HURRICANE SEASON
As Tropical Storm Fay entered fifth day in Florida, its rains have raised the level of Lake Okeechobee by six inches, putting it above 12 feet for the first time since January 2007.
Predicting a storm's intensity and path is being done with 1970s tools. Now hurricane experts in Florida are pushing for a bill that would pump almost $500 million annually into hurricane research. The head of the Hurricane Center last year was fired for stating the same thing, kinda like all those US attorney generals ....
Friday, August 22, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Cutting to Brian Bloodbath ....local TV
Hi friends, (emailed) — Just a quick note, should the power fail. So far, so good. Tropical storm Fay decided to hit the west coast of Florida after swinging through Islamorada in the Keys. Her track avoided Miami and, except for some nasty thunderstorms and wind gusts (up to 60 mph), we were spared the harsher effects of the storm. Hopefully will dump tons of water in Lake Okeechobee, our main water supply.
South Floridians adjusted to the anticipated arrival of Fay in our usual fashion. We bought bottled water, cleaned and loaded our automatic weapons, put up signs stating “we shoot looters,” while our local merchants jacked the prices up on ice, flashlight batteries, suntan lotion, canned goods and other vital commodities. True storm veterans in our population made certain that the liquor cabinet was fully stocked. In true tradition form, land developers left the area. Leaving is always very easy for land developers as they are always packed and ready to vacate in a moment’s notice as that is the nature of their business. After all, what builder has EVER lived in a development that THEY have developed?
The majority of us avoided watching the hyped up news broadcasts from TV stations that were desperately trying to boost ratings. A typical “news excerpt,” was something like, “Now from the WTVJ Storm Center, let’s cut to Brian Bloodbath who will show us video of a downed tree in Kendall. Later we have an interview with a home owner who actually got wet during the latest rain storm.” Dullsville, which was fine by us. We actually lived through Hurricane Andrew, so dull was very good!
Our personal preparations for the “arrival” of Fay consisted of picking up a single case of water bottles, purchasing our normal weekly grocery supply, and getting two additional 6 gallon cans of gasoline for our generator. The latter is a sound precaution during any time of the year as the power monopoly, better known as Florida Power and Light, may decide to cut electrical service in the event that they want to divert electrical services to more critical services such as the Doral Country Club, Dolphin Shopping Mall, or Sea World. Sometimes, just to keep us on our toes, the morons –er trained electrical power professionals, at FPL arbitrarily cut power to a street or neighborhood. They refer to this practice as “rolling brown-out.” We call it a “cluster –f**k.” These events are particularly entertaining when they occur at night. There is a theory that the geniuses at FPL wait until the majority of South Floridians are in the shower, or otherwise using the toilet facilities, which is partly why internal memos within FPL management refer to these events as “brown-outs.”
More later ....
South Floridians adjusted to the anticipated arrival of Fay in our usual fashion. We bought bottled water, cleaned and loaded our automatic weapons, put up signs stating “we shoot looters,” while our local merchants jacked the prices up on ice, flashlight batteries, suntan lotion, canned goods and other vital commodities. True storm veterans in our population made certain that the liquor cabinet was fully stocked. In true tradition form, land developers left the area. Leaving is always very easy for land developers as they are always packed and ready to vacate in a moment’s notice as that is the nature of their business. After all, what builder has EVER lived in a development that THEY have developed?
The majority of us avoided watching the hyped up news broadcasts from TV stations that were desperately trying to boost ratings. A typical “news excerpt,” was something like, “Now from the WTVJ Storm Center, let’s cut to Brian Bloodbath who will show us video of a downed tree in Kendall. Later we have an interview with a home owner who actually got wet during the latest rain storm.” Dullsville, which was fine by us. We actually lived through Hurricane Andrew, so dull was very good!
Our personal preparations for the “arrival” of Fay consisted of picking up a single case of water bottles, purchasing our normal weekly grocery supply, and getting two additional 6 gallon cans of gasoline for our generator. The latter is a sound precaution during any time of the year as the power monopoly, better known as Florida Power and Light, may decide to cut electrical service in the event that they want to divert electrical services to more critical services such as the Doral Country Club, Dolphin Shopping Mall, or Sea World. Sometimes, just to keep us on our toes, the morons –er trained electrical power professionals, at FPL arbitrarily cut power to a street or neighborhood. They refer to this practice as “rolling brown-out.” We call it a “cluster –f**k.” These events are particularly entertaining when they occur at night. There is a theory that the geniuses at FPL wait until the majority of South Floridians are in the shower, or otherwise using the toilet facilities, which is partly why internal memos within FPL management refer to these events as “brown-outs.”
More later ....
Monday, August 18, 2008
MIami will be east, dirty side of Fay
As of 1 PM, 18 August, most of Miami-Dade is closing, no school tomorrow either .....buses will run until winds reach 39 mph ---same for Metrorail, I guess ....(a) track forecasts are not exact; (b) hurricanes are not a point but cover a broad area; and (c) serious effects usually extend for hundreds of miles from the center.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Veering away???
At his moment, Tropical Storm Fay, fueling at 50 mph seems to be moving away from Miami, veering a little west, but ever so slightly. It only takes a toggle ... so what to do about the awning that is a huge hassle to put and down???
How much to prepare?
Lead Meteorologist, The Weather Channel
2:23 p.m. ET 8/17/2008
Tropical Storm Fay (50 mph) is spinning WNW along the south coast of Cuba and is expected to threaten Florida by late tomorrow. Now, in 24 hours, hubby will be @ work I'll be here and can't handle the huge awning over the patio myself ... a no-brainer??? Or is the cup half full??? Am I wuss....tune in for answer.
2:23 p.m. ET 8/17/2008
Tropical Storm Fay (50 mph) is spinning WNW along the south coast of Cuba and is expected to threaten Florida by late tomorrow. Now, in 24 hours, hubby will be @ work I'll be here and can't handle the huge awning over the patio myself ... a no-brainer??? Or is the cup half full??? Am I wuss....tune in for answer.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
In Florida, Turning a Blind Eye to Hurricanes?
In Florida, Turning a Blind Eye to Hurricanes --- are we as complacent as this article reports? I think the reporter has this one wrong … if not a direct hit, there is always the dirty side of hurricanes ... an oh no, evacuation for Marathon in the Keys? Banana Bay, hold on ....
Watching Tropical Storm / Hurricane Cone
Storm Fay's path uncertain, could hit FL Keys Monday .... we're filling up a few gas cans for generator ... a tiny little thing for an AC unit in one room ... ugh .... how awful, the aftermath ....
Friday, August 15, 2008
You’re doing a helleva good job , Brownie!
Miami, FL 3:45 PM— You’re doing a helleva good job Brownie … echoes of Hurricane Katrina, still recovering, 3 years later .... now, FEMA etched into NOAA, not a peep about the still tropical disturbance, soon to be Hurricane Fay, on NOAA’s web site! Good Grief!
Hospitals on call for hurricane
Miami, FL 2:37 PM — Just got a call from friend in adm. -- hospitals are on call for storm even as it has not been declared a tropical depression--good call... is nearing our way!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
RealTime Issues — PANIC MODE
Here is talking to all of us, we women folk, over 50, that's all you need for admission here. What is the most important issue you're facing, one you'd like to talk about?
For me, in real time, it's the fear of a hurricane that may be approaching ....the still unnamed swirl with its lashing tongue, moving in, getting all that ocean strength. Just the thought of it unnerves me, gets me pacing and pacing, all jittery, hyped, thinking of all the things to do ... how to prepare until the nerves take over and nothing gets done.... PANIC MODE!
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