Here Comes Irene: Flood Prep & Rain Expectations

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The discussion centers around preparations for Hurricane Irene, which is expected to bring significant rain and potential flooding over three days. Participants share their emergency plans, including stocking up on water, food, and batteries, and discuss the importance of having flashlights and communication devices ready. Concerns about flooding are prevalent, with some mentioning basement flood protection systems. There are humorous exchanges about stocking up on essentials like toilet paper and food that doesn't require refrigeration. The conversation also touches on safety measures, such as taping windows and having candles for light. Participants express varying levels of concern about the storm's impact, with some feeling prepared and others more anxious about potential power outages and flooding. Overall, the thread captures a mix of practical advice and light-hearted banter as individuals brace for the storm.
  • #51
turbo said:
If your pets are sufficiently feral, they will eat you, and in the aftermath of a hurricane, there will generally be plenty of water around.

Not clean water. If you have chlorine tablets to treat the water you're okay.

Well, it depends... if your are in an area that flooded and the water is contaminated with chemicals, chlorine may not help.
 
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  • #52
Ivan Seeking said:
Not clean water.
Duke drinks water from whatever source! I'd like him to only drink the clean tap-water that we put in his bowl, but that doesn't seem to be high on his list of priorities.
 
  • #53
Ivan Seeking said:
Not clean water. If you have chlorine tablets to treat the water you're okay.

Hold out for the next hurricane: Hurricane Dasani.

Seriously, though, there are ways to treat water with common household bleach. I don't know how to do it, and I wouldn't suggest trying it without reading about it and having it demonstrated for you by someone who is knowledgeable.

BLEACH DISINFECTION
Treating water with bleach is very effective at killing germs and it doesn't taste funny to most of us because this is basically what most city water supplies do. You need to have a bottle of plain liquid chlorine bleach and a dropper. The bleach should be 5 to 6 percent sodium hypochlorite with no preservatives and no additional ingredients. Do not use scented bleaches, color safe bleaches, powdered bleaches, or bleaches with added cleaners. You want the good old fashion stuff that smells like chlorine and burns holes in your clothes if you pour it right on them. Even this is hard to choose because it is now available in different concentrations. Ultra Clorox is a 6% solution instead of 5.25% but it is the same stuff. Keep a bottle of plain 5.25% or 6% chlorine bleach with no additives in the laundry room to use for water purification. Besides, this cleans sweat socks as well as any of the others.

To treat water with chlorine bleach, put the water in a clean container and add 16 drops of bleach for every gallon of water. Stir in the bleach and let the water stand for 30 minutes. If the water does not have a little smell of bleach, repeat the dosage of 16 drops per gallon and let it sit for another 15 minutes. If it smells of bleach now it is OK to drink. If it doesn't smell of bleach after two treatments, the water is too dirty to use. Throw it away and treat a new batch of water.

AMOUNTS OF BLEACH FOR ORDINARY CONTAINERS
1 quart bottle 4 drops of bleach
2 liter soda bottle 10 drops of bleach
1 gallon jug 16 drops of bleach (1/8 tsp)
2 gallon cooler 32 drops of bleach (1/4 tsp)
5 gallon bottle 1 teaspoon of bleach
(Source: http://biotech.law.lsu.edu/cphl/practice/water.htm)
 
  • #54
The entire New York City transit system will shut down tomorrow at noon: subways, buses and commuter rail (to/from Long Island, Connecticut and northern suburbs). Trains to New Jersey, operated by New Jersey Transit, will also stop running.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/27/nyregion/new-york-city-begins-evacuations-before-hurricane.html?hp

The main concern is apparently with high winds. Most subway lines run at ground level or on elevated structures for part of their routes.

My guess as to why they're shutting down so early is that it takes time to get all the trains and buses to their storage facilities, and it gives workers a chance to get home somehow, or evacuate, before things get really bad.
 
  • #55
They're only expecting a cat 1 or lower? Are the precations just along the shore then? (I just checked the revised forecast.)
 
  • #56
Evo said:
They're only expecting a cat 1 or lower?

I was expecting a cat5 storm.

600-02757040n.jpg

(Source: http://www.masterfile.com/stock-pho...0/Close-up-of-Businessman-Holding-CAT5-Cables)
 
  • #57
Evo said:
They're only expecting a cat 1 or lower? Are the precations just along the shore then? (I just checked the revised forecast.)
That's minimal amount of cats! That's tolerable, if they stay to themselves.
 
  • #58
Ah somebody called us?

http://www.wallpaperpimper.com/wallpaper/Animal/Cats/Five-Cats-3-ZWRE65XGFG-800x600.jpg

But good luck all.
 
  • #59
Aww, kitties, I need kitties!
 
  • #60
Aw No! Cat 5 is not a good thing.
 
  • #61
Ah in that case maybe take only the first to the right, that's cat one.
 
  • #62
Threads merged? Cool :D How is everyone faring?
 
  • #63
Not too bad a forecast for us.

Sunday: Rain. The rain could be heavy at times. High near 70. Very windy, with a north wind between 45 and 55 mph, with gusts as high as 65 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts in excess of 4 inches possible.

South and East of us however will get more rain and stronger winds.

Meanwhile airlines are moving aircraft away from the area, and cancelling flights. I hope no one was planning on visiting the Washintong DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, NY, Boston area this weekend.

http://news.yahoo.com/airlines-move-planes-airports-prep-hurricane-irene-174327308.html
 
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  • #64
turbo said:
Aw No! Cat 5 is not a good thing.

That cat 2 reminded me i forgot to take my meds today. I hope we don't get a cat 2 :bugeye:
But we did just get our first NY warning. So I guess we can all call it a day here. We know it's coming.
Dave? did daughter make it up there yet?
 
  • #65
...HURRICANE WARNING IN EFFECT...


SEVERE WEATHER ALERT
Forecast for Fri Aug 26 06:03 PM EDT
New York, NY

Hurricane Warning
View
 
  • #66
Yay, looks like Irene will be downgraded to a tropical storm if it stays on course! Winds of 70 MPH are predicted for NY now.
 
  • #67
Don't forget to go through the 5 stages of hurricane preparedness:
1. Denial. In this stage, you laugh and make jokes about the hurricane. You should never do this because there is an irony factor at play in the world and you will soon regret your jokes.
2. Anger. In this stage, you wonder why the hurricane can't be in England for a change and leave us alone. This is futile because in Hartford, Hereford and Hampshire, hurricanes hardly ever happen.
3. Bargaining. In this stage you promise you will never again go to the seashore for recreation. This would actually work since by driving your car less, you won't be causing so many hurricanes. The problem is you never keep your promise once the hurricane leaves.
4. Depression. In this stage the tropical depression causes emotional depression. Don't succumb to the urge to go postal just because the hurricane does.
5. Acceptance. In this stage you strap yourself to the mast and shake your fist at the storm. You'll never give up, you'll never give up, that ship.
 
  • #68
Lolz jimmy. I'm still in stage 1. Will skip to step 6 tomorrow. Panic.
 
  • #69
It has started a fine mist and I guess it will progress to a heavy mist, sustained drizzle, measurable amounts of moisture, followed by rain, then cats and dogs, leading to elephants and rhinoceroses, hail, snow, and finally locusts.

The latest report has us 5 kilometers away from the windiest path. This means 58 mph winds instead of 74.
 
  • #71
Jimmy Snyder said:
1. Denial. In this stage, you laugh and make jokes about the hurricane. You should never do this because there is an irony factor at play in the world and you will soon regret your jokes.
Everybody around me (S.E. CT) is going BEZERK boarding up windows, trimming trees, stashing deckchairs, filling up bathtubs; and a generator can't be bought for love or body parts! I'm just watching this fear-stoked circus with bemused amusement!
2. Anger. In this stage, you wonder why the hurricane can't be in England for a change and leave us alone. This is futile because in Hartford, Hereford and Hampshire, hurricanes hardly ever happen.
It's starting to get annoying, because my neighbors on all sides of me are pestering me to pick up the scrap wood around my house. I've been building a deck all summer, and so I have some lumber here and there and everyone's thinking the wind is going to launch a 2x10 through their front portico. I'm all "Hey, if you are so concerned about your precious Anderson sliding glass door, go get some more plywood, oh that's right, Home Despot is all sold out, boo hoo!"

[Tomorrow, stage 3]
 
  • #72
This is a nice site:
http://www.weather.com/weather/hurricanecentral/tracker
Zoom in on New England, and notice that with 1-day to go, the entire state of CT is in CAT 1, zone.

Good thing that Long Island will buffer most of the storm surge. Good thing for CT that is, sorry Mr. and Mrs. Hamptons.

Did I mention that I live on the coast, and my neighborhood has been known for more than a century as "Windy Hill?"
 
  • #73
Chi Meson said:
Everybody around me (S.E. CT) is going BEZERK boarding up windows, trimming trees, stashing deckchairs, filling up bathtubs; and a generator can't be bought for love or body parts! I'm just watching this fear-stoked circus with bemused amusement!

It's starting to get annoying.
I have to say I agree with you Chi, I am not upset by this at all, whereas some people as you stated whip themselves into a frenzy. If this tropical storm, sits on top of us and churns then flooding could be a problem. I have a french drain system on the low side of my house, and it has survived a 4 inch rain dousing before. Granted, we had power, so the sump pump could function, as I remember, it wasn't for very long, if at all. All my drains are clear and attached at the moment. My major concern is losing power for an extended period, that may cause a problem, other than that, just bring everything inside, and take some pictures and video's. If the rollers get very big, I may take some wave video and post it. If they are not dramatic, I won't bother.

Rhody...
 
  • #74
I have my generator fueled up and ready to go. Out here in the boonies, if we lose power, it could be out for a LONG time, especially if the outages are extensive. This thinly-populated road will be among the very last to have power restored. Heavy rains (saturated soil) and heavy winds often combine to uproot trees, so it's best to have a plan for running the chest freezers and refrigerator if the outage last much longer than a day.
 
  • #75
turbo said:
I have my generator fueled up and ready to go. Out here in the boonies, if we lose power, it could be out for a LONG time, especially if the outages are extensive.

We have the same problem. When we do have a major event, we're at the end of the line. That's the only reason we still have a wood stove.
 
  • #76
The media has been warned before about the dangers of overhyping a storm, next time that there is a real danger, people will be less likely to respond.

Get Real: Hurricane Irene should be renamed "Hurricane Hype"

http://news.yahoo.com/real-hurricane-irene-renamed-hurricane-hype-021402485.html
 
  • #77
Evo said:
The media has been warned before about the dangers of overhyping a storm, next time that there is a real danger, people will be less likely to respond.



http://news.yahoo.com/real-hurricane-irene-renamed-hurricane-hype-021402485.html

Part of the problem is that you want to give people as much time as possible, but we don't know how the storm will turn out until the last minute.
 
  • #78
Ivan Seeking said:
Part of the problem is that you want to give people as much time as possible, but we don't know how the storm will turn out until the last minute.
True, but the hysterics aren't wise. Take precautions, but don't go crazy. I guess I just have a good *feel* for hurricanes from having lived on the Gulf of Mexico for almost 30 years so it's easier for me to see what the hurricane is actually doing as opposed to the media hype. Of course a hurricane can be very erratic, so you need to watch them for changes.
 
  • #79
We evacuated, since my front yard is the Chesapeake Bay (literally) we evacuated. Last I heard from friends-45 mph winds and rain so far. Had a lot of friends in VA beach who stayed. They reported power outrages already before the eye has even hit. We are just hoping the surge is under 7 feet, then no water in our house.
 
  • #80
Ivan Seeking said:
We have the same problem. When we do have a major event, we're at the end of the line. That's the only reason we still have a wood stove.
I on the very southern end of my REAs service area and ends just north of the states largest power utility which wheels power to the REA yet the last to get power restored. If my REA would only put in a substation there, the system would be much more reliable.

Evo said:
The media has been warned before about the dangers of overhyping a storm, next time that there is a real danger, people will be less likely to respond.http://news.yahoo.com/real-hurricane-irene-renamed-hurricane-hype-021402485.html
One person has been killed so far. So a Cat.1 can still be serious.
 
  • #81
Fill those bath tubs up with water. If the power goes out you could be without water for a while for the toilet.
 
  • #82
gravenewworld said:
Fill those bath tubs up with water. If the power goes out you could be without water for a while for the toilet.
Yes, I once believed that toilets were electric. Then hurricane Carla struck and the toilets still flushed. :blushing:
 
  • #83
Many people have well systems for water supply and water companies need electricity to clean and pump water out of their treatment plants. No pumps, no water.
 
  • #84
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  • #85
gravenewworld said:
Many people have well systems for water supply and water companies need electricity to clean and pump water out of their treatment plants. No pumps, no water.
I know, I mentioned that in a previous post. Although, even being hit with a cat 5 hurricane, we never lost water.
 
  • #86
Rain is falling here in Baltimore. It's not supposed to be real bad here... winds 25-40 mph, 3-5 inches of rain. But that's still fairly nasty.
 
  • #87
We have two 55-gallon rain-barrels for that. Our drinking water comes from a drilled well with a submersible pump, so we have stocked up on water for cooking and drinking. No power = no water.
 
  • #88
turbo said:
We have two 55-gallon rain-barrels for that. Our drinking water comes from a drilled well with a submersible pump, so we have stocked up on water for cooking and drinking. No power = no water.

Why can't you run your pump with the generator?

That's one of the first things I checked when we bought a generator. Course for us, nine months out of the year we have a creek, so in a worst case, during times when we are most likely to lose power, we still should have a water supply.
 
  • #89
Evo said:
The media has been warned before about the dangers of overhyping a storm, next time that there is a real danger, people will be less likely to respond.
http://news.yahoo.com/real-hurricane-irene-renamed-hurricane-hype-021402485.html
With the storm coverage, this is the first time in a long time that I have been able to tolerate the Fox News Channel. :biggrin:
 
  • #90
Back in our old house we could be (and once was) out of power for 5 days, but still have running water thanks to the town's large stand-pipes. Best of all, since the water heater was propane we could still have hot showers.
 
  • #91
To anyone that has a sump pump, make sure you have a *working* battery backup for it.
 
  • #92
Ivan Seeking said:
Why can't you run your pump with the generator?
It's a submersible pump hard-wired into 220V. My generator is 120V. Some day, I may splurge on a larger generator and an isolation box, so I can power most of the house, including the well pump.
 
  • #93
turbo said:
It's a submersible pump hard-wired into 220V. My generator is 120V. Some day, I may splurge on a larger generator and an isolation box, so I can power most of the house, including the well pump.

What? You don't have one of these? :devil:
product4.jpg
 
  • #94
turbo said:
It's a submersible pump hard-wired into 220V. My generator is 120V. Some day, I may splurge on a larger generator and an isolation box, so I can power most of the house, including the well pump.

Not having 220/240 on the generator is unfortunate.

In an emergency, you can disconnect the main incoming power wires at your panel and connect to a 240 VAC generator [ours came with 120 and 240 onboard]. Then you can run everything normally as long as you monitor your loads. Just don't backfeed the lines or you could kill someone!
 
  • #95
Evo said:
The media has been warned before about the dangers of overhyping a storm, next time that there is a real danger, people will be less likely to respond.



http://news.yahoo.com/real-hurricane-irene-renamed-hurricane-hype-021402485.html

it's a good point. i live in alabama, so i know who James Spann is. he's one of the better-respected meteorologists here and has been doing this for a long time. but as to the author's claim that 41 deaths in tuscaloosa were due to complacency... i don't know about that. I've lived here for over 40 years, and i don't remember even hearing of a storm this bad. we had a mile-wide path of destruction that bounced across several counties. and outcomes can be completely random. i helped clear debris on houses blown completely off their foundations, and people would be there who survived with hardly a scratch despite most of the house being gone.

but yeah, this hurricane is kind of http://stevengoddard.wordpress.com/2011/08/27/noaas-phony-hurricane-coming-on-shore-with-33-mph-winds/" ? just think, this could be the perfect storm that kick-starts our economy and pulls us out of the depression.
 
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  • #96
The media shouldn't hype the storm, but folks shouldn't minimize the danger. A cubic meter of water has a mass of 1 metric ton, or 1000 kg. Moving at 10-15 mph can do a lot of damage, or can be fatal if one is slammed into hard immovable structures. An article on Yahoo indicated one person was severely injured by a rogue wave. Folks should not be out on piers or jetties in stormy weather like that which is pounding the shoreline from NC to Long Island.

It could be a damaging storm given the population density through which it is likely to pass. We're supposed to gale force winds, and in the past, that's done a fair amount of damage. If it is stronger, the damage will be more severe.

http://news.yahoo.com/hurricane-irene-2011-record-disaster-142603576.html

http://news.yahoo.com/irene-knocks-power-east-coast-refiners-cut-runs-144732990.html
 

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  • #97
Someone died in NC from a heart attack while boarding up his house in preparation for the storm.
 
  • #98
I think both politicians and media have been giving Irene more attention than it deserves.
 
  • #99
Proton Soup said:
...

but yeah, this hurricane is kind of http://stevengoddard.wordpress.com/2011/08/27/noaas-phony-hurricane-coming-on-shore-with-33-mph-winds/" ? just think, this could be the perfect storm that kick-starts our economy and pulls us out of the depression.

What are you talking about!? This is already a killer storm!

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2011/08/hurricane-irene-first-deaths.html"

Oh wait.

A man in Nash County, N.C., was reported killed by a falling tree limb outside his home Saturday morning, local authorities said. On Friday, a man installing plywood on the window of his home in Onslow County, N.C., died of a heart attack,

a third man either fell or jumped off a bridge and has not been found.

hmm... http://www.weatherforyou.com/reports/index.php?forecast=zandh&pands=nash+county,north+carolina"

To all my friends on the east coast:

do not stand under trees!

and if you have a bad heart, stay in your La-Z-Boy!
 
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  • #100
I love this picture. It shows what electrical utilitie crews are or will be up against.
[PLAIN]http://col.stb.s-msn.com/i/6B/9F3BC2D14732E11D6D5EAB62112ADB.jpg
 
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