OT: If on the East Coast, GTFO (Class III Kill Storm Open Thread)

Submitted by BiSB on

As Snowicane Sandy approaches the East Coast, this is your friendly MGoPSA:

PLEASE check out the latest warnings and forecasts. New York City public transit is shutting down at 7:00 P.M., and I understand portions of Manhattan and Staten Island are being evacuated.

As a reference, this is a shot of lower Manhattan showing the storm surge from Hurricane Donna in 1960. The storm surge for the upcoming storm is reportedly going to be higher (H/T  @mattmfm):

NYC Blue

October 28th, 2012 at 4:05 PM ^

So the subway is closed- no big deal.  I am not going to worry until they close all the Chinese takeout places....

 

 

Uh oh.   Houston, we have a problem....

 

 

NYC Blue

October 28th, 2012 at 4:32 PM ^

(I may or may not have modified that for dramatic effect- I was here in 97 when we had 22 inches of snow and the Chinese restaurants were still open as people were pulling kids on sleds down Broadway since NYC was shut down to automobiles)

 

NYC Blue

October 28th, 2012 at 4:19 PM ^

Its all about what you are used to.  we deal with hurricanes about as well as you would deal with a big snowstorm.  And there is some real danger simply because people up here don't do the simple things to prepare (and buildings are not made with these type of things in mind)

 

NYC Blue

October 28th, 2012 at 5:36 PM ^

I was not trying to be critical.  If you grew up in PA, I have no doubt that you have handled big snowstorms.

My point was only that what is a big deal and what is not is to a great deal influenced by your level of comfort and familiarity the thing.  

I am watching the news right now and seeing a bunch of idiots standing on a beach in NJ ignoring the police advising them to evacuate because they are enjoying watching the record high surf crashing into the rocks.  I am guessing these are not actions that you would typically see from people familiar with the dangers of even "mild" hurricanes. (then again, idiots do exist everywhere)

 

Blue in Yarmouth

October 29th, 2012 at 8:40 AM ^

and agree whole heartedly. I live in a place that gets lots of snow, rain and wind with the occasional hurricane. Each year during March break our family would drive down South to Florida for vacation. On the way we would almost always hit at least one freak snow fall in an area that doesn't usually have it. It was like driving through Ghost towns because no one new how to deal with it. There would be cars in ditches everywhere and this would be in conditions we would drive in on a regular basis back home.

Also related to your post would be the last pretty big hurricane to actually hit our twon was when I was in High School. Two guys in my grade and their girl friends went to the light house to watch the waves crashing against the rocks and the two girls got swept in and drowned. They did this while the radio was constantly telling people they should remain away from coastal areas...

Anyway, I agree thatit really is more about hwat you're used to dealing with that impacts your outlook on a situation, and though that one poster was used to snow, I have seen people in Florida trying to cope with freak snowfalls and they fare far worse that northern foke coping with hurricanes in my experience.

Clarence Beeks

October 28th, 2012 at 7:45 PM ^

Also in South Florida, but I don't agree with you. This won't be like our storms, but in some ways will be worse. This storm will be all about rain and surge, rather than wind. A big part of the issue with the storm is the geomorphology of where this storm will hit, which will probably massively magnify the storm surge on the northeast side, because (1) full moon high tide at landfall and (2) landfall projects just south of the New York Bight, which will push all of the water into the New York Bight and the only place all that water can go is into New York Harbor and Long Island Sound.

Clarence Beeks

October 28th, 2012 at 10:19 PM ^

I understand that you're saying that we are better prepared for these storms, and I agree, but this is a totally different animal that even we would not be prepared for, even recognizing that it is only a Cat 1:



"This afternoon's 3:30 pm EDT H*Wind analysis from NOAA's Hurricane Research Division put the destructive potential of Sandy's winds at a modest 2.8 on a scale of 0 to 6. However, the destructive potential of the storm surge was record high: 5.8 on a scale of 0 to 6. This is a higher destructive potential than any hurricane observed since 1969, including Category 5 storms like Katrina, Rita, Wilma, Camille, and Andrew."



I hope your family stays safe!

Elise

October 28th, 2012 at 5:37 PM ^

Not everybody thought Irene was a 'letdown.' 

Here in Vermont I still see FEMA trucks driving around dealing with the mess, and there have been numerous money drives to help finance rebuilding homes, businesses and infrastructure that were lost as a result of babbling brooks turned into raging rapids.  Thankfully not many lives were lost, at least. 

I don't mind having new roads in places, but there was plenty of destruction as a result of Irene that can't be undone.  After seeing that firsthand, I'm OK with a hurricane "letting me down."

bronxblue

October 28th, 2012 at 8:27 PM ^

I had a colleague whose house on Long Island was nearly hit by a huge tree branch and who couldn't get to the city for about a week because all of the train lines were covered with fallen debris.  And people were without power in CT, NY, and NJ for quite some time.  Sure, it wasn't Stormpocalypse, but people freak the balls out about snowfall in parts of the country that would make northerners laugh.  It's all about how you can handle the situation and how bad it can be relative to those expectations.

LSAClassOf2000

October 28th, 2012 at 4:21 PM ^

Apparently, Sandy is huge enough that I was just called by my own manager asking about my availability for storm duty here in Michigan this week. We're supposed to get 40+ MPH gusts Monday night and into Tuesday, enhanced some by the outer reaches of Sandy, We're expecting scattered outages from wind and general nastiness here, but a mere shadow of what they will supposedly see on the East Coast. That's a big storm. 

Take care, our eastern MGoBloggers. Stay safe. 

 

readyourguard

October 28th, 2012 at 4:24 PM ^

Our family condo on the NC coast is getting pummeled. TWC had a crew in front of out place giving a live report.



Sucks for us but I fell truly sad for the people who live there full-time.

MAgoBLUE

October 28th, 2012 at 4:31 PM ^

Ahhhhh Borges has no idea how to use Denard and we have no backup! Sorry wrong freak out. WE ARE All GOING TO DIE!!! IT'S FRANKENSTORM!!! FOLLOW ME TO FREEDOM!,,!!

eth2

October 28th, 2012 at 4:32 PM ^

After exhausting all options I've ended up in Omaha where I'll be spending yet another night in Nebraska. Hoping to catch a flight out tomorrow AM that will get me as close to home as possible.

Will be in downtown Omaha tonight. Any other MGoUsers in the area who have suggestions for entertainment or want to meet up and commiserate, post here.

Feat of Clay

October 28th, 2012 at 11:14 PM ^

Old Market is nice but it probably rolls up the sidewalks about 5 pm on a Sunday night, I'm sorry to say. There is a casino in Council Bluffs, and if you are there during the daytime there is a great railroad museum (Union Pacific) there too. In Omaha the Joslyn is really impressive. Not sure if it closes on Mondays like so many museums do.