I'm kinda thinking 18 deaths is pretty minimal -even given that the impact of the storm was less than expected/feared. So I think I'm voting success and bugger the overkill. But I am not there and I bet the zillion travellers on the subway who won't get service on Monday morning might feel differently. How do you feel about it?
Being unprepared for the many different unknowns with a natural disaster such as a hurricane is now political suicide. I'm glad we were ready for whatever may have happened that actually didn't. Far better than the alternative.
I'm kinda thinking 18 deaths is pretty minimal
It's not too late to fix that. Hobos often die in such events and aren't found til much later.
But what if Irene didn't weaken? Then the overkill would have been greatly appreciated. Hindsight is 20/20, you know.
Without the FEMA shouting, dire headlines, and weather channel hysteria, it could have been much deadlier. People won't take it seriously unless you get their undivided attention first, and that's damn near impossible these days.
Yes the wind died down, but the inland flash flooding was/is tremendous and often in places few expected.
The normally 3' deep, 60 cu/ft/sec, creek behind my house, jumped to 16' deep and 7,000 cu/ft/sec, in about 12 hrs.
Damn. Tha's a lot of water. And it is very easy to underestimate the power of moving water...
I don't think it's overkill at all, but I wasn't in the local broadcast area. It's pretty easy to be pretty prepared to function autonomously for a short while, but lots of folks don't bother, believe it won't happen to them, are oblivious to dangers until it's too late, etc.
"Don't do stupid stuff! Be prepared for changes to your regular routine. Be aware of your surroundings." Sounds hard, and is hard for a lot of people. Obliviousness is excellent armor for all the slings and arrow of outrageous fortune, save the killing blow.
Oh! There's Dana!
*waves*
I was looking for you!
In hindsight, my preparations were overkill. But I'll do them again next time too.
In hindsight, my preparations were overkill. But I'll do them again next time too.
Without the FEMA shouting, dire headlines, and weather channel hysteria, it could have been much deadlier. People won't take it seriously unless you get their undivided attention first, and that's damn near impossible these days.
What they said
Yes the wind died down, but the inland flash flooding was/is tremendous and often in places few expected.
The normally 3' deep, 60 cu/ft/sec, creek behind my house, jumped to 16' deep and 7,000 cu/ft/sec, in about 12 hrs.
Bruce, are you on the Crum, Ridley, or Chester Creek?
It seems to be comparable to a 25" plus snow storm in this area.
In hindsight, my preparations were overkill. But I'll do them again next time too.
Well said.... We live in a extremely vulnerable area as well and we don't take any storm lightly.
For a change, everything was done right. Or at least more was done right than wrong.
Disaster declarations got made early, allowing resources to be available when they were needed, not after. I got to watch some of that resource allocation happen in the Emergency Operations Center. The National Guard guy was right there and able to task some equipment to a local fire company that was doing a water rescue that went bad.
Heck, I even ended up being one of those additional resources ... while I was working Rumor Control, there was a call for CISM and I had it filled.
In hindsight, my preparations were overkill. But I'll do them again next time too.
How many glow sticks did you have
this time? ;)
The National Guard guy was right there and able to task some equipment to a local fire company that was doing a water rescue that went bad.
I gather that was Horsham that needed assistance. What did they need from the National Guard?
It was in Horsham, but not Horsham Fire. The swiftwater rescue boat capsized. The National Guard provided amphibious vehicles that effected the
rescue of the firefighters and the driver of the car that went into the water.
According to Gordon, it was later discovered that the individual in need of rescue became stuck in his vehicle in floodwater on Davisville Road after circumventing police barricades.
Huh.
They dammed the flow with a deuce and a half. Niiiice.
Stupidity is more dangerous than Nature's Wrath.
Apparently he hadn't heard the governor telling us "Turn around, don't drown," all day Saturday.
Once again, we interfere with natural selection. It's disgenics, people, won't someone please think of the children???
Too late. Most of these morons have already reproduced.
Too late. Most of these morons have already reproduced.
IF that ain't the GD truth....:rolleyes:
Too late. Most of these morons have already reproduced.
Repeatedly.
Which is why we have to think of the children, and ways to "deal with" them.
Oh, for a final solution...