Hurricane Advice

[OneMountainAcres]

I heard from my MIL this morning, 30 miles west of St Augustine. The pond behind their house is swelled (but not overflowing), a couple tree branches down, and power went out overnight but nothing major there.

 

[User395221]

With all the worry about Florida and Irma taking centre stage, how are our Houston people doing now? Have the flood waters receded? How are things going over there?

 

[barred2rock]

I just told my brother - "it's NOT NICE to dismiss Mother Nature". These hurricanes haven't followed the projections very well at all.

Again, not saying Jose could become more than a bad storm system short of being a Hurricane, but he won't be the first Hurricane that re-strengthened and caused more problems including damage and even death.

Or he may just fade out into obscurity.

In the meantime, I'm keeping an eye on him. lol

It's really not that their predictioned track were off, unpredictable conditions change that change the track slightly. In any case, the actual track was maybe 50 miles off of the earlier predictions. Amazing if you think less than 100 years ago they didn't even know a hurricane was on its way until they were being hit by the outer bands.

 

[Bunnylady]

I'm saying a prayer of thanks with each person who checks in. For most people who behave sensibly, a hurricane is a serious inconvenience and a big mess, and it's always a relief to know that your loved ones are just inconvenienced.

Beats the hell out of hearing you have already been rescued to a hospital in Baton Rouge, LA and you are still sitting in a hospital in NOLA with patients, knowing now that no one is coming for you and you are under water. This happened to people I know during Katrina.

I remember once, when I was in high school, watching a local news story where the TV reporter got most of the details wrong. Something about the reporter had rubbed an acquaintance of mine the wrong way, so he deliberately fed the guy misinformation. Evidently, the reporter had been in such a hurry to wrap things up, he didn't check his source - and he really should have.

And I have always wondered who dropped the ball with that hospital. News reports are only as good as their sources, but the word that the rescue had already been carried out had to start somewhere. Somebody must have thought, "that was my job, and I hadn't done it yet - so who did?"

 

[Flashpoint]

I vote for fade into obscurity!!! (EMPHATICALLY)

I'm with you. This entire mess can just go away. I know we all have had enough of disasters and not knowing if family and friends are safe.

 

[Ursuline Chick]

I'm saying a prayer of thanks with each person who checks in. For most people who behave sensibly, a hurricane is a serious inconvenience and a big mess, and it's always a relief to know that your loved ones are just inconvenienced.



I remember once, when I was in high school, watching a local news story where the TV reporter got most of the details wrong. Something about the reporter had rubbed an acquaintance of mine the wrong way, so he deliberately fed the guy misinformation. Evidently, the reporter had been in such a hurry to wrap things up, he didn't check his source - and he really should have.

And I have always wondered who dropped the ball with that hospital. News reports are only as good as their sources, but the word that the rescue had already been carried out had to start somewhere. Somebody must have thought, "that was my job, and I hadn't done it yet - so who did?"

I could write a book on what went wrong in 2005, but the bottom line is that, New Orleans had no idea Katrina was coming our way until 48 hours before it hit, media was saying it was going to Penacola! We were unprepared, caught off guard, had NEVER order a manditory evacuation in almost 300 years as a city. The 10 o'clock news reported the track change for the first time, it was a Friday night and many didn't find out until Saturday morning! The Feds were unprepared for something this size, three days after the storm hit, FEMA had people in Memphis in the hotel across the street, that had NOT received orders yet. Citizens who wished to use their own boats to rescue people were told no, national guard was ordered to shoot anyone who didn't abid by FEMA's rules. And people were dying on their roofs. Army corps of engineers did a lame job of erecting our levees and they failed, leaving most of the city under water for close to 3 weeks. Some areas under 9' or better of water for most of 3 weeks. We were not allowed to come back to the city for a month, you had to sneak in past national guard (Who were just trying to do their duty, we are very greatful to them). Sorry but there is just so much I don't think the nation knows and those of us who lived it and knew people who lived will probably never completely get past it. I am just glad that we as a nation appear to have learned a few things since then, so that others never have to endure what we went through.

 

[Flashpoint]

It's really not that their predictioned track were off, unpredictable conditions change that change the track slightly. In any case, the actual track was maybe 50 miles off of the earlier predictions. Amazing if you think less than 100 years ago they didn't even know a hurricane was on its way until they were being hit by the outer bands.

I guess that's the point in a nutshell. The unpredictability factors skewers every forecast. I don't expect them to be perfect and hopefully one day they can be.

I do think what we have saves hundreds if not thousands of lives.

 

[jeria]

It's really not that their predictioned track were off, unpredictable conditions change that change the track slightly. In any case, the actual track was maybe 50 miles off of the earlier predictions. Amazing if you think less than 100 years ago they didn't even know a hurricane was on its way until they were being hit by the outer bands.

I think of that often when we are hit with storms. I live on land that was a camping ground for those heading out on the three major trails west in wagons etc.

 

[Ursuline Chick]

I guess that's the point in a nutshell. The unpredictability factors skewers every forecast. I don't expect them to be perfect and hopefully one day they can be.

I do think what we have saves hundreds if not thousands of lives.

Based on 12 years ago, 10's of thousands of lives have been saved. Thank God

 

[Ursuline Chick]

Very impressed with the low numbers of people who did not make it in Harvey and now so far Irma. Terribly sorry for those and their familys for those that did pass. Just impressed it has not been in the thousands, makes it really hard when everyone you meet when you get back has either lost a family member or knows someone who has. Just thanking God those numbers are low.