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Hurricanes are not big thunderstorms

Bob Morris, on Aug 25, 2011, 5:46 pm

Reading the comments on the Facebook page for Bryan Norcross, Hurricane Specialist at The Weather Channel is bemusing. There are quite a few from people in the storm track wondering what to do or what will happen. One person said, my house is one block from the ocean, should I board up the windows? Uh, yes, then evacuate. Others ask if  the hurricane will hit them. They’re Internet-savvy enough to be on Facebook yet can’t find hurricane information on their own. It may be that most of them have never been through a major hurricane (not that any hurricane is minor) and think it’s akin to a big thunderstorm.

Norcross responds to the questions, saying:

For everyone asking about their particular location, can’t say for sure what’s going to happen except that large areas likely will have a significant hit. At the coast or any bay, MAJOR life-threatening flooding from the ocean is likely. Inland, a long period of high winds and heavy rain on saturated ground is likely to bring down many trees cutting power and communications. Transportation by any means may be difficult for some time…so water and food at home is the best defense.

Irene remains on track, unfortunately. It appears clear that we cannot now escape a significant, perhaps devastating hurricane event in at least part of North Carolina, the Mid-Atlantic, the Northeast including NYC, and New England… including inland sections 100 or more miles from the coast. Timing: Sat in NC, Sun around NYC then into New Eng later Sun into Mon. EVERYONE in the threat zone needs to plan for being stuck with no power, water or communications. Have ONE WEEK of supplies on hand.

If I was in a coastal area on the storm track, I’d drive 150 miles inland and find a hotel. This is not your normal hurricane.

Category: News | 7 comments - (Comments are closed)

  • Maureen Lycaon

    Would even 150 miles be enough for a hurricane this size? I’ve seen the MODIS images and this thing is a monster.

    (Am southern California dumbass. I understand earthquakes, but am somewhat clueless about hurricanes.)

    • http://polizeros.com Bob Morris

      Norcross said the storm area could reach 100 miles inland. 150 miles inland you might get heavy rain but probably no downed trees or power outages.

      I’ve been through big hurricanes and big earthquakes. The big concern with Irene is the very slow speed and potential for a big storm surge.

  • http://cherihonkala.com Ross

    I’m busy preparing for this today. Making sure nothing is loose outside that could blow away, getting food and water, etc. In Philly we’re supposed to get over 7 inches of rain – the most I’ve ever seen around here is maybe 2 or 3 at once. And that was earlier this summer! There’s no doubt in my mind that this bizarre weather is related to global warming.

    • http://polizeros.com Bob Morris

      No no no, the crazy weather is all the fault of that socialist Obama.

  • http://www.asymptoticlife.com DJ

    I had to laugh today (to keep from crying) – Michelle Bachmann claims that severe weather is God’s way of warning us. Okay, that’s not so far-fetched. But she claims we’re being warned by God about our budget deficit. lol!

    “How the faithful city has become a whore! She that was full of justice, righteousness lodged in her— but now murderers!” says Isaiah. “[T]heir land is filled with horses, and there is no end to their chariots.”

    “I brought you into a plentiful land to eat its fruits and its good things. But when you entered you defiled my land, and made my heritage an abomination,” says Jeremiah. “Therefore once more I accuse you, says the LORD, and I accuse your children’s children.”

    “They covet fields, and seize them; houses, and take them away; they oppress householder and house, people and their inheritance,” says Micah. “Therefore thus says the LORD: Now, I am devising against this family an evil from which you cannot remove your necks; and you shall not walk haughtily, for it will be an evil time.”

    “The fields are devastated, the ground mourns; for the grain is destroyed, the wine dries up, the oil fails,” says Joel. “Even the wild animals cry to you because the watercourses are dried up, and fire has devoured he pastures of the wilderness.”

    Do they really believe we are suffering because the government spends too much, or because we permit homosexuality? They do. I can only guess that they haven’t actually read the Book they say we should all read. I read it, and what is happening is no surprise. Militarism, environmental destruction, oppression, and corruption– these are the things the Bible warns against.

    • http://polizeros.com Bob Morris

      Socialist. :)

  • http://www.asymptoticlife.com DJ

    It is said of the early Christian community, “Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common… There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.” (Acts 2) And elsewhere, “Those who had little did not have too little, and those who had much did not have too much.” They were pacifists who refused to serve in the military. Socialists? You could say that.

    Of course, that was before Emperor Constantine got hold of things and turned Christianity into a tool of the state. Within a generation of his “conversion,” military service was expected of a Christian and pacifism was for fringe wackos. Cooption was as alive and well in the 3rd century as it is today.