misses all of the coast, but she seems to be holding a path to NC and beyond.

173 Christy Blinky and some other coastal morons/ettes and I had some hurricane tips a while back on a boring Sunday. 

We keep large bottles of frozen water in the freezer in the garage.  In the event of a power loss, you can place them in your kitchen fridge and freezer to help preserve your perishables.

Also, in case of a power loss, empty your ice maker!  It will leak all over your floor as the ice thaws.

Keep a supply of dry charcoal for your grill, or make sure you have plenty of propane.  We keep a small propane stove for emergencies.

Have a hand-crank radio/flashlight thingy that will also power your cellphone.

174 170 I like Weather Underground...is there something I should know about that site that would give me pause?
Posted by: karenm at August 25, 2011 04:58 PM (Xnxty)

It's really not underground, so they lie to us ...

175

beer? check

pets? check

pet food? Nope

food? nope

eat pets? check

176 I like Weather Underground...is there something I should know about that site that would give me pause?

The name.  Also, they're enthusiastic about global warming (but less than the Weather Channel has been since NBC bought them).  But their general weather stuff is top-notch.

177 I've been through a few of these. It's no fun. My favorite website for storm info is still nhc.noaa.gov. I swear by it. Here's some of the best advice I ever got:

If you have an attached garage, get a garage door brace. It basically attaches (inside or outside, I forget which) to your garage door to keep it intact. Most of the wind damage to a home comes from the garage door being ripped off and wind entering the house. (I learned this from a representative of the National Hurricane Center who spoke to a group of us a few years ago.)

Above all, don't underestimate any storm, and please, stay safe, all of you!

178 Hey Vic, I still have a "Hugo" generator, fired it up last night, 5K Honda.

Honda makes good shit.  First pull!

179 Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at August 25, 2011 04:56 PM (f9c2L) My father grew up near "Kaminsky" Parc and came to NYC in the late 40's, so I do have a Chicago affinity though a Brooklynite by birth and temperament. You guys have great food, but pan pizza is not pizza. Closer to some sort of calzone thing. It's good, but it is nothing like traditional Neapolitan "apizz." Even NYC pizza is not near that, but it is truer to the real thing from the old country.

180

Charley came right up our ass in 04.

Two things: If you take off, you may not be able to get back to your house when it's over. But the vermin who stay behind will have an all-access pass. Not to say don't evac if you feel endangered.

2 words: Chain. Saw. if you have trees and you get hit, you're gonna need it sure as shit.

181 I live here, but wouldn't mind seeing this blue state blown to Oz. I'm conflicted.

182 Well, gotta run. As it so happens, today is Costco run day, so it'll be a blast.

Later ...

183 Myrtle Beach hotel occupancy for this weekend is 65-75%?

I'm thinking it must be French Canadians lounging in their banana hammocks, speaking no Anglais.

Va t'en! 

184 Get lots of bagged nuts, raisins, canned tuna & salmon, peanut butter and things that will not need refrigeration (duh). And make sure you have food for your kittehs and doggehs and other creatures. And all your meds.

185 189
I live here, but wouldn't mind seeing this blue state blown to Oz. I'm conflicted.
Posted by: Blue Hen at August 25, 2011 05:04 PM (326rv)

Some of your fellow citizens look at your name and think, "not conflicted, but dinner."

186 Remember, Democrats are immune to storm surges, but not their children or pets.

Democrats should send their children or pets to live with more conservative relatives inland.

187 You get milk in the winter and water in the summer - unless you also have a refrigerator filled with beer and ice in which case you also have a 1500W inverter and a few deep cycle batteries. Beer is a post-disaster currency without parallel. Especially here on the Outer Banks. Where I'll be taking care of other peoples ass-sets while the wife (hopefully) scoots to the kids home in Virginia near DC where her asset should be safe. As for New York and other liberal lands, God Love Ya as our sucksinct VP would say

188 Don't forget a case of Sterno to heat your food.

189

Although I do like Kraftwerk.

I'm controlling....

 

And composing.....

190 One tip: jugs of water in freezer. Power goes out, they'll keep it cold.

191 Mrs. Wodeshed and I fled our little barrier island at the NC/SC line yesterday.  Boats are all high and (temporarily) dry, outdoor furniture moved inside, garden hoses safely in the garage, etc.

Now...if only all my neighbors were similarly prepared.  It's the flying debris that gets ya.

192 How are you going to cook the canned food in a NYC apt?

You can eat Spaghettios right out of the can.
Posted by: mpurinTexas

Hobo stove and a tea light candle!

193 Maybe Barry could send that Coast Guard cutter that followed his daughter over to Nantucket down South to help out?

Nah, Michelle may want to go over later in the week.

194 A good tip from a Floridian (me): This sounds gross but if the power goes out try not to flush unless you absolutely have to because toilets actually take lot of water to flush. Hubby and I made that mistake during Charlie and ran out of tub water very quickly. Which was very inconvenient because hubby got sick off of Taco Bell he ate the night before the storm hit and the power to our well was out for over a week. Once things opened back up we fought our way to the store to get enough extra water to flush. It was horrible. Oh, and if you've waited this long to get your supplies, don't be shocked if you have to literally fight with people to get what you need. Emergency supplies sell out hella quick.

195 Move all electronics away from windows. Sideways rain will come pouring through windows, even ones that seem well sealed.

And download and print recipes for the stuff you have in the freezer. If it's thawed and you have to cook it, might as well enjoy it.

196 1 metric ton of dead Hobo can be rendered down into 80 gallons of Soylent Diesel.

That should keep a diesel home generator running for 3 or four days.

197 Should also point out that wine, beer, and spirits make excellent trade goods for the aftermath. Just like Capone's opinion that "kind words and a gun are more effective than kind words alone", cash and a bottle will put you at the head of the line for getting window-holes boarded up -- ahead of people who have cash alone.

198 114 Margot Kidder is looking like SHE's gone thru more than a few hurricanes:

http://media.hotair.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/kidder-cardinal.jpg

What the hell happened to there? Age alone is not enough to explain this.

Untreated mental illness is a bitch.

In Kidder's case, I think that breakdown she had in the mid-90s, where she shaved her head and was spending time around homeless people, aged her 20 years.

199 A safe isn't waterproof, either.

200 "That should keep a diesel home generator running for 3 or four days." Will using unplated .22lr help with knock? Or, is knock just a spark-ignition thing?

201 I live here, but wouldn't mind seeing this blue state blown to Oz. I'm conflicted.
Posted by: Blue Hen at August 25, 2011 05:04 PM (326rv)

Some of your fellow citizens look at your name and think, "not conflicted, but dinner."

Posted by: No Whining

If they don't know obscure Delaware history, they'll learn the hard way that it's 'fighting blue hens'. Though that spirit is sadly lacking today.

202 You got to love Wal Mart.  I went to one here in SC near beach. They had entire skids of flashlights and batteries.  Skid of coolers, skids of water.

Skids of first aid kits.  Every fucking thing you would need for a hurricane.

If we could only get Wal Mart to run the country.

203 >>I won't presume to speak for LauraW and the New England-area Morons, but I'd anticipate the weekend's Moron Meetup may need to be postponed Bah.

204 Y'all are in for it.  I doubt most construction codes up there take this sort of thing into account, and barring weakening or a turn to the east, this will likely be ugly.

If you haven't already stocked up supplies (you should have Tuesday, honestly) you're going to have a hard time of it.  Get what you can, while you can.  Top off your gas tanks while you're at it, just in case.

If you're within 10 miles of the coast, don't be.  Board up, secure the homestead, and get inland, NOW.  Beat the rush.

Do not rely on your cell phones for communication.  That system will fail you, likely as not.  If you do not have a land line, identify someplace or someone that does and call from there, if you can.

Sit tight.  The storm will take much of the day to pass once it's on you.  DO NOT GO OUT IN THE EYE.  Calm as it will be, conditions will be dangerous, and when it passes they will get back to bad with little warning.  Stay put, unless danger from doing so is immediate (collapsing structure, etc.)

If it hits Manhattan, don't be there.  Bloomie's got this one right, there's no way to evacuate properly on short notice; it's a good idea to secure your domicile and get out of Dodge now.

Prayers with those in Irene's path.

205 I live on Staten Island, but most the way up a hill on the western shore, gotta get to Radio Shack, they have a portable power source that charges everything a bunch of times. One guy in my scout pack had one and used it to keep everything he packed along charged. Of course, i won't have time until Sat...

@J.J. - my son was released from the Lenox Hill Hosp. NICU 3 days before the Aug. 2003 blackout. They had sent us home with an apnea monitor, which of course, did not work without power, so we drove to my parents, who lived in RI at the time. I had to walk from downtown until one my bosses and I scored a ride at 85th Street.

206 209: Diesel doesn't have knock issues, like low octane gasoline.

Be aware that .22 lr makes good currency. Use only if you are too drunk to chase 'em with an axe.

207 200 Mrs. Wodeshed and I fled our little barrier island at the NC/SC line yesterday.  Boats are all high and (temporarily) dry, outdoor furniture moved inside, garden hoses safely in the garage, etc.

Now...if only all my neighbors were similarly prepared.  It's the flying debris that gets ya.

Posted by: Wodeshed at August 25, 2011 05:08 PM (SgLsM)

This.  Dammit, my British neighbor married to a horse-faced yankee go to England Every.Single.Summer and leave all their shit on their deck....to go flying into our house.

Our other neighbors are a sweet older couple who spend the summer on their house in the Hamptons.  They left their crap on their deck this summer as well.  However, they're in the Hamptons right now in the path....

208 My cat just wanted to tell all of you coasters not to worry.  Just eat a lot, take a big dump, and then curl up and take a nap.

209 Thanks for the info, tmi3rd

I'm sitting right where the eye is forecast to go as of 5pm, in Monmouth County NJ. Yay.

If any of you morons are looking for tips on what you can do to your house THS has posted great stuff based on her experience here on our blog

http://coalitionoftheswilling.net/?p=15780

Be prepared and hopefully we'll be happily disappointed

-bing

210 If this ends up being as bad (as in expensive) as they're worried about, we're going to hit the debt ceiling even sooner than soon.

Does anybody know how that gets handled?  I don't.

211 My emergency stash includes several kinds of dried fruits, nuts, peanut butter, jerky and some rice, soy or almond milk in the form that doesn't need to be refrigerated until opened.   Hard salami, summer sausage and county cured ham don't need refrigeration either.   Canned tuna can be dry so get some mustard or better yet snap up some of the little packets of mayo from the deli. Crackers may stay fresh longer than regular bread.  Ditto flour tortillas or pita,  Baked beans seem to taste the best straight from the can. Canned bean salad is also good.  Most canned soups, chili and meats are not very appetizing when cold but they don't need to be heated much past lukewarm to be palatable. .

212 I think I got everything, water, canned goods, animal food (2 dogs and a cat-FML), and batteries.  I have bottled water in the freezer and someone is getting me gas for the generator. I'll fill the bathtubs up with water Sat/Sun.  I think I even have a windup radio.  Did I miss anything?

213 1 metric ton of dead Hobo can be rendered down into 80 gallons of Soylent Diesel.

That should keep a diesel home generator running for 3 or four days.
Posted by: Kristopher

Great.  Now the whole neighborhood smells like onion rings.

214 @221

Valu Rite and fruit mixers, for the vitamins don't you know.

215 You guys have great food, but pan pizza is not pizza. Closer to some sort of calzone thing. It's good, but it is nothing like traditional Neapolitan "apizz." Even NYC pizza is not near that, but it is truer to the real thing from the old country.
Posted by: J.J. Sefton
.........
Cool.. I mostly make my own pizza, and it's probably closer to a Neapolitan pizza than anything..

The bakeries in the Italian neighborhoods (Taylor street mostly) used to make pan pizza - but it was big sheet pans - of oily bread pizza.. not a lot of cheese.. You could eat it cold.. delicious.

216 You got to love Wal Mart.  I went to one here in SC near beach. They had entire skids of flashlights and batteries.  Skid of coolers, skids of water.

Skids of first aid kits.  Every fucking thing you would need for a hurricane.

If we could only get Wal Mart to run the country.

Posted by: Billy Bob, the guy who drinks in SC

 

I read a fascinating article about their planning. Very impressive.

217 Valu Rite and fruit mixers, for the vitamins don't you know.

Posted by: Billy Bob, the guy who drinks in SC at August 25, 2011 05:18 PM (PZiww)

Damnit...I forgot the fruit mixers!

218 Did I miss anything? Posted by: Tami-UNBAN GGE! at August 25, 2011 05:17 PM (X6akg) Booze. I mean, what kind of moronette are you?

219 jwb7605: That's easy. The .gov either stops paying the hobos and other trash to drink, do drugs, and watch or buy/steal widescreen TVs ... or they inflate the currency until any payments they make to them are worthless.

Then the riots start.

Have your face colander, leather banana hammock, and assless chaps ready. When they come for your stuff, shoot a few and tell them to "just walk away".

220 "Diesel doesn't have knock issues, like low octane gasoline." I was just being a wiseass. I drove a diesel car for almost a decade. I gave it up when most stations switching out their tanks to the double-walled ones didn't carry diesel when they reopened.

221 221 I think I got everything, water, canned goods, animal food (2 dogs and a cat-FML), and batteries.  I have bottled water in the freezer and someone is getting me gas for the generator. I'll fill the bathtubs up with water Sat/Sun.  I think I even have a windup radio.  Did I miss anything?

Posted by: Tami-UNBAN GGE! at August 25, 2011 05:17 PM (X6akg)

As I mentioned up-thread, if you lose power, empty your ice maker!  Especially if you have hardwood floors in your kitchen.  People have been known to come home to buckled floors.

Stay safe! 

222

This.  Dammit, my British neighbor married to a horse-faced yankee go to England Every.Single.Summer and leave all their shit on their deck....to go flying into our house.

Our other neighbors are a sweet older couple who spend the summer on their house in the Hamptons.  They left their crap on their deck this summer as well.  However, they're in the Hamptons right now in the path....

Posted by: Jane D'oh

 

And when it flies, of course it gets busted up. It's to be expected. So why wait? Except this time, make sure it 'flies' just a weeeee bit farther. Earlier.

223 Did I miss anything?

Booze?

It's the best way to make the power outage not matter so much.

224 I am 2 hours from the coast of NC...Wilmington...I've got  a generator, which we got from the ice storm in 2003...only fired it up once, in April this year...never take anything for granted...I have a small propane stove, gas and charcoal grills. Dry Ice...first aid, and lots of extra gasoline. Here's hoping it's not as bad as all that...and that if the wind blows, the trees go the other way.

225  If this ends up being as bad (as in expensive) as they're worried about, we're going to hit the debt ceiling even sooner than soon.

Does anybody know how that gets handled?  I don't.

Posted by: jwb7605 at August 25, 2011 05:16 PM (+KHIt)

 

With luck, you'll probably be supplied by the Chinese and Russian helicopters bringing in all vital foodstuffs and water that you need.

226 FRONT TOWARD LEFT:

So was I.  I still like the Soylent Diesel concept ... as a temporary solution. The proper fix should be a small Strontium 90 powered generator. One should just fit in my old Suburban.

It can sit in the garage and provide household power when I'm not driving it.

227 Gezz,  The SC TV stations are on full Bull Shit mode.

The damn hurricane is 300 miles for MB and these people are in full disaster mode.  We only have a 20% chance of RAIN, and these people want you to go buy radios and batteries.

228 Jane D'oh: Be sure to turn off the water tap for the icemaker as well.

229

@121: "We may disagree slightly about what kind of ammunition gives fresh hobo meat its proper flavor, but this is a subtle thing."

Only one choice - Season Shot - compressed seasoning pellets in a shotgun shell

http://tinyurl.com/y82xvm

230

Posted by: DefendUSA at August 25, 2011 05:23 PM (c81D+)

Hey...I have a friend who just moved to Topsail Island from SC. She is "waiting" for mandatory evacuation. I live on an island off Floriduh and I'd already be ready to go. I hope she is not being naive. I guess the Outer Banks are going to get hit worse, however, and y'all will be on the west side of the storm?

231 Booze. I mean, what kind of moronette are you?

Posted by: The Ewok keepers at August 25, 2011 05:20 PM (RD7QR)

Beer, wine, rum, cognac, JW Blue label, grand marnier, brandy and tequila....and I'm home alone.

232

>>>cash and a bottle will put you at the head of the line for getting window-holes boarded up...

Solid advice here. Someday the doom mongerers hoarding gold coins will realize they cannot eat them. They will wish they had stashed whiskey instead.

Many homes in the NE were built ages ago using very good material and technique. My house has been here since 1850 (well, most of it.) I doubt the older homes will take much damage from a Cat 2.

233 As I mentioned up-thread, if you lose power, empty your ice maker!

Oh, good idea Jane!

234 "just walk away".

Posted by: Kristopher

"I give you safe passage through the wasteland!"

235 240 Booze. I mean, what kind of moronette are you?

Posted by: The Ewok keepers at August 25, 2011 05:20 PM (RD7QR)

Beer, wine, rum, cognac cocaine, JW Blue label, grand marnier, brandy and tequila....and I'm home alone.

FIFY

236 237 Jane D'oh: Be sure to turn off the water tap for the icemaker as well.

Posted by: Kristopher at August 25, 2011 05:26 PM (Z3y1K)

I knew that *smacks forehead*

237 @245

No need to turn off the water to ice maker, simply pull up the lever in the ice maker to turn it off.

238 "The proper fix should be a small Strontium 90 powered generator." Heh. Maybe we can ask that Boy Scout out in Michigan? Seriously: I've been meaning to look into woodgas and co-generation, but I've been double-booked with work for the last few months. I do lazy-man composting (mesh-fence three-sided corrals in the woods where I can blow leaves), and I am flabbergasted at how much biomass grows each year.

239

Prepare your cell phone and others advice:

http://tinyurl.com/3rlhl55

240 A couple of years before we moved here, there was a mandatory evacuation for a hurricane that fortunately didn't hit.

Those folks who waited to be told to evacuate had horror stories of sitting in traffic on the interstate for literally hours. 

Get out early.

241 What's this ice maker you people speak of?

242 If this hurricane hugs the coast, the land side should suck much of the energy out of the storm by about a third, shouldn't it? 

243 This is the 21st Century.

We should should all have Atomic automobiles, dammit.

244 We're beginning to get cloud bands from Irene and a light breeze.  Don't expect to even get much rain from her, which we need.

245 If this hurricane hugs the coast, the land side should suck much of the energy out of the storm by about a third, shouldn't it? 

Posted by: Soona - Tearorrist

I think that it makes it worse. If it made a clean landfall, it would die, but since it's skirting the coast, it gets the chance to pick up craploads of water.

246 This is the 21st Century.

We should should all have Atomic automobiles, dammit.

Posted by: Kristopher

 

That would be nnnnniiiiiiiiiiicceeee

247 I am 2 hours from the coast of NC...Wilmington

DefendUSA...I've gotta put two and two together and guess Fayette-Nam.


Hey...I have a friend who just moved to Topsail Island from SC.

Wonder if she's been to the North end of the island? Topsail has a long history with hurricanes, and it's not a good one.

248

I think that it makes it worse. If it made a clean landfall, it would die, but since it's skirting the coast, it gets the chance to pick up craploads of water.

Posted by: Blue Hen at August 25, 2011 05:34 PM (6rX0K)

I'm in SW CT and while I'm not 10 miles inland I am up a hill.  I'm more worried about trees falling.  We had a really bad storm here in March of '10 and it looked like a war zone.  Trees down everywhere because the ground was totally saturated.  Huge old trees completely uprooted. I had no power for 4 days.

249

I think that it makes it worse. If it made a clean landfall, it would die, but since it's skirting the coast, it gets the chance to pick up craploads of water.

Posted by: Blue Hen at August 25, 2011 05:34 PM (6rX0K)

 

But it won't be picking up any ocean energy on the land side of the storm.  Hurricanes demand the complete system to be in place to maintain it's intensity.  Any disruption will start depleting it.

 

250 Make sure the things you are going to need are as handy and protected as possible even if it means turning the living room into a tool shed.  It would be a shame if a tree crushed the utility shed and buried the chain saw, extra propane tank, etc. under a huge pile of debris.

251 253 We're beginning to get cloud bands from Irene and a light breeze.  Don't expect to even get much rain from her, which we need.

Too-rah loo-rah too-rah loo-rah yeahhh... Come on Irene!

(Yes, I know it's Eileen)

252 Here's my epic post on hurricane and general disaster prep:

http://tinyurl.com/3odupco

253 Pets - in New Orleans during Katrina, they were not allowed in shelters. The media emphasized to leave them home. Local bureaucrats were dicks about the rule (leave you behind rather than take the pet). The military was more flexible. Unless there is a real long fetch (lake or large cleared area), the wind isn't real bad at ground level. I was outside alot during the peak of Katrina (center passed over) and it was never an issue. 30ft up of course was a different matter..... Elevation is more important than distance. Get away from the waves and up at least 30 ft above sea level. Fill your damn gas tank!!! Unbelievable how many failed to do this very simple thing. Unless in real danger from the water, wait until after the storm to evacuate. No power/water/internet is a real pain in the ass. Odds are you won't have to go anyway. DO NOT cross running wate in ANY circumstance - it is the easiest way to get killed. Don't get into a knife fight over a bag of ice. Face it the stuff in the freezer is gone if the power is not restored in 24 hours. Eat it. If the trash pick up is suspended, bury the meat. Maggots are disgusting the stench is unholy.

254 From my own years of living on the Gulf Coast, let me add this: the weather people on TV will panic. They always do. It's their one chance to be the top story and they're going to milk it hard. Just because they're going nuts doesn't mean you should panic. Evaluate the situation calmly.

255

As an Andrew survivor, it cannot be stressed enough, do not ride it out. Up in NY and NE where the water is cooler, it may lose steam, bt in the carolinas, a cat 4 should not be triffled with. Get inland.

Just sayin.

256 The latest 5 day forecast path has it shifted to the West slightly now. It WILL go aground in NC just North of Wilmington if that holds up.

257 We only have a 20% chance of RAIN, and these people want you to go buy radios and batteries.

Do it anyway.  It's hurricane season, and even if this one doesn't hit you, you'll have the supplies ready for a later one.  Or the Zombie Mutant Alien Cyborg Ninja Invasion.  Either way.

258 O/T:  HA is reporting that Gov. Christie wants a one year moratorium on fracking.  Oh yeah.  Let's nominate Christie, he's our man.  *spit*

259 Re food to eat - does trail mix, Clif bars, beef jerky, etc. not exist on the east coast? The nice thing about those is you can throw them in a backpack (hopefully a Camelbak you've already filled with water) and, in case of an emergency, RUN without having to worry about the added weight of the cans, or whether you remembered to pack a working can opener.

260 wow, that would be fucking rough for most people to be told to lose the pets, or no shelter. At least in a fire type emergency, you've got no time to consider it, you just run.

261 267 O/T:  HA is reporting that Gov. Christie wants a one year moratorium on fracking.  Oh yeah.  Let's nominate Christie, he's our man.  *spit*

Hey Christie, frack you!

262 Just got off the phone with my sis who is in NYC, she is completely blowing this off, despite my protests. I had to bribe her with the promise of sending books she's been looking forward to reading just to convince her to go to the Target in Harlem and snag a few non-perishables. She does not seem to get that if the power goes out in one part of the city, it will affect other parts, and the importance of being prepared. And she was in Girl Scouts for crying out loud! I'm worried she'll get stranded and there will be nothing I can do but watch the TV and pray. *trying not to be worried and stay calm*

263
  I hope we don.t get a shitload of wind, the soil here is very sandy, and as I mentioned elsewhere it's wet as hell. There's 11 white oak trees near the house, and they are all 60-70 feet tall. One has the capability to destroy the garage and part of one bedroom due to the location. 40 to 50mph wind is okay, we've withstood that already.
 
   All the rest is handled, but that one makes me real uneasy.

264 During Agnes in 1973, Ellicott City was under 17 feet of water.
Posted by: Dave in Fla

Agnes was 1972.  I remember because mu grandmother's house was destroyed, the business was destroyed and we had water up to the second floor.  I thought it would never stop raining.  It took years to recover and we are are a hardy bunch in NEPA.

265 Has someone contacted T. Coddington Van Voorhees VII?  What will become of him???

266 Broken windows!

fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap

267 Goes without saying, know where your guns are. Looters seeing an armed defense will be encouraged to move on to another neighborhood. No cops will be available and they know it

268 evacuations in Md, "The governor said anticipates everything south of 17th Street in Ocean City to be under water at some point because of the storm surge."

269

2 words: Chain. Saw. if you have trees and you get hit, you're gonna need it sure as shit.

Posted by: USS Diversity at August 25, 2011 05:04 PM

Also good for cutting up hobo meat

270 Once the storm hits, I'll be in a very safe place so I can't give speeches all the time

So if you need to know what the NYC government is doing, go to the web site

Don't eat fatty foods, the police will STILL be watching!

271
  @273--I lived in Binghamton at that time, my cousin and I wound up doing trailer setups for temp housing in Scranton. It was scary, seeing watermarks on buildings between the 2nd and 3rd stories. Not to mention the Godawful stink. Didn't matter the money was good, not something I'd care to repeat.

272 Now let's see here...If that quake was a fore shock, and we now have a hurricane headed for the East Coast...

273 Obama is a stuttering clusterfuck of a miserable failure.

274 271 Just got off the phone with my sis who is in NYC, she is completely blowing this off, despite my protests. I had to bribe her with the promise of sending books she's been looking forward to reading just to convince her to go to the Target in Harlem and snag a few non-perishables. She does not seem to get that if the power goes out in one part of the city, it will affect other parts, and the importance of being prepared. And she was in Girl Scouts for crying out loud! I'm worried she'll get stranded and there will be nothing I can do but watch the TV and pray. *trying not to be worried and stay calm*

Posted by: LizLem at August 25, 2011 06:07 PM (lSuMX)

Does she not realize the subways will also be flooded, more than likely?  Sigh.  This is why I'm so thankful not to live in an urban area.  We've got guns, ammo, food storage, etc., etc. 

I'll keep your poor sister in my prayers.  (She voted for Obama, didn't she.)

275 My quedtion about cooking an apt was somewhat serious. Cooking over sterno or a backpacking stove w/o ventilation isnt a good idea, not all canned food is palatable cold (while it may be safe), things like a backpacker oven or heater meals are unlikely to be available in manhatten this weekend. I guess a catfood or pepsi stove and a bottle of everclear would be better then sterno or mre heater gel. Really dont want to think about sanitation 20 floors up w/o water pressure. Getting by in NYC is very different then suburbia.

276 I'm on the Jersey Coast (about a mile from that stupid Reality Show).

We've been thru this before...the eye of Gloria went right over the house.  Other than fixing some shingles tomorrow and cleaning up the yard furniture, we're good.

We have so many storms we've got prep down to a science.

We'll see.

277 On chainsaws? You can get premixed, stabilizer treated cans of fuel now- the stuff's expensive but if you are stressed out mixing raw gas & two-cycle oil can be iffy- wrong ratio you foul plugs or burn the saw up. Or mix a gallon or two when you are calm and add Sta-Bil to it.

278 Freezer trick: pull everything out and double bag it, put it back in, put a bowl of ice cubes in the freezer. If you find a bowl of frozen water afterward - throw everything out.

279 No idea why neither I nor anyone else has brought this up yet:  Get enough cash out of the bank to last you a few days.  In the event it hits, ATMs and credit card readers may not be fully able to operate and/or communicate, so your transactions will need to be the old-fashioned way.  Barter goods may also be a decent option, if you know what's going to be in demand.  (I wouldn't bother with that, but the NE doesn't get this kind of thing often, so I'm expecing...interesting results if it gets hit hard.)

280 Isabel socked us good. This storm will be on a N or NE track so should move out quicker. The farther west it goes the closer the eye will come but the more land between us and the sea. Since Isabel, I moved next to the only substation on the VA penisula that did not go down. I am one power pole away and I got a 16KW generator ready to go. I am on higher ground with better drainage, no big trees close to the house. I do not 8 days with no power again.

281

I was driving out of Charleston on Sat., and saw a big billboard just a few miles north that said: IT"S HURRICANE SEASON. Are You Prepared?

So they seem to take that pretty serously in SC. And it was odd seeing the evacuation routes marked.

282 283 I'll keep your poor sister in my prayers. (She voted for Obama, didn't she.) Posted by: Jane D'oh at August 25, 2011 06:36 PM (UOM4 Thanks, Jane, I appreciate it. She was away at school during the 08 election and didn't get an absentee ballot in time, but even so she never would have voted for Obama; I've raised her right, she is a fierce fiscal conservative. But is socially liberal so I'd peg her as more of a Libertarian? She is in Rangel's district, up by Harlem/the Heights and is probably the only person there who'd ever vote for a Republican, lol. She's new to the city and trying to go native, so I think in her mind if a New Yorker doesn't care, why should she? Which is, of course, a fallacy if something disastrous strikes. Doesn't matter how great NYC is it's not immune from this stuff.

283 bloomberg just was on with presser #2.  He actually is planning to shut down the trains if the winds exceed 38mph. 

Now that is scary.

284 If you have a gas stove, you should be able to cook on it, just keep matches or a long lighter to light it in case your pilot is electric.  Get an extra propane bottle or charcoal for your grill and get ready to clean out your deep freeze.  Also not a bad idea to freeze water in bottles/jugs/bowls now.  You can defrost them later to drink but use them in ice chests if the power goes out.  Just some tips from a coastal Texan.  Fuck you, Ike.

285 One other thing to keep in mind about the hurricane coming ashore. Justbecause you are far enough inland to avoid the storm surge doesn't mean you are immune from heavy damage.

Hurricanes also spawn tornadoes when they move inland. During Hugo that is what did all the damage to our neighborhood.

286 Also, after Ike, you couldn't get a call through via cell phone for days, but texts were working perfectly. 

287 Posted by: LizLem at August 25, 2011 06:07 PM (lSuMX)

where in NYC is she.  Bloomberg is encouraging everyone in Zone A to evacuate and the elderly and nursing homes have to be out by tomorrow night at 8.  If she's young and in Lido Beach she has to go inland.  If she up by Columbia, she's pretty high up but she should prepare anyway.

288

Posted by: Vic at August 25, 2011 07:16 PM (M9Ie6)

Hey, just wanted to let you know I loved SC and Charleston. What a great city!

Not enough time in a week to see everything.

289

Screw milk and eggs, get peanut butter.  One that has preservatives (not the chi chi stuff that has to be refrigerated) and bread, crackers.  Some J if you need it.   Protein bars.  Dried fruit/nuts/beef jerky.  Who in the hell is going to cook in the dark?  But if you're inclined and If you've got a grill, then have a few sturdy pots, and things like canned soup that doesn't have to be reconstituted and chili.  Yeah, you'll get sick of it all but it works, doesn't taste like nasty ass Spam.  In fact, get fun snacks too.  You're not going to be without power for weeks, this isn't artic tundra.  Get food that will last unrefrigerated for about a week that you can stand eating.  Bad enough to be without power, even worse to have to eat freeze dried food. Something like muffins or chocolate donuts. LOTS of bottled water.

 

290

Not enough time in a week to see everything.

Posted by: HH at August 25, 2011 07:21 PM (6oDXl)

Did you have time to do a carriage tour of rainbow row and the old part of the city?

291
Oh come on.  We need to know the avg velocity, avg acceleration, circular force, and wave mechanics of this storm.  Not to mention momentum and its conservation.

Anyone care to guess the mass of Irene? anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

292

Posted by: Vic at August 25, 2011 07:26 PM (M9Ie6)

No, never had the chance to do a Carriage Tour. But did a lot of walking around the Old City. Like being in New Orleans, but cleaner and safer.

Oh, and there is a free shuttle system, so you don't really need a cab.

But it is humid...

293 I don't know if anyone is still reading, but the last two I went through I'd taken ice from the icemaker and put them in plastic containers and then filled around them with water.  Kept doing it until I ran out of space (ended up with filling storage bags with ice/water mix.)  It provided plent of water for me and my pets and helped keep the freezer cool.  Once power went out, I transferred my milk & stuff like that to the freezer with the ice.  Also, kitty litter has more uses than just for cats if your water goes out.  Trust me, not being able to flush is a real headache - I'd rather deal with lack of power.

294 One of my friends might rent a giant SUV and we might all drive out of the city tomorrow night.  When they mentioned closing the bridges at the presser, this freaked him out.

My parents tell me that they have never stopped the trains system wide that they can remember.  They also tell me they've never closed all the bridges.  Why are they preparing like this.  If they close the bridges you can't get off of long Island.

295

Also, this is a hurricane not a train.  Those arrival times are intelligent guesses.  Opal was supposed to  hit in the late evening.  Eglin AFB had it all planned out:  People would come into work in the morning, be released at noon and the shelters were to open then.  Instead, we woke up in the morning to find that Opal had sped up.  Immediate evaucations, people stuck on bridges when the hurricane force winds hit, plans almost caught on the ground (I heard that the last couple of planes were evacuated in marginal conditions.) 

DONT wait until the last minute - it might already have passed.

296 Have you seen these pictures?  link

297 302

Posted by: Vic at August 25, 2011 07:26 PM (M9Ie6)

No, never had the chance to do a Carriage Tour. But did a lot of walking around the Old City. Like being in New Orleans, but cleaner and safer.

Oh, and there is a free shuttle system, so you don't really need a cab.

But it is humid...

Posted by: HH at August 25, 2011 07:30 PM (6oDXl)

We were just there for the weekend.  We live in Savannah.  I-16 leaving Savannah for Macon is our evacuation route, and there are now arms that will go down preventing traffic from moving south on the interstate. 

I love Savannah, but love Charleston more.  (My Daddy was an SC native, and I spent my teen and young adult years in the upstate.)

298

But it is humid...

Posted by: HH at August 25, 2011 07:30 PM (6oDXl)

LOL, it is that, but that applies for all of the Southeast. And August is generally the worst month.

299 Shouldn't someone have a hurricane expert to tell it everything it needs to know and do with a hurricane on approach to its shitty city run by an asshole fuckup for a mayor.

300

Posted by: Jane D'oh at August 25, 2011 07:45 PM (UOM4

I stayed on the Isle of Palms. I was surprised how small the surf was. But I'm guessing that has changed...

301 "Hurricane Irene Forces Evacuations, MTA Says System-Wide Transit Suspension Likely"

302 Damn.  I was still thinking this baby would make a right turn off of NC like the rest of them always do.  I'm only a block in from the ocean down the Jersey Shore.  (no....not THAT "Jersey Shore" wiseasses)

Now I'm scared.  Not of the hurricane....I'm scared cuz I'll have to go inland and stay with the out-laws for a few days. 

303 During Katrina I remember my dad, who likes to follow the weather, freaking out cause he realized two days before it would directly hit nawlins.  I remember him screaming at the tv asking why they weren't evacuating people.  If bloomberg order NYC evacuated it will be because of the failure of those responsible for the safety of everyone during Katrina.  No one wants another Katrina.

304

For an example of how quickly a hurricane can change both course and power, see Charley.

http://tinyurl.com/y974t6

If you get prepared and/or evacuate and are lucky that it does not come, well, you are ready for the next emergency, which probably the majority of Americans are not since 9/11.

I hope Irene goes out to sea. Prayers for all in her path.

305 Gee, an earthquake, a category 2 or 3 hurricane, a crack in the Washington Monument...if I believed in bad omens, I'd think there was something sinister lurking along the East Coast...maybe even in the White House... oh, wait....

306

If you get prepared and/or evacuate and are lucky that it does not come, well, you are ready for the next emergency.

Preach it Brother!

I'd much rather be over prepared then the alternative.

307 4 Well said, President Elect.

308 Get plenty of bottled water. Buy and store canned goods. Fully lubricate your waffle irons.

309

Just for the heck of it I thought I'd see what the NYT was telling it's sophisticated readers on hurricane preps just now. Look at the comments if you go there...OMG only a few people in NYC are even "sort of" prepared for this or ANY disaster!

After Katrina, I do not see how anyone takes a chance or thinks "it won't happen to me." I don't see how the message of massive power lines down for hundreds of square miles does not compute. They simply don't get this, do they? When power is down in one state, other states come help out the home boys repair the lines. When power is down in multiple states, with massive debris (see Katrina) blocking roads, the home boys are overwhelmed in their own states. This requires states outside the hurricane zone to come to your rescue, which takes DAYS, resulting in maybe a WEEK or two without power, without clean water, without freaking refridgerated food in grocery stores. I have read that Florida grocery stores (Publix) now have generators so, if the stores are not destroyed, they might actually have food for the next hurricane. However, in 2004, you lived off of what you brought in with you after evacuating and/or what was in your home if you had one to come back to. After about two days or so, the Salvation Army arrived with hot food and ice on our island. If you do not have at least a week's survival prep after witnessing Katrina, then God help you.

What I remember after 2004: very hot weather,six foot tall debris piles on every street in front of every home. Mosquitoes the size of ravens. Blue-tarped roofs.The constant sound of power saws cutting up fallen trees and limbs for a week. No food in stores. No birds for a long time. And we were very lucky as we had a home plus air-conditioning as August is hot everywhere, and no major damage. We had shelter.We had water. We had food. We also had a gun and do not live in looterville or with millions of people who are stuck there with you due to no trains or not having a car.

These are the same Democrat voters, some sophisticated and educated, who expect the Obama stash to rescue them (perhaps he will arrive in his golf cart to evacuate them when the trains are underwater or not running on magic unicorn farts). Dear God, what a bunch of buffoons to not at least prepare. Survival of the fittest, natural selection, etc.

310 I posted this earlier today...

For you NE'ers preparing for the storm: Of course everyone knows to have water/drinks and food for three days. You know to have a light source and batteries. You know to have a battery powered radio or t.v. for news updates. Here are a few additional items that we Southerners have learned to add.

Not one can opener, but two. Inevitably, with only one, it will fail.

Bug repellant. Both the kind you apply to your person and a citronella candle (if safe to use)

Handi-wipes and hand sanitizer

Plastic sheeting. If your window blows, you'll want to seal it back up after the winds have passed. This will also require a method to hang it. Duct tape will work well.

Duct tape because, damnit, there's almost nothing it can't fix.

A BBQ or fireplace lighter. They are much more dependable than matches.

Clean clothes

Meds

Toilet paper and paper towels, plates, etc...

Extra water for flushing and hygiene

Pet food

If you have kids, something to keep them occupied. The XBox isn't going to cut it. Coloring books or board games will work better. Hey! Maybe they can put those unexercised reading skills to good use.

A big rubbermaid box to keep everything in.

One extra nice thing to have, if you own a car, is an inverter. With it, you can run a t.v. or small fridge or charge your laptop from your car. Just don't forget to run your car from time to time to keep the battery from running down.  Hell, if you don't own a car, you can still run an inverter to a battery via the more direct route, you just won't be able to recharge the battery.

Jane, what did I miss?

311 Thanks for the food advice, folks.  I'm a St. Louis native, so this hurricane stuff is new to me.  It's hard to gauge the response here in Baltimore; seems like most people are of the assumption, "Oh, hurricanes so rarely turn up this way, no biggie."  I went shopping this evening and most people were buying normal trip stuff; saw a few who had a case of bottled water. 

I live in an apartment, so a lot of this advice falls a bit short.  Still, I picked up extra flashlights and batteries, about 40 cans of tuna, veggies, soup, pasta, and fruit (give or take) to feed me and the girlfriend, plus two cases of bottled water.  I just need to pick up some batteries to power my radio and I should be set.

At last estimate, they were saying 30-50 mph wind for us.  Should I be worried about my windows, or is that more of a concern for the people in the 70+ zones?

312 Took me time to read all the comments, but I really enjoyed the article. It proved to be Very helpful to me and I am sure to all the commenters here! ItÂ’s always nice when you can not only be informed, but also entertained!

313 #271   I just talked to my daughter in Lyndhurst, NJ across from Manhattan and she too is kind of blowing it off.  I sent an email this morning listing what they need to put together including filling the cars, getting cash and having a Go Bag put together.  When I talked to her she insinuated that I was over re-acting.  We raised this kid in the Northwoods!  She grew up with a family that had to be prepared.  She has turned Big City stupid, kid's brilliant otherwise.

314 At last estimate, they were saying 30-50 mph wind for us.  Should I be worried about my windows, or is that more of a concern for the people in the 70+ zones?

Well, have you seen what can happen to steel in a 30 mph crash? Get some plastic sheeting (it's really cheap) and some duct tape or a good stapler. Unless you have hurricane windows, a trash can lid or some other flying debris can do some damage.

Remember, the wind by which a tropical system is measured is SUSTAINED wind. That means a solid wall of 30 mph wind thats last for hours. The gusts can be considerably higher.

315 Oh, and remember, while you'll want water for personal hygiene and flushing, if the store is running low, you can always fill a cooler with ice and it will stay cold (for drinking) and serve for hygiene purposes as well. Do not worry about having a specific amount of bottled water to drink. Water is great, but so is anything that keeps you from dehydrating in a power outage in the middle of Summer: gatorade, hi-c, those juice box thingies, fresh fruit.... Don't panic if the store is running low on water.

I haven't had to use my hurricane kit in about 4 years now, but it is safely packed away, in a nice rubbermaid storage box, and ready to go at a moment's notice. For you folks in the north, it wouldn't hurt to have one handy anyway because it can be helpful in the event of a blizzard as well.

316 Well, have you seen what can happen to steel in a 30 mph crash? Get some plastic sheeting (it's really cheap) and some duct tape or a good stapler. Unless you have hurricane windows, a trash can lid or some other flying debris can do some damage.

Hm, well I have the duct tape.  (Always, ALWAYS have duct tape.)  I'll see if I can't get the plastic sheeting tomorrow.  Though, I understand that, in a pinch, trash bags make a functional substitute.  I'm mostly wondering if I should ask my apartment managers about boarding up the windows or not.  Hopefully that isn't necessary.  I have no room in my place without a (storm) window, so if anything breaks a window, I'm just waiting for whatever's in there to get soaked (electronics, books, etc.)  I might spend some time Saturday morning putting garbage bags around things I'd rather not lose.

317 If you're planning on using baby wipes to clean yourself for the next few days, you might want to shave your taint tonight. At least, that's what I'm doing.

318 325 I feel you. Part of being a Utah is having an unusually large amount of food storage at hand. For Christmas one year, my mom's gift to us was a backpack 72 hour kit full of stuff. So why she is being so nonchalant about this is baffling. I'm a bad person, but part of me wants her power to go out or something-nothing harmful or deadly-just something so she won't be all I told you and then never prepare for disasters again. In the town of 9/11 of all places. The NYC water may be great for making bagels, but it sure makes the stupid in people come out.

319 331 Utahn. I'm on a Touchpad and the stupid thing is autocorrecting me, whut.

320 Fair warning, America: If Irene makes it to Martha's Vineyard and fucks up my vacay, it'll be Hurricane Michelle which will be on page one.

321 Easy answer:  it's the end of summer.  Time for an unplanned vacation at Darien Lake outside of Buffalo, or Canada's Wonderland, near Toronto, or Six Flags in Ohio.  For music lovers, Nashville and Branson are calllingggg you...  Others, follow that old and hackneyed advice: Go West!

Basically, pack up your vital documents (deeds, insurances, birth certificates, checkbooks etc), your lifetime collection of family photos and heirlooms, a few changes of clothes, a picnic basket, your kids and pets, and move a couple of states inland, where hotel and gasoline prices haven't been affected.  Wait it out there:  even a Motel 6 is more comfy than a disaster shelter, and you won't be a drain on emergency services.  Take care of yourself and your family yourself.

If you aren't in Irene's target zone, consider what you would do if you were, and tomorrow start investing in a "bug-out" kit.  I have a duffle bag under my desk; it is the work of moments to dump all my vital papers into it, zip it up and stash it in the car.  My dog is crate trained and raw-fed; if there are grocery stores, I can feed her the same thing I'm eating.  Buy bottled water for your pets, even if its just Dasani; it's =local= bottled water and will be easier on the dog's tummy.  Most hotels will allow a dog in a crate when they won't allow one without; be prepared to leave a security deposit.

If you have kids, make the trip an unplanned vacation adventure, and find a destination that will keep them happy. 

I'm sure others can come up with more advice.