Waiting for Irene

[Blackhorse]

Hurricane Irene made landfall on the North Carolina coast. It is currently projected to take a most unusual course . . . following straight up the coast, and possibly hitting New York City head-on.

It is 'only' a Category I hurricane at the moment (winds 90mph+), but it is big -- over 400 miles across -- bringing heavy rain and pushing a strong storm surge ahead of it, so low-lying areas will be flooded, and locales unused to hurricanes, like New York City, could take a lot of damage.

I'm in the Washington, DC area. The storm is expected to pass through here during the night between Saturday/Sunday. Folks in my area are far enough inland, and uphill, that flooding shouldn't be a problem, and the winds are currently projected to peak at about 45 mph. Our biggest concern is losing power; if it goes out, it will likely stay out for days as thyere are hundreds of thousands of people living between us and the coast who will also be losing power, too. But we're stocked up with ice, candles, flashlights, batteries, etc. etc., so the worst we face is an extended inconvenience.

Here's hoping and praying that the rest of the AE community (and everyone else) in the region stays safe and sound.

[USSAmerica]

Blackhorse, I think you will be around the same distance from the storm center as we are in Raleigh.  Still windy outside and raining, but nothing very bad here.  I have lots of family in Baltimore, so I'm watching your area closely. 

Keep your head down, and keep the beer cold.  [:)]

[SuluSea]

Looks like we're getting some outer bands now in Central Maryland, the wind has been steadily creeping up all day hang on to your hats folks, crosses fingers and hopes for the best for all in Irene's path .
 
Hey, it isn't every week you have both an earthquake and hurricane.

[crsutton]

I have a house at Cape Hatteras. The prospects do not look good there. As of about noon the canal behind my home is empty of water. The wind has blown it all out. Problem is, that means as the hurricane moves through the area and the wind shifts, all that water will come back and then a whole lot more water is going to come with it. It won't be pretty.

[ChezDaJez]

ORIGINAL: USS America

Blackhorse, I think you will be around the same distance from the storm center as we are in Raleigh.  Still windy outside and raining, but nothing very bad here.  I have lots of family in Baltimore, so I'm watching your area closely. 

Keep your head down, and keep the beer cold.  [:)]

My daughter just moved to North Carolina from Washington state at the beginning of August to attend UNC to finish her masters in Nursing. She believes that North Carolina could have done a better job in laying out the welcome mat for her. She's thinking that hurricanes and earthquakes aren't quite what she envisioned for a welcome!

Chez

[Cribtop]

It is looking a bit apocalyptic on the East Coast of late. Stay safe, all.

Stupid Hurricane Irene! We'd pay good money for a Cat 1 Hurricane in Texas. We've got towns drinking recycled urine and have power plants in danger of shutting down because their cooling lakes are drying up. [:@]

[JamesM]

Good luck and thank your lucky stars it was not as strong as Yasi was

[Blacksheep]

Sold, but only if you take immediate delivery[8|]

[DOCUP]

Good luck to those in the line of fire.  Being in WVa I don't think I'll get much but rain.  But stay safe to everyone.
 
doc

[Skyros]

Be safe and good luck Blackhorse and CR. On SC coast and the sun is shining. We dodged a bullit here.

[JohnDillworth]

Latest track shows it going through my backyard on Long Island.  Blizzards all winter, earthquake, hurricanes. I think I am going to stock up on shotgun shells.  Looks like the zombie apocalypse might be next. It's all good

[crsutton]

Well, I think we dodged the bullet in Cape Hatteras. She downgraded to a cat 1 before hitting the island. My understanding is the damage was minimal, with a few shingles missing and a lot of sand everywhere. I can live with that.

[JohnDillworth]

Complete bust on Long Island.  Rain will stop within the hour and I might be sunning myself on the beach by mid-afternoon.  Look nasty a coiple of days ago but it's time to bring NYC back online.

[Blackhorse]

No major damage in Blackhorse-ville. A lot of tree branches down, but nothing more serious than that.

Good luck to JohnD and all our friends and family in New Jersey, New York City, Long Island and the Connecticut coast. They are facing the brunt of the storm today.

[Panther Bait]

I'm in New Hampshire and just had a tree go down in the yard. Away from the house thankfully.

Mike

[LoBaron]

Hope everythings fine, its also in the news in Austria.

[joey]

I live outside Philly. A lot of rain and flooding, but other than that, it was not too bad. Hurricane Floyd was worse in this area in 1999.

[Rising-Sun]

It has taken a beating here with high winds and alot of rains in Clifton Park, NY. Look like i be into this for a day. Clifton Park is located not far from north of Albany.

[Rainer]

My brother from Providence, Rhode Island just reported that the immediate danger seems to be over. A tree fell but that's hopefully it.