Posted on 08/26/2011 9:40:24 AM PDT by NautiNurse
Approximately 65 million people are likely to be directly impacted by Hurricane Irene as the storm takes aim at the densely populated Eastern Seaboard. Evacuations are underway for high flood risk areas.
Mass transit cancellations, schedule changes and road/bridge closures are occurring throughout the storm warning areas. Please check with local news and Emergency Management Operations to determine the recommendations for your immediate area.
Mash image to enlarge
Mash image to enlarge
Radar Images & Loops (interactive maps short/long range) Southeast
Northeast (Cape Hatteras to NE)
Satellite Images Still Images/Loops (both Flash & Java)
Buoy Data: Florida
Southeast US
Northeast US
Local News Coverage: WWAY 3 Wilmington NC
WRAL Raleigh NC
WETC Wilmington NC
WAVY Portsmouth VA w/Live Stream coverage link
WTVR Richmond VA
WUSA Washington DC
WBAL Baltimore MD
CBS Local Baltimore
WPVI Philadelphia
WTXF My Fox Philly
WABC NYC
WTNH New Haven CT
WHDH Boston
Buoys off the North Carolina coast were reporting waves to near 20 feet as Irene heads for landfall early Saturday.
Irene’s fury is expected to deliver extremely destructive storm surges of 6-11 feet and torrential rains that could isolate the Outer Banks from the rest of the state. Strong winds will likely cause power outages.
30 seconds of irene at Myrtal beach....debrie in the air...and it was early on...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DxSH7iftrY&feature=related
I think we're just being realistic actually. Certainly not cruel; it's just a commentary on the east coast-based media's self-preoccupation. It has nothing to do with the legitimate concerns of the average resident in a high danger zone, though I'm guessing they're the most prepared and the least hysterical. If it happens to the elite east coast media and their cities, it's the biggest of big deals; it preempts everything. For instance I haven't heard a word about Libya and the hunt for Ghadddafi, where we're currently engaged in military strikes, because all that's on TV are computer models of where a storm may or may not go 4 days in advance and file footage of fluttering street signs and Bahamian palm trees. It's a legitimate story, but the hysterical coverage is overkill.
"Funny you bring up Katrina and then the next statement is “East Coast bias”. BS. We weren’t innundated with Katrina stuff for ages?
No, we were, and it was driven largely by the same media hysteria, though I should add that that was an actual disaster. It went on ad nauseum (it was embarrasing, really) however because the media wanted to vilify Bush.
"How about your earthquakes? You don’t think there’s much coverage? Phooey on you. What a bunch of nonsense.
Comparitively? No, not really, I'll bet you can't even name the last one that's made headlines without looking it up. In any event, the notable California ones happen, what, maybe once a decade? It's not an every-year media event in advance of an acutal occurence. Moreover, if you're anywhere between California and the East Coast, you'll get no coverage no matter what happens. Heard much about Texas' drought? No. How about the tsunami damage to Hawaii? No. Much about volcanos in Alaska? No. The list goes on. The east coast media simply doesn't care because it doesn't affect them; it's all 'fly-over country' to them.
You really think rain and 60 mph wind is nothing?
I think it's something that many places in the world deal with routinely. The northwest pacific coast gets hit with weather like that every year. Heck, we get 60mph winds just about every year in parts of L.A., with gusts in the triple digits on occasions.
"Look up Agnes. You can’t get much worse than that “wimpy” storm.
Fine, of course take precautions, I can certainly understand if you're in a coastal flood zone or something, but I still think the predictions of Armageddon are severely overwrought. If you can canoe down Wall St., I'll eat my words.
In any event, media hysteria aside, best of luck to all, including you and yours. If it is bad, the rest of the country will be here with assistance, as always.
Definitely not intending to minimize what the eastern part of the state is going through. And my area’s not as dry as Texas either, but still ...
I’ll be glad to take some of that rain off their hands. Unfortunately, the Weather Channel’s map shows us with no expectation of rain in the next 48 hours.
Thanks. My driveway is doomed! Old brittle tulip poplars. Glad we have a couple of chainsaws.
FR needs a Like button. I know I’m not the first to say that.
Think positive - lots of free firewood!
I’m looking for that minor miracle here too. My biggest fear, an extended power outage. The 2nd biggest fear is having to get down my driveway with a bunch of poplars in my way. Luckily, I have a place to go if I can get there that has food, water, beer and a warm shower in the above scenario.
Nice.
Extended power outtage is a real concern, also with interstate transit being affected, shortages of food and gasoline could be a problem. When I filled my tank this evening I heard the gas stations just south in Cecil County were shutting down.
Rain comes in due time I think.....if not one could question perhaps why being withheld when the duration begins to take life.
The vast spread of this hurricane could cover Europe it’s been said. Just the outer bands are causing havoc. It’s going to be a ride for any in it’s path.
However the news does seem to play out every little detail and then some....I heard a guy say the worst flooding in “five” years. and chuckled as this is the norm of announcers on pretty much everything...
Hi NautiNurse, just a shoutout from Louisiana. Nobody does this hurricane live monitoring stuff as well as you, IMHO, and I wanted to say it’s great that you’re still here after all these years. I shouldn’t jinx myself by saying this, but it feels weird to be on the outside looking in for a change, because for once I’m not in the path of this hurricane. But I’d better quit patting myself on the back while I’m ahead, because hurricane season’s a long way from over!
Oddly enough, my daughter and I just spent the summer on vacation in the Northeast. We spent six weeks in Gloucester, Massachusetts and took a leisurely return drive via the Port Jefferson-Bridgeport Ferry to Long Island, followed by Manhattan, Seaside Heights, New Jersey, Delaware, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, Washington DC, and the part of Virginia believed to be the center of the recent earthquake before continuing home to Louisiana. If not for the fact that school starts several weeks earlier in Louisiana, we’d still be up North right now and in the path of the storm. Amazing!
Thanks again for all you do, NautiNurse — lots of people depend upon and appreciate you everywhere!
What you said...I agree.
Camille vet 1969 here.
I hope I am not wrong but this is not Andrew or Katrina or Camille or Hazel etc......the Keys 1935 storm...
I have never seen the media so fixated...Hannity too
From Twitter:
3:40 a.m. breakingweather (Accu Weather)
A possible tornado will approach south-central portions of Virginia Beach within the next 20 minutes. #Irene
No. Refusing to believe. It is therefore not so. Fingers in ears. Luh luh luh
You too. Lovely area Kips Bay.
checking thread for updates after having a potty break for me and dogs.. Dogs take longer & of course there are lots of great animal smells from the prior 5 hours that must be checked out!
A week or so ago, Louisville had some straight-line winds of ~ 60-70 mph... they lasted all of 10-15 minutes.. and, power was knocked out for more than 150,000 people for several days.
People forget: A hurricane doesn’t HAVE to be a Cat 4 to cause significant disruption in urban areas that haven’t seen this kind of weather in 70+ years.
Thankfully, Irene seems to be sucking in dry air from the west and southwest quadrants. Looks to me like she will NOT be getting much stronger. But, people will KNOW, and remember that she was there.
Somehow, however, it just seems the media has run away with the coverage, and the govt. has taken extensive measures and overly dramatized this. Don't get me wrong...I am not downing the need to be alert and prepared, nor the damage that can result. It just seems we never had this kind of continual alarm for hurricanes that were expected to be even more destructive. Maybe it is because of the size of Irene, and how slow it is moving, thus remaining on land and dumping so much rain... or that it is going to hit New York, New jersey areas. It is a nasty storm, but does not seem to be the worst we have had.
Anyone else think that the MSM will downplay or ignore the looting as it doesn’t fit their formerly hidden agenda and makes their favorite crowd look bad? Free big screen TV time for all.
Did anyone say where all these evacuees are supposed to go? Gonna be one big Charlie Foxtrot.
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