E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSWe asked msnbc.com users to share images of Hurricane Irene, from their preparations to the storm itself to the aftermath. Are you in Irene's path? Share photos, if it's safe to do so.
Here's a sampling of pictures we've received so far:
Updated August 29, 2:50 p.m. ET
Submitted by Danielle Rochford / UGC
Bike riders hit a detour
Submitted by Danielle Rochford / UGC
A canoe going down Albany Street in New Brunswick
Danielle Rochford of New Brunswick, N.J., writes:
A stroll down Albany Street and Route 18 in New Brunswick. Two typically busy streets now shut down due to flooding.
Submitted by Niles Weiss / UGC
Hurricane Irene
Manayunk, Philadelphia, PA Sunday AM
The Manayunk Brewery restaurant
Submitted by Niles Weiss / UGC
Hurricane Irene
Manayunk, Philadelphia, PA Sunday AM
Submitted by Niles Weiss / UGC
Hurricane Irene
Manayunk, Philadelphia, PA Sunday AM
Niles Weiss of the Manayunk neighborhood of Pennsylvania, Pa., writes:
Went out 10am after Hurricane Irene. Rivers crested in the Manayunk area of Philadelphia at around 3pm Sunday.
Submitted by Anna Malyszka / UGC
Submitted by Anna Malyszka / UGC
Submitted by Anna Malyszka / UGC
Anna Malyszka writes:
Standing in the middle of an eerie and desolate Rt. 1 in Lawrenceville NJ on Sunday Aug. 28, 2011 after Hurricane Irene. Want to "Eat at Joe's?"
Submitted by ROBERT LUPANO / UGC
Sign advertising Scuba Diving on the corner of Rochelle ave and Essex street in Rochelle park NJ.
Submitted by ROBERT LUPANO / UGC
Railroad ave, Rochelle Park NJ
Robert Lupano documented the flooding in Rochelle Park, N.J.
Submitted by Melissa Smith / UGC
McCotters Marina after Irene
Located in Washington, NC
Melissa Smith sent in this photo of post-Irene damage at McCotters Marina in Washington, N.C.
Submitted by Micah Bingham / UGC
New Bern, NC. Flood waters passed over the top of our chain-linked fence.
Micah Bingham of New Bern, N.C., sent us this image of water swamping her family's yard.
Submitted by Kim Thompson / UGC
Staples Parking Lot in Bristol, CT
Kim Thompson of Terryville, Conn., writes:
Bristol, CT was not as hard hit as other areas of the state, but this location of the city was. The low lying area pictured here flooded and caused the Copper Mine Brook to swell.
Submitted by Kathy Merrill / UGC
Tree on Home in Va Beach neighborhood.
Submitted by Kathy Merrill / UGC
Tree on Home in Va Beach neighborhood.
Kathy Merrill of Virginia Beach, Va., writes:
These two homes are two doors down from each other in Virginia Beach, Va. The trees both fell Saturday evening during Irene. The neighborhood is about 13 miles from the Va. Beach Ocean Front and no one was injured in either home.
Submitted by jeffrey dady / UGC
High tides, and wind, brings the sea , to the front door.
Submitted by jeffrey dady / UGC
Homes fall into the water in Jamaica Bay.
Submitted by jeffrey dady / UGC
Flooding on jamaica bay.
Jeffrey Dady of New York, N.Y., submitted a series of photos of flooding in Broad Channel, Queens.
Submitted by Mark Thompson / UGC
Car Wash Rt. 140 Franklin, MA.
Mark Thompson snapped this photo of an uprooted tree outside a car wash in Franklin, Mass.
Picture from Andrew Connolly of New York City, who writes: Benches under water on the East River jogging path next to Stuytown in the Stuytown Cove.
Oleksandra Struk of Springfield, N.J., submitted this photo.
Photo from Marianne Leanza, Sloatsburg, N.Y.: Taken Sunday afternoon on 8/28/11. No way in or out of Sloatsburg. Seven Lakes Drive closed. Route 17 North and South closed. Screened porch washed down Park Avenue to the corner of Route 17.
MSN's Don Sena describes the scare that led to the above photo: "The bulk of the storm came through my area of New Jersey (Town: Shrewsbury, County: Monmouth) very early this morning. By around 6 p.m. it was quite sunny and kids were playing and many neighbors were out talking and cleaning up their yards. We had minimal damage at our house. But, at around 6 pm, a massive tree fell in my backyard. The tree was about 80 feet or so and as it fell it took down two other trees and some big limbs -- and crushed my kids' play structures. We were about to go in our backyard when this happened, but nobody was hurt. I think the important issue here is: Even when the storm has passed you by and it is sunny out, trees could still be vulnerable due to the ground saturation and weakening from earlier winds."
Photo from TJ Kennedy in New York: Sign for locals waiting for Hurricane Irene at the Harlem Tavern on 116th Street and Frederick Douglas Boulevard.
Joshua Wagner shows Hurricane Irene ripping up a tree in Jacksonville, NC.
Strange foamy surf before Hurricane Irene's arrival on Long Beach, NY. Sent by Lisa Combs
My silly neighbor succumbs to the panic! Sent by Arnie Gonzalez in Elmhurst, NY
Water up to boardwalk in Seaside Heights, N.J., sent by Tom Welsh
A photo of East Carolina University, in Greenville, NC from Katie Andrews.
"Calm" before the storm? Hell's Kitchen resident Angelo Guglielmo shares this picture of himself (in the blue shirt) after he ran into a group of tourists and New Yorkers mobbing a marching band that was playing through Times Square at 2p.m. Saturday. "It was hilarious," he said. "Times Square seemed to be the only neighborhood that didn't have everybody buying flashlights."
Nandy N. submitted a photo of the famous Bloomingdale's store windows boarded up.
Ellen Jacob shares a photo of the Apple Store on 68th and Broadway in New York City Saturday morning. Good old fashioned sandbags were placed in hopes of protecting the store from flooding.
A reader sends us this picture around 3:30p.m. ET of the signage in front of Manhattan Bridge.
Courtney from Ohio forwarded this photo her husband sent her. He works for the utility company First Energy, and has been in Baltimore all week as part of mobilized backup crews in anticipation of massive power outages from Hurricane Irene. He took this photo atop a 70 foot bucket truck of all the line trucks that have been organized and are awaiting the storm.
Frank Schweiger sent in this photo of Virginia Beach, Va., on Saturday.
Lena Blair submitted this photo of a momentary break in the rain as flash floods roared in Camden Country, N.C., on Saturday.
Kyle Fulk
Kyle Fulk submitted this photo of a tree that fell in front of his fraternity house at East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C. on Saturday.
Lindsey LaMarre from Chesapeake, Va., witnessed trees shaking in the wind:
So many leaves! We are getting a lot of rain and wind. Also many branches down.
Lindsey LaMarre
Baltimore resident Samay Gheewala captured ominous clouds over the harbor on Saturday as Irene neared:
Irene's first band coming in over Baltimore's Inner Harbor.
Samay Gheewala
Pilot Daniel Cope from New York sent in this radar image from his cockpit:
Radar image of Irene from the cockpit as I fly my plane from Long Island to safety in Pittsburgh. My airplane is over central PA flying from Republic Airport on Long Island.
Daniel Cope
As Irene made its way north, Laurie Ansell of Virginia Beach, Va., snapped a shot of the ocean getting choppy:
11:00am, Taken in Virginia Beach, VA off 42th Street. Water swirling from force.
Laurie Ansell
After Irene's arrival in North Carolina Saturday morning, Veronica Luna from Hubert sent in this image:
Everything seems to be getting better in Hubert, N.C.
Veronica Luna
Theresa Torralva of Virginia Beach, Va., spotted a hair salon preparing for the worst on Friday evening - the worst hair day, that is:
Theresa Torralva
Rebecca Pesko of Emerald Island, N.C., captured waves crashing against Bouge Inlet Pier on Emerald Isle. She offered this report Friday afternoon:
A mandatory evacuation has been ordered for Emerald Isle, N.C. An 8 p.m. curfew is in effect for all residents who chose to stay. In the last three hours, the ocean has changed dramatically as the hurricane swells approach.
Rebecca Pesko
Bouge Inlet Pier in Emerald Isle, N.C.
Test credit
The waves of Irene pound the Crystal Coast of Emerald Isle, N.C.
Sarah Harker Leary of Morehead City, N.C., shared this picture of ominous rain clouds bearing down on the coast.
Sarah Harker Leary
Hurricane Irene nears Atlantic Beach, N.C.
Curt Landry of Boynton Beach, Fla., captured this image as Irene passed by on Thursday.
Curt Landry
The outer band of Hurricane Irene seen from Boynton Beach, Fla., on Aug. 25.
Frank Goodman of Orlando, Fla., describes how he built a hurricane shelter for his family:
I built this 5x5 ft hurricane room anchored with 1/2 inch rebar to a concrete floor. I placed the rebar every 2 ft in the walls and filled each cell with concrete. I placed a 4 inch metal celling on the room anchored to the walls (under the room's roof). The metal door is lock and deadbolt, reinforced with 2x4's when the door is shut. A peep hole allows us to see outsid the room. We stock the room with supplies. The room has electric lighting (backed up with battery lights), a hard wire telephone, vents, bench, and emergency supplies. A portable generator is stationed out side the main room and bolted to the concrete floor. The room is finished with drywall and painted blending in with the rest of the room.
Frank Goodman, Orlando, Fla.
Hurricane room anchored with 1/2 inch rebar to a concrete floor.
Carey Piascik of New York told us the Fairway grocery store on Manhattan's Upper West side was so overrun by customers stocking up on supplies on Friday that new shipments of food had to be left on the sidewalk.
Carey Piascik
Stocking up
Krystianna Thompson of Nassau, Fla., described the damage wrought by Irene in the Bahamas.
These pictures were taken Aug. 26 at about 7:45 a.m., the day after Hurricane Irene pummeled the Bahamas. Utility workers and clean-up crews have not yet had a chance to clean up Irene's mess. The streets remain busy with some people returning to work and others driving around to witness the aftermath of Irene's destruction on our little island.
Krystianna, Thompson
Utility pole and street light barely holding on after being snapped by hurricane Irene's gusts in New Providence, Bahamas.
Krystianna Thompson
Street light downed and broken by Irene's wrath in New Providence, Bahamas.
Submit your photos at firstperson.msnbc.com and firstperson@msnbc.com.
Leave a Comment:
If All Else Fails:
disconnect your dryer-screw a handle to the inside of door (if time) -crawl inside drum-pray
ahhhhhhhh I am 6'8' or 5'20" depending how you wanna look at it....I need a comercial dryer.
That's some funny looking drywall, Frank.
Couple of thoughts:
-- What happens if your house starts flooding or is washed away in a tidal surge, Frank? Does it come with a snorkel?
-- Why is all of that beer sitting on the sidewalk? If I'm going to be stuck in my house for days with my wife and no electricity, I'm damn sure going to have a lot of ales.
I had numerous photos in various stages which I submitted to MSNBC and they used only one. The various stages of the Hurricane room are posted on my facebook. I would be happy to share this experience with any who are interested. The cost of materials was $800. I did all the work to finish in one week.
Frank, there are things you must consider:
If a large tree falls and blocks you in you must have someone who is still alive to come by in a couple of days and let you out if they can with several hundred chain saws:-
If you are blocked in and there is storm surge that floods the shelter - will you be able to vent or drain the space so occupents don't drown? -
If the space floods - will the electricity put a hurt on the people inside standing in water? -
Lastly, you do have a toilet along with bathroom tissue right?
Great Shelter Frank! and inexpensive too. I just wonder what all those taking cracks at it did to prepare?
Good shelter but I have one suggestion. Reverse the door so it opens in. That way if the door is blocked by any thing or if the water rises to the point you can't get the door open you will not be trapped inside to starve or drown.
Concerning Irene's impact currently of N.C. and Virginia: At this point, it's quite ludicrous with liberal media displaying a tree falling, someone's clothes blowing in the wind, or a piece of siding missing. It's a matchstick compared to a forest fire of Katrina's wrath of 2005. From Texas to Florida, of 2000 lives lost and hundreds of billions in damage, and especially the New Orleans area of 10-15 feet of water OVER the rooftops (8-25 foot water in homes) with no electricity of untilies for almost a year, with few getting paid off by insurance coverage not covering floods; of jobs lost forever, people moving all over the country with no place to live and have to resettle; fortunes, memoirs, keepsakes, family photos for centuries, families separated by states, churches, schools, clubs, friends--all gone or separated. Yet, the medial plays on the strenth of winds we have in the south on a weekly basis during our average summer thunderstorms and flooding here. There is and shall be NO comparison to Katrina which after 6 years, still suffers, leaving New Orleans area desolate and crying for more assistance for help and Obama does nothing. I bet he'll give excessive amounts of money up north to this small summer thunderstorm that he'll try to play upon for political reasons. It's alleged dispicable, if not criminal to pick his "never let a good, tragic event go unnoticed and play upon its political advange to getting elected".
This is a big story because 65 million people are affected. What does any of this have to do with "liberal media?" MSNBC is jointly owned by Comcast and Microsoft, two of the largest corporations on Earth; before that it was owned by General Electric, which is even bigger. Not to take anything away from Katrina, which -- as much as anything else -- demonstrated how much the United States has fallen behind other Western democracies, but how can you blame Obama for the government's failure after Katrina when you had Bush in power, who did nothing for 3 days, then managed a "flyover"? And when you have the House packed with Republicans scrambling to take away all benefits so that they can give bigger tax breaks to corporations? You're blaming the wrong side -- liberals didn't abandon the Gulf Coast, conservatives did.
Jerrytt
you idiot, Obama wasn't in office for Kathrina, but he is for this one. he has been with the cordinators all day. have you not been watching, Oh, I get it, you are watching Fox for their B S. This time it has been on air for almost the whole last week so they got busy getting Femia and National gurad out, Cuomo in N Y has people on the ball also.
Its so funny to hear people complain that Bush did nothing when Katrina hit. The only bad thing he did was listen to the Democrap Gov who didnt want to give up control of her state to the fed goverment. He should have told her where to go that HER plans where failing and move on in. Which he did 3 days after the storm. But nobody ever says anything about that.
To Mearly and Dragonminder- a category 1 a step above a tropical depression. This has been hyped as much as possible since this administration needs a "historical" event to prove its mettle. What a canard- the true heroes are those local responders who are the first line of the defense. The mayors and governors across the affected areas do make a difference. Obama? he is just the side show.
To Jerry's defense, he is saying "Obama isn't giving more assistance" to the Southern region. To Jerry, are you making assumptions without knowing what is really going on? Do you know for a fact that Obama has declined ANY requests for more federal assistance? I'd venture to guess he hasn't. At some point shouldn't this be the responsibility of the individual states? It's been 6 years. You are bashing a President for being proactive, and would bash him if he wasn't. If you are Republican, you likely would be the first to bash Obama for entitlement spending....debt....on and on, but because he isn't personally knocking on doors in the south with a checkbook in hand for a storm that occurred 6 years ago.........he's bad too. Is it possible you are being unreasonable?
I agree, Jack. George Bush was assailed for not doing enough in New Orleans, and Barak Obama is hearing the same vitriol for doing something in New York. I guess you are never going to make everyone happy, especially in this polarized country. Terms like compassion, empathy, and cooperation have almost ceased to exist in the American vocabulary, and I, for one, am deeply saddened by this fact. For anyone that takes issue with this, well, we'll see if my opinion is proven.
All of TV is scripted. Even what claims to be reality. Unless you work in the White House or are a Staffer working on the efforts being made to restore power and cleanliness to the devastation this CAT 1 storm has caused to the entire east coast the only thing YOU know for sure is what is going on in YOUR neighborhood. And unless you are volunteering with a clean up crew or working over time with the power companies you should keep you OPINIONS to yourself. Its meaningless babble that keeps things from getting down. NO ONE IS TO BLAME. IT IS CALLED NATURE, NOT NURTURE.
peace and happiness
First, I am glad the storm deminished rather than stayed the same or strengthened. I wonder where these post would go if that would have happened. Second, all this talk about Katrina, not to deminish it's effect, lives lost, etc., but busses that were supposed to transport people that should have left with them as passengers were under water, not activated or used, people staying thinking "someone" will rescue us, still a clear warning not heeded. And I am supposed to be somehow responsible for others irresponsibility? Tragic as it was, I may be a brothers helper, but not his keeper. The same would be true up the east coast if this storm maintained a Cat 3. Somehow a person that doesn't leave should be to blame if they don't leave. The stay behinds were lucky this time. It is not the meterologist or Obama, or Bushs' fault as some would believe, it is an individuals fault. I will bet just about anything that if there is another east coast hurricane this year, same track and circumstances, that people won't leave. Then it will be a Cat 3, and let the blame the government games begin.
Stewpot you forgot to mention the people who refused to leave after knowing Katrina was on the way for days in advance. Those same people shot at rescue helicopters, looted, raped, and destroyed the Super Dome. None of this happened anywhere from NC to NY during Irene.
Jerry, I live in Florida, where we have had hurricane damage much worse than what these photos show. I also agree katrina was many times worse. But how can you turn this into a political issue? The media is not all liberal. What about Fox? Do you really think the president is trying to use this disaster to help get himself re-elected? The fact that he took this storm seriously and warned people to take precautions is somehow self serving? What if he had not done that? Wouldn't you be critical that he didn't do enough? Do you not remember that it was a republican president who presided over Katrina? Please. I'm so tired of conservatives being so paranoid and and acting like they are the victims of an evil liberal conspiracy. You see everything democrats do and say as some kind of personal attack on your "values" and beliefs. Grow up.
I wonder if those solar panels people placed on their roofs for thousands of dollars can stay there in a hurricane?
There is a huge one story building somewhere in NJ opposite of Philly PA. that has a five acre roof covered with solar panels.
not anymore if Irene got ahold of it
Ah, jerrytt, you had me there for a minute. Until you went all soft and political on us!
Good luck to all people in Irene's path.
Uh...nice Hurricane room, but that door better open IN. If a big one came, debris could trap you in the room until you ... well, not good to describe how it would end. Also, the generator --- you say it is in the main room --- no emergency generator should be operated inside the building.
your right about the door but the generator exhaust could be piped outside like boilers are
Wow, I am amazed at the people that are being overly critical to Franks photos! Finally a person that is prepared ahead of time?? Kudos to you Frank! For those of us in Central Florida the issue is mostly wind damage, not flooding, and thus Franks room is exactly what is needed. I only wish that more people would be prepared like him and not rely on the government or do the blame game after a disaster!! If we all just took a little bit of personal responsibility. Sure franks room may have some faults (is anything really 100% hurrican proof??) but it sure beat not having anything, at least he is trying, with his own money to protect himself and family, can you say the same???
Hey, Pout Perfect--- Overly critical? I don't think so. These criticisms may save his and his family's life down the road, for crying out loud. A generator inside? What about carbon monoxide poisining! A door opening inward SHOULD be changed, and the criticisms were valid. Maybe there won't be any flooding, but being trapped in a room for days without being found? Come on! Yes, his building a shelter was full of merit, but he obviously didn't ask anyone's input. Maybe he is one of those that finds no use for an encyclopedia because he knows everything.
Looked like an over sized T-storm to me.
Yeah, is this storm being overhyped? Maybe maybe not. For those in the NYC area we will see.
@alan_static: overhyped. Flooded streets, a few down power poles. Water pumps and drainage should take care of most of the flooding.
I've been through a number of FL hurricanes in my life and a CAT 1 is like a tropical storm. It is nothing compared to a level 4 or 5. Most of this media sensation is contrived and made up for sensationalism. Sure, a few people may get hurt or die but that is in the numbers no matter what.
James,
I too have been through a number of hurricanes. In FL, what I've seen of Irene, is our normal afternoon storm. I think the issue with Irene is that it's affecting so many people, and most of those people have never experienced a hurricane. They don't know how to prepare.
@James-537203
James,
Your comment "Sure, a few people may get hurt or die but that is in the numbers no matter what" man... how cruel are you? I honestly don't care how large a storm is, it is a big deal to those in it, or facing it no matter where you are. I've never faced a hurricane, but have faced plenty of tornaodoes. I don't fancy facing a hurricane, and I don't wish a tornado on anyone, but I would never be so callous as to make that kind of comment.... i feel badly for you.
Seriously, if anyone dies or gets hurt, it's too many-in my opinion. These people have lives, friends, parents, maybe even children. To write them off as worthless is pretty heartless, I think.
I actually gasped out loud at Kyle Fulk's picture of the tree in front of his fraternity house. (Mr. Fulk: you want to make your fraternity something to be really proud of, even in the years after you get out of college? Get your brothers out there volunteering in the rescue and cleanup efforts.)
Over Over Over hyped -------------- "Like none we've ever experienced this century!" ~ Al Roker
UH --------------------------------------Excuse me?
Remember, this "century" is only 10 1/2 years old
Yet,In all we do if we forget to pray,We have not done enough!!!
There's a saying about hands that help and lips that pray.
There's another about praying into one hand, $#!+ting into the other, and seeing which fills up the faster.
That's an easy call, when the person doing both of those things are full of S*&$ like you, Cactus Wren!
I think that in spite of all the damage done, we just have to thank the Lord that it didn't hit landfall as a cat 4 as previously expected.
Yes I agree. Frank Goodman did an awesome job of creating a hurricane shelter. All he did was a sumbit a few photos and then gets attacked for making something great! If Frank reads this he needs to know that many support his building skills and would love to know more on Facebook on how to make one too. Now for those of you who do live near Ocean fronts etc I think the wisest thing to do is evacuate. I don't want to be in my house when I look out the window and see waves hitting my roof.
I,believe that this will help everyone,Mark 6:45-52.
That's where many are at in this world. Not understanding the real point.
Jesus don't walk on water no more; his feet leak.
You've seen Jesus trying to walk on water lately, Cactus Wren?
What a lot of people don't understand is that NYC is not really prepared for hurricanes. It's very rare for a storm such as this to effect the NYC area. The last one to hit NY was back in 1985 and was nothing compared to Irene. As an ex New Yorker living in Florida for 24 years, we've had our share of storms as well, but the last hurricane to effect me was when I was just a child and it was frightening.
Thanks, Tickedoff -- I'm so tired of seeing and hearing people who live in tropical areas saying, "How foolish of those people who've never been in a hurricane before, who live in an area completely unprepared for hurricanes, to actually be NERVOUS about one!"
Interesting versions of preparedness but I got me to thinking about being prepared for our future blizzards--I live in Wyoming. Still, hurrican coverage beats political coverage any day. Good luck to all of you; please you common sense.
I've been through direct hits Erin, Opal, Ivan {which kept us out of our house for a year due to damage} and Dennis. No hurricane is a good one but Irene being a CAt 1 is definitely a good thing. Thank your lucky stars it lost steam coming in. Good luck and hope the clean up isn't too bad.
Jasper and Antonio .... appreciate and agree with your comments.
Another excuse for the government to show it's power over us. They have to take care of us little people because they are smarter than us, and know when to protect us.
The name of the marching band it the "What Cheer? Brigade"
This has to be a huge disappointment for CNN et al.
They had several days notice for the latest "Storm of the Century" and they prepared great footage clips of past storm... got all their foolish stand-out-in-the-storm reporters situated all up and down the coast... brought in all the big names for the weekend (It ain't a real storm til Anderson Cooper sees a falling Ramada sign.. and the Wolf-man proclaims it to be a national tragedy)... set up interviews with FEMA reps, hospital emergency spokespersons, and a bunch of un-properly-hyped old ladies who said "we ain't leavin!"... and who knows what else. The logistical costs alone could probably buy Denmark.
Yes, a very sad media day of relatively little more than midwest wall cloud winds and heavy super cell thunderstorms. Better luck next time guys.
I guess some of you won't be happy unless hundreds of people are dead from some horrible storm surge or thousands of homes are ripped apart. Is that why so many are complaining that this was nothing, "only" a Cat 1 hurricane? It's not enough that many people DID get flooded, several people DID die, and plenty of damage was done? Did you want a catastrophe? Don't you realize that these people have to prepare for the worst, that the time they DON'T evacuate lower Manhattan will be the time it completely floods and we have something closer to Katrina? (Nothing will ever be like Katrina, but you could have a situation that was closer to Katrina if you had large scale flooding in a densely packed metropolitan area.) I, for one, am GLAD it wasn't worse than it was! I'd rather they hyped it more than it was than have the opposite happen and have hundred or thousands of people die because nobody took it seriously and nobody prepared. If you're disappointed, go watch a disaster movie!
I guess the hype - and it was hyped - did have a positive effect as those in the NY area took precautions.
yes, for BotanicusRex, who I can only imagine is some giant horticultural monster, 25 dead, and maybe more to come and millions without power and waters rising that will soon present so many with wells and septic with the threat of waterborne disease, this wasn't enough. Me thinks Botanicus has seen 2012 one too many times. Maybe Botanicus would feel better in downtown Tripoli or maybe that too would not be catastrophic enough. Having been very well prepared and of the belief that we had moved out of the zone of extreme danger we still wound up twice in a place where the eye of catagory 3 storm passsed directly over and near the center of Hurricane Andrew and in or very near many other lesser ones within a mile of the Atlantic, since the mid 40's. One of building we were holed up in had 18" solid concrete walls and still nerves were frayed to the limits until it was over. I would hate to even think of the death and destruction had this storm made direct landfall in a heavily populated area at cat 2 or 3 or greater strength and than passed through the very same areas it tracked. It is true however, that when you see reporters standing in 6 in. of water screaming into the mike in a wind that barely blows the hair on their unprotected heads, one might get the idea that this is all there is. Believe me it's not. I have witnessed giant structural steel I-Beams bent and twisted like Coney Island pretzels which was all that remained of the concrete building that previously occupied the space.But even with the best scientific equipment it is still not going to be precisely known what these storms can and will do as other factors like the breaking of the New Orleans dikes contribute to making the perfect storm.
Boulderman--yours is a voice of sense, sensibility and reason. What exactly would have been enough damage to please Botanicus? I praise to high heaven the governors of the eastern & northern states who DID take those precautionary measures and ordered evacuation. There are multiple billions of dollars of damage WITHOUT a Category 3 + hurricane. Had the jerk in Louisiana ordered evacuation, knowing it was a Cat 5 on its way-- days earlier-- and provided assistance to evacuate, especially to the poor, so many lives would not have been lost to Katrina because they could not afford to leave or didn't have the means to do so. And the Gov. from New Jersey would have my vote--he tells it like it is-- "GET THE HELL OFF THE BEACH."