4-4.6 storm surges so far. Head for the hills...
A STORM SURGE HEIGHT OF ABOUT 4.6 FEET HAS BEEN OBSERVED AT OREGON INLET NORTH CAROLINA...AND A STORM SURGE HEIGHT OF ABOUT 4 FEET HAS OCCURRED SO FAR AT THE MOUTH OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY.
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT4+shtml/272253.shtml?
Whatevs, had the storm not sucked up the dry air at the last moment you wouldn’t be saying the same thing. I live on the Gulf coast, have been through 4 major storms and know the drill.
New Orleans got in trouble precisely because of all the near misses. They just assumed the same thing would happen with Katrina. One of the factors for delaying the calling of the mandatory evacuation was due to the businesses complaining about the $$$$$$$ lost the previous year with the mandatory evacuation called for Ivan.
When you are looking at the POTENTIAL impact on millions the government officials have to think way ahead, not wait for the last minute to see what the storm will do.