[americanophile]

I'm from the west coast and we don't have hurricanes. I've experienced the tail end of one in Boston some years back, but never anything approaching the fully fury. Still, I have to wonder how much of this media hysteria is really justified. By the time the hurricane reaches NY, they're predicting 60 mph winds. That's really not terrifying at all. The storm surge is of course what usually causes the most destruction, but headlines this morning included, "Hurricane Irene could bring Katrina-style flooding to coast, FEMA warns." Really? You mean to tell me that what looks like a glancing blow from a category two/three will be equivalent to a direct hit from a category three/four on a city and area that is at, or largely below, sea level, and which had broken levees? Forgive me, but I think I see the usual, "if it happens on the east coast, it's the biggest deal in the world" media bias.

[tcrlaf]

“By the time the hurricane reaches NY, they’re predicting 60 mph winds.”

At ground level...
What does that translate to on the 30th floor?

[who knows what evil?]

Forgive me, but I think I see the usual, "if it happens on the east coast, it's the biggest deal in the world" media bias.

I believe they share sports 'reporters' with ESPN...

[who knows what evil?]

...how much of this media hysteria is really justified...

Every time this storm weakens a bit; the disappointment from the media is almost palpable...

[NautiNurse]

I have to wonder how much of this media hysteria is really justified.

A few thoughts:

Yesterday--when the media excitement was kicking into high gear--the forecast indicated Irene would still be a Category 2 hurricane off the coast of New Jersey. Irene was expected to emerge from the NC Outer Banks intact as a Category 3 storm.

Second, The areas in the forecast track are experiencing the highest tides of the year right now. If the storm surge occurs at high tide, it adds several more feet of water to storm surge totals.

Third, the Northern Seaboard has been inundated with significant floods and rain already in the past several days. The ground is already saturated before the first rain band from Irene arrives. Many trees will be uprooted when the winds kick up from Irene.

Finally, there is a big difference between a wind gust and sustained hurricane winds. For a storm of this size, sustained winds will last for substantially longer than 24 hours (tropical storm force winds extend 290 miles from the center, presume 20 mph forward speed).

[luckystarmom]

I live in California, but grew up in Texas. Hurricanes can change. In my opinion, i’s better to be safe than sorry. The east coast has lots of people that’s why it is getting so much co erase.

I pray that people stay safe.