You didn't read the first comment-it was posted when the storm was a Cat 1? I recall that even after the sucker hit many on here were making fun of the "media hype" because the early reports were minimal damage and some even started partying in New Orleans again.
The point is that none of us know what was going to happen, just like none of us know what this storm will bring and its the height of hubris to lay claim that this is all hype at this point. Perhaps the law of averages will side that most storms warnings are not necessary but that is what warnings are all about. Only a fool would claim that these storms are harmless and over hyped before they even run their course.
There will always be folks like that on threads, but there are actually scientists wondering if this one is being ‘hyped’ by our own forecasters at this point. The jury is still out obviously, but with this crowd in charge right now..all bets are off. I don’t trust any of them and neither should you.
https://www.gplus.com/Hurricanes/Insight/The-storm-cannot-master-its-own-strength
All of these hurricanes are dangerous and unfortunately people die everytime one comes ashore. The models are now changing btw.
A dose of reality for those who subestimate a minimal hurricane.
Irene turned into a hurricane as it was passing through the San Juan Metro area, so it was a minimal hurricane when it went over.
Bear in mind, in Puerto Rico most people’s homes are built like concrete bunkers and we have a lot of experience with hurricanes.
Damage that I saw first hand - again - as a minimal hurricane:
1. Glass windows in condos unhinged or simply blown off by the pressure differential.
2. Large tree branches (more than 5’ thick) snapped like twigs, many trees down.
3. Horrific sounding wind blowing all kinds of debris around, especially along the high rises of midtown San Juan.
4. An overturned car.
5. Downed lampposts.
6. Severe urban flooding (just from the rain - no storm surge in San Juan).
7. A pipe-and-canvas car shelter blown away, which landed half a block away on top of a house.
8. An air conditioner unit that shifted position along the roof because it was pushed by the wind.
9. Although most people got their electricity back within 24 hours, many are still without power nearly a week later.
10. Scarce ice for four days.
11. I lost over $100.00 worth of groceries in just two days.
12. One and a half days of lost productivity at work.
Just to keep things under perspective.