Posted on 01/11/2009 6:32:44 AM PST by Libloather
Advice for those going to the inaugural
By Bartholomew Sullivan, Memphis Commercial Appeal
Sunday, January 11, 2009
WASHINGTON -- Think of it as an opportunity to stand still for up to six hours in the freezing cold, shoulder-to-shoulder and front-to-back with hundreds of thousands of complete strangers.
Do you really want to go to the inauguration of Barack Obama as the country's 44th president?
If you do, be forewarned. Here's a compendium of practical advice gleaned from Secret Service, inaugural committee and other briefings in recent weeks:
Plan on it being very cold, and probably wet. You can't bring an umbrella, so pack a poncho or two and some chemical hand-warmers and think about boots and wool socks. Some of the museums -- and all of the Smithsonians -- along the National Mall will be open for warmth and bathrooms. Consider this advice from the Congressional Inaugural Committee: "Please think carefully about whether you can stand outside in cold weather in a large crowd for up to six hours, and whether you are ready for long delays getting home afterward." On average, the high and the low temperature has been in the 30s on Jan. 20. It snowed eight inches the day before John F. Kennedy's inauguration in 1961.
It will be nearly impossible to cover a lot of ground fast because this will be the biggest crowd ever gathered in Washington, and probably the largest crowd you'll ever see unless you attend the Ardh Kumbh Mela in India. That means plan ahead. What you think might take an hour will take three. The swearing-in takes place at exactly 11:59 a.m. Ten percent of the ticketed guests four years ago missed the swearing-in because they were still waiting in line, so planners are suggesting you start lining up by 6 a.m.
Planners are expecting 600,000 people to come to town on 10,000 buses -- a convoy that, if lined up, would be 75 miles long. The bus companies have to register prior to their arrival in the Metropolitan area with the D.C. Emergency Management Agency at ClickandPark.com. The deadline for applying for a permit is Jan. 15. For more information, go online to inauguration.dc.gov/bus.asp.
For those of you who are not staying downtown on Monday night, the 19th, the Presidential Inaugural Committee recommends public transit but warns that you'll still be doing a lot of walking. For anyone within two miles of the National Mall, forget anything but walking. Here's why: Every seat and spot on every Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority (Metro) train will be filled at its first stations farthest from downtown. If you decide to try Metro from out in the suburbs, plan to start early. Metro opens all-day "crush loading" at 4 a.m. Also: Buy your tickets from a station kiosk as soon as you hit town to avoid long lines the day of the inauguration. Look at the wmata.com "Inauguration Day" page for additional pass and ticket information.
The District of Columbia's "Inauguration" Web site will have the most up-to-date information on road closures and other travel alerts. The site is inauguration.dc.gov/index.asp.
Backpacks and strollers will be permitted in the unticketed sections of the National Mall west of Fourth Street, but they are being strongly discouraged. The restriction on those items, along with thermoses, coolers, umbrellas and laser pointers, applies in ticketed parade-route and swearing-in areas and at the balls. In ticketed areas, cameras are permitted but tripods are not. Don't bring posters or placards bigger than 18 inches square.
Vehicular traffic and parking near the Capitol itself will be prohibited, even to vehicles with special disability tags and license plates. Many roads will be closed or may only be available to bus traffic.
Planners say to be aware that it may be difficult to talk or send pictures by cell phone because of the crowds. They advise using text messaging for critical messages.
If you still don't have a hotel, word is some chains may have rooms nearer the date, but you may want to get your name on a list. Craigslist has a section for renting houses and apartments.
**SNIP**
A stage director adjusts the placement of stand ins for the President-elect Barack Obama and his family during a dress rehearsal for the Inauguration Ceremony at the US Capitol in Washington , Sunday, Jan. 11, 2009. Standing in for the President-elect is Army Sgt. Derrick Brooks. Standing in for Michelle Obama is Navy Yeoman 1st Class LaSean McCray and standing in for the children are Gianna Justice Samira-Nixon and Dominique Sewell
Bathrooms in the metro stations will be closed.
There are bathrooms in the Metro stations? In all the time I've been riding Metro I have yet to see one.
I work in DC and live in the MD. suburbs, my advice is to stay away from DC until at least Thursday.
This could be a disaster. Don’t they take the inauguration inside when the weather is bad? The weather for the 20th is forecast to be just about as bad as it gets in DC? Not a whole Lot of people will get to watch an inauguration inside.
People should be told to stay away from the ceremony and watch it on TV. People could die.
And from the weather report they are going to get it; temperatures in low 20s heavy snow, and wind. It will probably not be held outside.
9th President of the United States
In office
4 March 1841 – 4 April 1841
Vice President John Tyler
Preceded by Martin Van Buren
Succeeded by John Tyler
I wouldn't go if I had a real invite with the rest of the elites, Let alone under the conditions of the serfs. No thanks.
Unless its some kind of holiday, most Americans should be at WORK!
You’re right, it is a work day, which I had forgotten in the midst of all this hoopla, so my TV watching will begin in the evening. But I wouldn’t be surprised to find that most workplaces will have TVs tuned to the inauguration festivities throughout the day, making it hellish for at least half of all employees. Fortunately, I’m self-employed.
Freaky-Deaky...
That photo, by the way, is real. It was an incredible ice storm in Switzerland in 2005. That is Lake Geneva.
http://www.hoax-slayer.com/ice-storm-photos.shtml
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