Posted on 08/28/2011 8:25:32 AM PDT by mandaladon
KILL DEVIL HILLS, N.C. (AP) — From North Carolina to New Jersey, Hurricane Irene appeared to have fallen short of the doomsday predictions. But with rivers still rising, and roads impassable because of high water and fallen trees, it could be days before the full extent of the damage is known.
More than 4.5 million homes and businesses along the East Coast lost power, and at least 11 deaths were blamed on the storm. But as day broke Sunday, surprisingly light damage was reported in many places, with little more than downed trees and power lines.
"I think it's a little strong to say we dodged a bullet. However, it certainly could have turned out worse for the Hampton Roads area" in Virginia, said National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Montefusco.
At the same time, officials warned of the possibility of severe flooding over the next few days as runoff from the storm makes its way into creeks and rivers. In some parts of the Northeast, the ground was soggy even before the storm because of an extremely rainy August.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett cautioned: "The rivers may not crest until Tuesday or Wednesday. This isn't just a 24-hour event."
Irene brought rain of six inches to a foot to many places along the East Coast. The storm was still pummeling the New York City area on Sunday morning, dropping below hurricane strength but still dangerous with 65 mph winds and heavy downpours.
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell had initially warned that Irene could be a "catastrophic" monster with record storm surges of up to 8 feet.
But in Virginia Beach, the city posted on Twitter late Saturday that initial reports were promising, with the resort area suffering minimal damage.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
‘______Muslim names for hurricanes.’
Ssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhh - oh Lord, that possibility just sucked the energy out of my brain.
Just noooooooooo - - - -
CAIR (why are they credible?) being notified.
The demand probably starts now. . .
Nicely done.
The media is over-reacting, but thats a function of the 24/7 news cycle we have now. Its not that these storms aren't trouble, sure they are. I've been through some hellish ones I can tell you about. One of the reasons I stuck through Andrew, instead of evacuating, was because of all the hype from previous storms that never lived up to it. By the time Andrew came around, most people sort of shrugged their shoulders. That's what excessive hype will do, it can lead to future endangerment, it is not just stupid, it is irresponsible.
probably says the same thing on his side, for the same reason.
Post of the day!
No offense, but in Ohio we call that a June Cold Front passage.
Same here in Columbus. It was bizarre...a 90 degree sunny day with 75 mph winds for four hours.
I’m in NJ...45 miles inland from the coast. It’s after 5 o’clock, and winds continue...they are from the W at 28mph gusting to 44mph.
I wish they’d stop! I am so afraid of the neighbor’s huge tree falling. If it does, it will fall right into my bedroom. Our ground is so saturated, not only from Hurricane Irene’s torrential rain, but from August’s record rainfall.
While it wasn’t as bad as it could have been, I frankly don’t take the mocking attitude on the storm.
WHAT MANY FAIL TO UNDERSTAND is the pressure when it hit land was consistent with a major hurricane.
However, what occurred was the storm spread its winds out instead of packing them tightly. That is something the computer models are hard-pressed to see, nor human forecasters.
It’s not too often that this occurs. Normally the pressure matches well with the winds at the surface.
If this storm, which had Cat 2 pressure even after NC, did have tight winds at the center, this would have been a true disaster.
Absolutely hilarious!
I've watched it 20 times and I'm still laughing!
That is so incredibly funny. And you are right, 0dumb0 was DESPERATELY hoping for a major catastrophe in order to make himself look like he is in charge of something, and the whole thing fizzles into a major bust. And then this video is the most hilarious thing I have seen in a long time. When the reporter said "and to be honest its's kind of depressing...." even as the last two men went cavorting by him, it is just too funny.
0dumb0's major catastrophe hurricane, characterized by streakers running back & forth in front of the reporter ....that was poetic justice or an omnipotent God with a sense of humor getting back at 0dumb0!
Another great photo! Good thing 0dumb0 put himself in charge of the pending hurricane disaster.
The thing is, the hurricane veterans around who have watched storms for years could tell this storm was not going to be brutal. Certainly the professionals should have been able to do that. Granted they don’t want to diminish the potential effects and be proven wrong, but the hyperbole being thrown around was incredible. I heard “catastrophic”, “historic”, “devastating”, etc....etc....etc.....
Go look at Google Images for some of the most devastating storms and you’ll see how different Irene looked.
She had no eye and was very disorganized. Often the eye will disintegrate and reform and that means the storm will emerge even stronger but Irene was way too close to landfall to do that.
If you look at some past tracks storms can take strange, meandering paths and they bear keeping an eye on but the hype on this storm was absolutely out of control and many of us (rightly) suspected it is as a point-counterpoint to Katrina so they could show how masterfully Zero handled this “crisis”.
That’s why stocking up on ice is very important. If worse comes to worst, you can grill the meat and it will keep a bit longer.
But you’re right, you absolutely don’t want the food to spoil in the fridge or freezer.
Too bad this article was written before the storm was over..
“He says residents are trapped in their homes because the east branch of the Deerfield River rose so quickly. He says it’s worse than the flooding from the Hurricane of 1938.”
http://www.wcax.com/story/15347599/wilmington-inundated-by-irene-flooding
I've watched it 20 times and I'm still laughing!
I'm shocked You Tube hasn't pulled it. Maybe the boys at google like seeing young drunken college guys showing off their genitals on camera......
You know - in the Midwest we lose DOZENS of people each season to tornadoes and blizzards. Tornadoes do kill the innocent, but blizzards thin the herd. *SMIRK*
I’m sorry people have weather-related troubles, but I’m still so FILLED TO THE BRIM with ‘KATRINA FATIGUE’ thanks to the MSM that I now have a hard time feeling ANYTHING for ANYONE when it comes to natural disasters...
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