Ace of Spades HQ

August 28, 2011

Wrapping Up Irene (tmi3rd)
— Open Blogger

Well, if you were in the affected areas, that's what it's usually like to go through a hurricane. It's a lot of rain, a fair amount of wind, and if you're in certain parts of the storm, you may see a tornado. If you're near the coast, you'll see high water.

There's a good discussion to be had about what is appropriate coverage for something like this. On one hand, if you don't point out the fact that hurricanes do break stuff and kill people, you have imbeciles standing on the seawall in the teeth of the storm, and they wind up getting killed. On the other hand, if you beat the drums to the point where everyone runs like hell and nothing happens, that's a problem as well.

Wrap-up on damage and some more thoughts on coverage below...

So in looking around, it looks like about 2 million customers are without power. The rivers in New Jersey are pretty high after around 8 inches of rain, and pretty much the entirety of New England plus eastern NY, PA, and most of NJ are under flood warnings. So far, we've got 19-22 dead, mainly by either falling trees and limbs or by drowning.

In Connecticut, three people are missing after deciding it was a good idea to go canoeing or tubing in the storm. I don't mean to be cavalier, but come on! What's next, Red Rover on the interstate during rush hour?!

12 are dead in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia from falling trees. There were a few fatal car wrecks attributed to the storm, but my absolute favorite among these other deaths is the guy who died from deciding to go camping in Harrisburg, PA, during the storm, and a tree fell on him. (insert editorial comment here)

Okay, you get the picture. Most of the fatalities happened from people being, well, stupid. The one fatality in NJ happened when a woman tried to drive through a flood, and she drowned.

So you had pretty good dire warnings, especially from the always quotable Chris Christie:

As disappointed as I am in him for his endorsement of science-free AGW crap, I love that he's willing to say something like this. Good stuff, and kudos to him. Ultimately, again, you still get the stupids out there who decide this is good surfing weather, and they get killed.

So now let's talk about the news business. First of all, severe weather is news business gold- news is based on drama, and drama is based on conflict. So, you have the drama of the conflict between Mother Nature's fury and the valiant emergency officials... we all know the script.

It's done to death when storms are hitting less-populated areas of the country, but you add in the notion of a potentially destructive storm hitting the most populated part of the country? Then you get dipshittery like this:

Seriously?

In many respects, you have each reporter trying harder than the last to do the freakiest story with the wildest visuals, a la the attention hounds who wear chicken suits to sing on American Idol. They'll put themselves in serious danger and do things they ultimately need to be rescued from just so that they can submit a stronger package for regional Emmy consideration.

Now here's where I'll offer some slight kudos- the normally-execrable Shepard Smith did a very credible job of downplaying the hype. He's unusual in the business, though, in that he grew up in Hattiesburg, MS, and thus has lived in hurricane country, and this leads to a significant point: Most of the media, particularly New York-based media, are no more prepared for hurricanes than New Orleans is for snow.

In New Orleans, we shut down the entire city for one inch of snow, even if it doesn't stick. Why? Partially because we don't have any sort of snow removal gear- why would we? In New York, hurricanes happen so infrequently that nobody's got any experience with them- especially in the ultra-narcissistic world of the media.

It's going to be a few days before the extent of what actually got torn up comes out, but in the near term, it looks like a lot of East Coast mass transit is going to be down for most of the day tomorrow, as there's a lot of rail to inspect.

So, something to keep in mind here- this was, in fact, not much of a hurricane. It didn't have the huge winds and 15-20 foot storm surge that we get with Category 3 storms and bigger, and that's a good thing. The thing that I worry about, having done some emergency management, is the problem of getting the message out forcefully enough without having people tune out.

What do you think? Given current communication limitations, what's the best way to get the message across without turning you off?

-tmi3rd

Posted by: Open Blogger at 04:57 PM | Comments (70)
Post contains 824 words, total size 5 kb.

1 I don't post comments; I only read them, and very thoroughly, too.

Posted by: new guy at August 28, 2011 05:07 PM (7yvLv)

2 Thx for the updates during the run-up. It was useful, sober information.

Posted by: Clubber Lang at August 28, 2011 05:07 PM (QcFbt)

3 I think that guy is wearing the rotten shit stirred up from the bottom of the ocean and I would not want to be wearing or breathing it.

Posted by: huerfano at August 28, 2011 05:08 PM (kD+se)

4 Eight inches of rain is pretty bad but it can be worse. Hurricane Danny dropped 25 inches of rain on us down here on the Gulf Coast in 24 hours.

Posted by: toby928™ at August 28, 2011 05:09 PM (GTbGH)

5 Posted some vids of the flooding at my mom's house this morning. Search YouTube for mugiwara382 if you wanna see it. I'd give you a link but I'm at my house now and the power is out, posting on my phone, really thinking about getting one of them generators...

Posted by: mugiwara at August 28, 2011 05:10 PM (fhe+t)

6 Any wet t shirt contests to report?

Posted by: Pooter Hound at August 28, 2011 05:10 PM (le5qc)

7 I'll admit that hurricanes are nasty storms, but that one blew out from killer status by the time it hit NC. The general weather out here in flyover country is worse than that!

Posted by: the new guy's alter ego at August 28, 2011 05:11 PM (7yvLv)

8 Of course the bad unemployment reports and many other bad report numbers are going to be blamed on Hurrican Irene for the rest of the year....

Posted by: Stateless Infidel at August 28, 2011 05:15 PM (GKQDR)

9 How to convince people to get out during an emergency?

Well, we can always have the government pay for waiting hookers at the shelters.

That would work pretty well, I think.

Posted by: chemjeff at August 28, 2011 05:16 PM (s7mIC)

10 We've still got a pretty good breeze up here. Pretty sure a power loss is in our future. That makes us fortunate, considering the amount of damage this storm has done.

Posted by: Slublog at August 28, 2011 05:16 PM (OFIEL)

11 They got any consulting money up there in Yankee-land? Cuz I got some advice! What? Chris Christie already gave the best advice?

Posted by: Ray Nagin at August 28, 2011 05:19 PM (7yvLv)

Posted by: Billy Bob, the guy who drinks in SC at August 28, 2011 09:11 PM (hXJOG)

Eh - just get some duct tape for that.

But did you know that MY SHIH-TZU IS MISSING because of the storm????

Posted by: Whiny New Yorker at August 28, 2011 05:19 PM (s7mIC)

13 After having grown up in Texas and louisiana and being in many many storms (Carla--Gustav) I don't appreciate Christie's attitude. After Katrina (I was in that one too) the State and local govt did almost nothing, in fact, in many respects they prevented neighbors helping neighbors all the while claiming they were taking care of business when they were not. The government can talk all they want but don't ever believe a word they say.

Posted by: er at August 28, 2011 05:20 PM (mexsR)

14 The general weather out here in flyover country is worse than that!

19-22 dead and 2 million w/o power? Just asking...

Posted by: No need to thank me- I enjoy being helpful at August 28, 2011 05:21 PM (gSR3m)

I'll admit that I watched coverage of the whole thing even though I'm not in the hurricane but rather in the tornado zone (N. Ala). I have friends on the East Coast and also needed background noise while I did homework and such.

The best thing I saw all weekend (after I realized it wasn't going to be "oh, noes, catastrophe!) was the live Weather Channel broadcast where a guy not only mooned the camera but flaunted some full-frontal nudity. As a plus, the weather reporter seemed kind of pissed that people weren't respecting his "reporter in a hazardous area reporting for the common good." Good times. Plus, sometimes a gal likes a little bit of full-frontal nudity.

Posted by: Ima Wurdibitsch a Teaorrist who is glad GGE is Un-Banned at August 28, 2011 05:21 PM (otfJ1)

16 "On one hand, if you don't point out the fact that hurricanes do break stuff and kill people, you have imbeciles standing on the seawall in the teeth of the storm, and they wind up getting killed." How come evolution is the only subject we require to be taught, but outlaw its practice?

Posted by: GreginNC at August 28, 2011 05:23 PM (dviAd)

"What do you think? Given current communication limitations, what's the best way to get the message across without turning you off?"

Celebrity PSAs!

Spike Lee could explain how cracka-ass cracka presidents have your levies dynamited.

Gwynnie Paltrow could give tips on what overpriced shit to use to accessorize your flattened home.

AC/DC could do a new video for Come Hell or High Water

Martin Lawrence could do a "Shit just got real" one.

Ron White's It's not that the wind is blowing, it's what the wind is blowing would actually be a good one.

Posted by: Fa Cube Itches at August 28, 2011 05:24 PM (2xfbm)

18 31,000 citizens killled on american soil by illegal aliens since 9.11

Posted by: War in US at August 28, 2011 05:24 PM (lTeYj)

19 The thing that really bothered me was the way SOME acted like it was the first time a hurricane had ever hit the US mainland, and how a shocking number of people compared it to Katrina. Being from the Gulf Coast, I cannot tell you how irritating it is hearing people compare this, even when it hit the NC Outer Banks, to Katrina. There is no comparison. But whatever, it's in the Center of the Universe so it's obviously more important that media types got minimally inconvenienced for a day or two and their precious playground (the Hamptons) was the setting for a news story.

My big complaint is how the national media focused on this 24-7 for several days. The local news should, to be sure, in the affected areas. There is absolutely no reason why the rest of the country needs to see nonstop coverage of people preparing for it for DAYS before it hits, though. And no, nobody has to watch it. It just highlights the disconnect between the media elites and the rest of us in Flyover Country, so it's a little irritating. Major floods happen all over the country all year long, and they don't get even 1% of the coverage this did, even though they are often immeasurably worse. I get that there are "more people" there, but damn.

I am truly sorry for the people who died, of course, I hope I don't come off sounding like I don't care about that. I do, without caveats or qualification.

Posted by: Beth at August 28, 2011 05:26 PM (kBxk7)

After going through 6 storms in a years time starting with Ivan (12 ft of water) we never get our info from the MBM or The Weather Channel as they are over the top....

Good info from the web until power is lost (NOAA, WeatherUnderground, Stormpulse); weather radios until the storm has passed and then cleanup starts....

I tend to look on the bright side of these types of situations....as long as you are safe, everything else is replaceable...

As long as we had water and a generator to keep the water cold and the fans blowing we could survive....longest was 3 weeks til power was returned....

Posted by: LaughingOutLoud! at August 28, 2011 05:26 PM (zNmqL)

21 What do you think? Given current communication limitations, what's the best way to get the message across without turning you off? Weather updates on American Idol and Glee?

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at August 28, 2011 05:26 PM (9Lm5R)

22 13 How to convince people to get out during an emergency?

Well, we can always have the government pay for waiting hookers at the shelters.

That would work pretty well, I think.

Posted by: chemjeff at August 28, 2011 09:16 PM (s7mIC)

They called it mandatory evacuations. However, as I understand it, you can't force anyone to leave their home. So, it's a highly recommended (and govt bullied) evacuation. That said, I'm not saying that people shouldn't evacuate when it gets bad. I'm saying that the folks in charge should say, "Look, we think it's going to be really bad (or, it's a good opportunity for the CIC to show he's better than the last guy...). You should leave now. If you don't leave now, you will not be rescued by firefighters, EMTs, or other govt funded rescue crews until after we perceive the danger has passed."

If someone showed up at my door for a natural disaster and said I must evacuate, I would tell them to go pound sand - whether I was planning or evacuating or not. Then, after they left, I'd follow through on whatever decision I made.

Posted by: Ima Wurdibitsch a Teaorrist who is glad GGE is Un-Banned at August 28, 2011 05:26 PM (otfJ1)

23 Hi Everyone.
Big internet-weirdo hugs.

Glad that the hurricane isn't too terrible so far.
America needs some good news.

Posted by: sifty at August 28, 2011 05:29 PM (4CSeG)

24 Taking a stab at tmi3rd's question, I think some kind of official post-game 'what went right, what went wrong' report, heavily publicized would be useful.

I think the most important thing that went right was the transit shutdown. Even though it inconvenienced me (Brooklyn), it prevented a major melt-down this week.

The transit shutdown dictated the evacuation, IMO. You cannot have the former w/o the latter.

As part of the post-game, a simple conjecture about what would have happened if Irene had 'monstered-up' after the Carolinas. Big take-away is that Irene did not follow the Eastward projections and NYC took a direct hit.

Scarey...

Posted by: No need to thank me- I enjoy being helpful at August 28, 2011 05:29 PM (gSR3m)

25 This thing's not over yet guys. Be on the lookout for bands of middle-aged white looters. They're the biggest threat right now. And shoot white babies on sight, as they're the most likely to be wearing diversionary diaper bombs, which allows white bomb carrying wheel-chair bound grandmothers to detonate themselves in the aftermath of said babies blowing up. Remember, if you see something, kill something.

Posted by: Janet Nappyholitano at August 28, 2011 05:30 PM (WCm02)

26 That was no hurricane. That was a cute little summer shower.

Posted by: an erection lasting more than four hours at August 28, 2011 05:31 PM (ZxVwo)

27 Here's why we're screwed. Too many people have this mindset.

Posted by: Ima Wurdibitsch a Teaorrist who is glad GGE is Un-Banned at August 28, 2011 05:32 PM (otfJ1)

28 Whatever did we do before we had the MSM? 20 years ago a moron would take a look at the surf and think "that's some gnarly surf. I'd better stay away". Now, that moron's son takes a look at the surf and thinks "well, Geraldo didn't say stay out of it' so Im going in!" 20 years ago we'd all have said that moron's son was a dumbass and got what he deserved. Now, someone is recommending an attorney to sue.

Posted by: Gimmeafuckinbreak at August 28, 2011 05:32 PM (O58Hv)

29 19-22 dead and 2 million w/o power? Just asking...

Posted by: No need to thank me- I enjoy being helpful at August 28, 2011 09:21 PM (gSR3m)

I don't know, ask the families of the 89 dead in Joplin, MO alone in the Tornado swarm of 2011.

Posted by: robtr at August 28, 2011 05:34 PM (MtwBb)

30 http://preview.tinyurl.com/3n3zmdh This is too much?

Posted by: Ima Wurdibitsch a Teaorrist who is glad GGE is Un-Banned at August 28, 2011 05:35 PM (otfJ1)

31 Um... sorry. Pixy was messing with me.

Posted by: Ima Wurdibitsch a Teaorrist who is glad GGE is Un-Banned at August 28, 2011 05:35 PM (otfJ1)

32 Here's the link to the videos I took of the flooding this morning; doggeh, kayaking, flooded out jeep and basement: http://tinyurl.com/4x3pxcn Not the worst flooding we've ever got there, still has never actually made it in the house

Posted by: mugiwara at August 28, 2011 05:35 PM (fhe+t)

33 Brian Williams is on at halftime of the Raiders-Saints game. The basic line: Did we say hurricane? We meant flooding. Yeah, that's it - flooding. Nobody saw it coming here at NBC. Who knew?

Posted by: The New Guy's Alter Ego at August 28, 2011 05:35 PM (7yvLv)

34 _{Here's why we're screwed. Too many people have this mindset.}

_{Posted by: Ima Wurdibitsch a Teaorrist who is glad GGE is Un-Banned at August 28, 2011 09:32 PM (otfJ1)}

Hey Ima.

Without all this mindset poor Monty would be out of a job.

There would be no DOOM!

Posted by: sifty at August 28, 2011 05:36 PM (4CSeG)

35 Boy who cried wolf. It's a problem. For forty years the big one was coming for New Orleans. And it never did. Until Katrina. I saw Shepard Smith interviewing people prior who said exactly that - they said such and such was going to be a catastrophe and it wasn't. So they stayed. Problem with low probability high consequence events.

Posted by: blaster at August 28, 2011 05:37 PM (Fw2Gg)

36 And now that this hurricane wasn't that bad, how many minutes will it take Barry to blame it for the next shitty jobs report?

Posted by: mugiwara at August 28, 2011 05:37 PM (fhe+t)

37 Haha...The stuttering clusterfuck of a miserable failure cut short his and his bitter half's vacation so he could get a nice photo op of him being in charge, only for it to turn out to be a piffle of a fart. Way to go Barkie.

Posted by: Old grizzled gym coach at August 28, 2011 05:38 PM (QBQcg)

38 Hurricane weeks are a blessing for Obama right now. Keeps people focuses away from his being a scrawny little SCoaMF.

Posted by: sifty at August 28, 2011 05:39 PM (4CSeG)

Hiya, Sifty. Loved your stuff at Urban Dictionary.

I hate to be such a downer but I almost hope there is doom. I figure we have three choices. Abject failure of our way of life (Obummer is re-elected), slow death by more of the same (GOP "He's next"), something radically different (who knows). I'd rather a quick death and rebuild or something radically different. That said, I will vote for whoever the conservative candidate ends up being.

Posted by: Ima Wurdibitsch a Teaorrist who is glad GGE is Un-Banned at August 28, 2011 05:39 PM (otfJ1)

40 For the first time in my adult lifetime, I'm proud of my governor (PA) for keeping a low profile.

Posted by: jeannebodine at August 28, 2011 05:40 PM (nvlAW)

41 Al Roker...really!!People getting the info from this dumbfuck.When he and that idiot broad sidekick of his are predicting the weather the mass IQ of the viewing audience drops 50 points.Al Roker...really!!

Posted by: Ytown Knuckledraggers at August 28, 2011 05:40 PM (HidR4)

42 Good grief! I am such a slacker. I can't believe that I failed to mention that barry is a stuttering clusterfuck of a miserable failure. Mea culpa!

Posted by: Ima Wurdibitsch a Teaorrist who is glad GGE is Un-Banned at August 28, 2011 05:41 PM (otfJ1)

I don't know, ask the families of the 89 dead in Joplin, MO alone in the Tornado swarm of 2011.

Posted by: robtr at August 28, 2011 09:34 PM (MtwBb)

Was that 'general weather in flyover country?'

FWIW, the news sources I frequent had a great deal about the tornados and the aftermath. Of course, there was no pre-game run-up to it unlike a hurricane. Some strange weather forecaster taking about La Nina is not as dramatic as the GOES satellite pictures.

Posted by: No need to thank me- I enjoy being helpful at August 28, 2011 05:41 PM (gSR3m)

"What do you think? Given current communication limitations, what's the best way to get the message across without turning you off?"

Weather Channel + John Madden + telestrator

And the storm surge comes here and BOOM!

Posted by: Fa Cube Itches at August 28, 2011 05:42 PM (2xfbm)

45 _{I figure we have three choices. Abject failure of our way of life
(Obummer is re-elected), slow death by more of the same (GOP "He's
next"), something radically different (who knows). I'd rather a quick
death and rebuild or something radically different. That said, I will
vote for whoever the conservative candidate ends up being.}

Right there with ya. I'm just sad that it's always the wrong people who have to suffer throughout any great upheaval.

Posted by: sifty, Teas Not Peas at August 28, 2011 05:44 PM (4CSeG)

46 Weather Channel + John Madden + telestrator

Controlling the clock will be a big factor in how well this hurricane does.

Posted by: toby928™ at August 28, 2011 05:45 PM (GTbGH)

47 Muppets.

Muppets should do all future hurricane reporting.

Posted by: sifty, Teas Not Peas at August 28, 2011 05:46 PM (4CSeG)

@54: "That stupid bitch has a vote.

This nation was never set up to allow universal suffrage.

Only property owners had a vote."

Hell, you're annoyed wimmen got the vote? Damn liberals even gave it to the property!

Posted by: Zombie Bull Connor at August 28, 2011 05:49 PM (2xfbm)

49 OT This Jones kid for the Raiders looks really good. He just repeated ran through NO's defense like shit through a goose.

Posted by: toby928™ at August 28, 2011 05:49 PM (GTbGH)

I hear ya, Sifty. Ten, heck five, years ago (and maybe now), this is brutally painful. I don't care. I'm a survivor. We have to fix it or it's gone forever. You mentioned the "wrong people". If they have stalwart family or they're hard-working people, they'll be okay. If they're "entitled", they won't. It's a hard world. We buck up, pull up our big girl panties and deal or we don't. There's a choice about that. Be victim or be a survivor.

(it is quite possible that gin may be influencing my responses this evening)

Posted by: Ima Wurdibitsch a Teaorrist who is glad GGE is Un-Banned at August 28, 2011 05:52 PM (otfJ1)

51 35 Revised

If you see something, slay something.

Posted by: Janet Nappyholitano at August 28, 2011 05:57 PM (WCm02)

52 I slept like a baby thru the whole thing. The wind didn't get high at all where I am...a mile from the ocean in Ocean County NJ. Got up early to go to church and saw zero damage in the neighborhood. The bay was up about 4 feet but didn't reach the homes. Basically looked like a not-so-powerful thunderstorm went by. Internet is out tho, I hate typing on this iPhone.

Posted by: Trainer at August 28, 2011 05:58 PM (Z1oBf)

Was that 'general weather in flyover country?'

Posted by: No need to thank me- I enjoy being helpful at August 28, 2011 09:41 PM (gSR3m)

Yeah, it is. But, in general, we're prepared for 'em. We also rely almost exclusively on filthy capitalist private businesses (the local TV channels) for our warnings and information. Sorta like this hurricane stuff, the local governments tend to be quick on the trigger with the sirens, etc. If you take shelter when the sirens go, you could starve before the tornado hits!

Posted by: The New Guy's Alter Ego at August 28, 2011 06:00 PM (7yvLv)

54 @Ima #41 - WHY WHY WHY do you make us see this shit?

I swear I want to just be cut off from humanity when I see shit like that, I cannot take these stupid motherfuckers. I need to have an island, name it Misanthropia, and not fucking allow anyone on to my island even to visit unless they pass a test, written and scored by me. I hate everyone. DOOM!!!!

Posted by: Beth at August 28, 2011 06:00 PM (kBxk7)

55 67 @Ima #41 - WHY WHY WHY do you make us see this shit?

I swear I want to just be cut off from humanity when I see shit like that, I cannot take these stupid motherfuckers. I need to have an island, name it Misanthropia, and not fucking allow anyone on to my island even to visit unless they pass a test, written and scored by me. I hate everyone. DOOM!!!!

Posted by: Beth at August 28, 2011 10:00 PM (kBxk7)

Really? I apologize. I was stunned when I saw that. I watched the whole thing, hoping for some kind of redeeming statement. There wasn't. There are people out there who really believe that housing, water, electricity (and apparently, student loans, credit card debt and more should be paid by "someone else" - namely, all of us who pay taxes). I do.not.understand this. I have some rage working here...

Posted by: Ima Wurdibitsch a Teaorrist who is glad GGE is Un-Banned at August 28, 2011 06:04 PM (otfJ1)

56 I was stunned when I saw that.

THEY know you need a car, to, you know, get around.

Land is supposed to be free. Water is supposed to be free. Why do we have to pay fucking rent?

I am gobsmacked.

Posted by: toby928™ at August 28, 2011 06:15 PM (GTbGH)

57 Toby, I posted a link to that crazyfucking video on the ONT. I was horrified and terrified when I saw that. There are people in our nation who believe this crap. I need more ammo.

Posted by: Ima Wurdibitsch a Teaorrist who is glad GGE is Un-Banned at August 28, 2011 06:21 PM (otfJ1)

58 There are people in our nation who believe this crap.

I was surprised to learn that they had electricity in ancient Africa. And free at that.

Posted by: toby928™ at August 28, 2011 06:23 PM (GTbGH)

As a south Mississippi knuckle dragger who has been through Betsy, Camille, Katirna, and lesser drizzles, I can never get over the incredible sight of some asshole standing out in a hurricane with a microphone.

Posted by: Libra at August 28, 2011 06:26 PM (kd8U8)

60 71 There are people in our nation who believe this crap.

I was surprised to learn that they had electricity in ancient Africa. And free at that.

Posted by: toby928Â™ at August 28, 2011 10:23 PM (GTbGH)

Do you know about guano? Bat shit? That chick is fuckin'crazy. (I'm not going to be banned, am i?)

Posted by: Ima Wurdibitsch a Teaorrist who is glad GGE is Un-Banned at August 28, 2011 06:30 PM (otfJ1)

61 Back in the day, I knew a bunch of people that were all psyched out about life: "The cards are against me; I'm not one of the favored; life sucks." Most were on drugs, or played video games all the time, held nowhere jobs, did nothing....

....and, being the proactive guy I am, I came up with a solution. Knock on their door at 3 am, bundle them up in their bathrobe without so much as a nail file, fly them out to the backcountry of New Guinea (or the Amazon), and parachute them in at dawn. In their bathrobe.

If they didn't make it back to civilization, problem solved; if they did make it back, I'd put serious money that they'd never take shit for granted again. What's more, they'd probably have a great work ethic -- I'd hire one in a heartbeat just to see.

That is, I'd hire one so long as they could never find out that they were graduates of "The Cthulhu Treatment" -- 'cause otherwise they might have a bad attitude about working for Cthulhu....

With Wurdibitsch's woman, I'd expand the range to tropical Africa, so they could examine all the marvels of electricity they have there.

Posted by: cthulhu at August 28, 2011 06:39 PM (kaalw)

62 cthulhu, I like the way you think.

Posted by: Ima Wurdibitsch a Teaorrist who is glad GGE is Un-Banned at August 28, 2011 06:41 PM (otfJ1)

All of that so-called hype saved lives. Do you think it was worth saving one life with all of that hype? Without it, how many people would've died who otherwise lived? How many people prepared and/or got out of the way because of the hype? People who otherwise wouldn't have moved a muscle to prepare for it?

That hurricane and tropical storm impacted over 65 million people. Dozens dead, billions of dollars in damages. Over-hyped? Naw. All of that 'hype' saved a lot of lives.

Anyone who claims differently is talking crazy talk. How many people did they want to see dead, anyway? A thousand? Ten thousand? Then, they woulda complained that the government and the media didn't do enough and didn''t try to warn people.

Can't have it both ways and call ourself an adult...or think of yourself as sane.

65 million people hit by, or directly impacted by, this storm, and less than three dozen dead? When some nations get hit by storms this size, they number the dead in the thousands and in the tens of thousands...because no one's around to 'hype' the storm beforehand.

Count your blessings and be grateful that it wasn't much, much worse.

Posted by: Warren Bonesteel at August 28, 2011 06:44 PM (E7Z1r)

Perhaps Gov. Christie should put this on the table when he tells people to get the hell off the beach in future mandatory evacuations: "If you stay and are stuck on stupid, after putting your Social Security number on your left arm with a Sharpie for possible ID of your bloated and macerated carcass...please note that IF you survive the storm surge and require rescue, you will be responsible for the bill and all costs as you are placing our emergency workers in harm's way. Thank you."

His brief speech would include the *bill of a typical rescue including salary of the Coast Guard crew, cost of the helicopter, supplies, and fuel to triage area with dollar sign and lots of zeroes.

*If you don't have the money after rescue, it will be taken from your future earnings. If you have no future earnings, the cost will be taken from your posessions, including a car, if one can be found after the surge. If you have no possessions due to the storm surge, you will be provided clothing, tools and transportation to areas of local destruction as part of the clean-up crew, with your hourly wages deducted towards the expense of your rescue).

Posted by: ChristyBlinky at August 28, 2011 07:12 PM (fNdyx)

65 Evacuations cost big money. And in hurricane Rita seasoned citizens from Huouston area died when their evacuation bus crashed -- Rita if you recall turned north and hit LA rather than hitting Galveston and Houston. Interestingly a very strong dry line all along the Texas coast suggested that Rita would be turned or weaken dramatically. But because Katrina, who was accurately predicted, had done so much damage to those who ignored the forecasts everyone evacuated for Rita. Hopefully someday forecasts will be more accurate and evacuations will be based on good information rather than hype.

Posted by: Yeah, I'm pretty redneck at August 28, 2011 08:54 PM (WoI3x)

66 That guy in the hurricane video is a friend of mine.

He's actually a meteorologist, not a reporter.

Posted by: Serious Cat at August 28, 2011 09:11 PM (bAySe)

67 First off, don't tell me it's a mandatory evacuation. I'll stay just to defy you and protect my property - since everyone else has been ordered to leave. And who knows when they'll let us come back.

Let people use their own common sense regarding the situation they are in.

Just the facts. Doesn't sound complicated.

Posted by: currently at August 28, 2011 09:51 PM (Hq2uB)

68 I have a problem with people claiming this was overhyped. We're talking a matter of the eye moving...what 50 miles or less further east and it would have stayed over sea, been more organized, maybe picked up more energy and slammed into New York as a Category 2. The barometric pressure at the center of storm was much lower than a normal Category 1. Battery Park was flooded by this Category 1 storm. 1 more foot and more of Lower Manhattan would have been flooded. Stronger winds would have have created a larger storm surge. Also, if the storm had been a bit further east, NYC would have been in the hit with more rain, central Mass and CT would be dealing with the flooding that you're seeing in the less populated Western Massachusetts, VT and New Hampshire.

Posted by: Xmas at August 29, 2011 03:16 AM (Axre/)

69 That is useful information and its quite easy to come a croper if you are not vigilant.

Posted by: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People AudioBook at August 29, 2011 03:34 PM (pCCk4)

70 Thanks

Posted by: dreambox at August 29, 2011 08:08 PM (Nij6I)

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