Ugh, am I gonna need sandbags? The hysteria is ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So if you actually check out weather.com you can see the path and as the day passes you see the decline in strength and path of the storm.

The problem with hurricanes is that they can "recharge" themselves if they move a little back out to sea. A decline now does not mean it will have a straight course downward in terms of strength (hence the fear that it will hit NYC hard as it works it's way up the coast).

No, the problem is that people LOVE drama when there is none. Gives them something to do in their otherwise mundane lives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can't I just get in my car and listen to the radio or perhaps drive some distance west to a holiday inn? I don't get it.

During and after Isabel, there were downed trees everywhere, blocking roads. And the hotels (around me at least) were without power, just like me.

NP. I guess maybe I'm not panicking because I was here during Isabel and don't remember it being a big deal. I was in grad school and we got the day off. DH and I were engaged at the time but not married, and decided to make the mixed drinks "hurricanes" and rent a movie, only the lines at Blockbuster were ridiculous so we axed that idea. Then it rained, and then it was over.

I'm certainly not downplaying damage this might cause some, and possibly basement damage and power outages it may cause here, but I do think the hysteria is not matching up to DCUM. I'm not seeing this elsewhere, on other list-servs or in the news. I think it will suck to lose power but I fully expect to be back at work on Monday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can't I just get in my car and listen to the radio or perhaps drive some distance west to a holiday inn? I don't get it.

During and after Isabel, there were downed trees everywhere, blocking roads. And the hotels (around me at least) were without power, just like me.

NP. I guess maybe I'm not panicking because I was here during Isabel and don't remember it being a big deal. I was in grad school and we got the day off. DH and I were engaged at the time but not married, and decided to make the mixed drinks "hurricanes" and rent a movie, only the lines at Blockbuster were ridiculous so we axed that idea. Then it rained, and then it was over.

I'm certainly not downplaying damage this might cause some, and possibly basement damage and power outages it may cause here, but I do think the hysteria is not matching up to DCUM. I'm not seeing this elsewhere, on other list-servs or in the news. I think it will suck to lose power but I fully expect to be back at work on Monday.

I agree with you, but to me at least, there's a big difference between losing power while single and losing it with kids. Bored as I was with Isabel, at least I could read and go walk my dog. And maybe it won't be so bad now that my son is 4 and can do a lot of stuff. But when we got stuck in the house with no power during the snowstorms, where the snow was taller than my then-2-year-old, and it was getting cold FAST, it was pretty awful trying to entertain and comfort him. We can at least play outside. But as I posted elsewhere, he does have asthma, and hot, humid weather doesn't do him any favors. Going without a/c sucks for his breathing. And me sitting in my car for 1/2 hour every 4 hours recharging his nebulizer sucks as well. I fully expect work to be open on Monday as well, and look forward to it with relief (we have a back-up generator at work. It runs lights and a/c, but not elevators. Bizarre).

[Anonymous]

Lots of rain, lots of things closed Sunday, some things closed Monday. I plan on going to work Monday unless the wind knocks a tree down or something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can't I just get in my car and listen to the radio or perhaps drive some distance west to a holiday inn? I don't get it.

During and after Isabel, there were downed trees everywhere, blocking roads. And the hotels (around me at least) were without power, just like me.

NP. I guess maybe I'm not panicking because I was here during Isabel and don't remember it being a big deal. I was in grad school and we got the day off. DH and I were engaged at the time but not married, and decided to make the mixed drinks "hurricanes" and rent a movie, only the lines at Blockbuster were ridiculous so we axed that idea. Then it rained, and then it was over.

I'm certainly not downplaying damage this might cause some, and possibly basement damage and power outages it may cause here, but I do think the hysteria is not matching up to DCUM. I'm not seeing this elsewhere, on other list-servs or in the news. I think it will suck to lose power but I fully expect to be back at work on Monday.

I agree with you, but to me at least, there's a big difference between losing power while single and losing it with kids. Bored as I was with Isabel, at least I could read and go walk my dog. And maybe it won't be so bad now that my son is 4 and can do a lot of stuff. But when we got stuck in the house with no power during the snowstorms, where the snow was taller than my then-2-year-old, and it was getting cold FAST, it was pretty awful trying to entertain and comfort him. We can at least play outside. But as I posted elsewhere, he does have asthma, and hot, humid weather doesn't do him any favors. Going without a/c sucks for his breathing. And me sitting in my car for 1/2 hour every 4 hours recharging his nebulizer sucks as well. I fully expect work to be open on Monday as well, and look forward to it with relief (we have a back-up generator at work. It runs lights and a/c, but not elevators. Bizarre).

Have you never been camping? We even took our 3 children, one one 20mos old at the time. It really is not a big deal to not have power or running water for a few days. It is annoying at worst.

I too remember Isabell, same as the other poster. A gig non-event. We are not on the coast and are actually quite inland. RAIN is predicted west of the city and some wind. 30-50MPH winds, if they even get that high are not even enough to blow over my kids plastic play set.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So if you actually check out weather.com you can see the path and as the day passes you see the decline in strength and path of the storm.

The problem with hurricanes is that they can "recharge" themselves if they move a little back out to sea. A decline now does not mean it will have a straight course downward in terms of strength (hence the fear that it will hit NYC hard as it works it's way up the coast).

No, the problem is that people LOVE drama when there is none. Gives them something to do in their otherwise mundane lives.

LOL -you are trying to create drama where there is none. Most of the posters on here are just trying to figure out what preparations they should make. That's called self-reliance. Not drama.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can't I just get in my car and listen to the radio or perhaps drive some distance west to a holiday inn? I don't get it.

During and after Isabel, there were downed trees everywhere, blocking roads. And the hotels (around me at least) were without power, just like me.

NP. I guess maybe I'm not panicking because I was here during Isabel and don't remember it being a big deal. I was in grad school and we got the day off. DH and I were engaged at the time but not married, and decided to make the mixed drinks "hurricanes" and rent a movie, only the lines at Blockbuster were ridiculous so we axed that idea. Then it rained, and then it was over.

I'm certainly not downplaying damage this might cause some, and possibly basement damage and power outages it may cause here, but I do think the hysteria is not matching up to DCUM. I'm not seeing this elsewhere, on other list-servs or in the news. I think it will suck to lose power but I fully expect to be back at work on Monday.

I agree with you, but to me at least, there's a big difference between losing power while single and losing it with kids. Bored as I was with Isabel, at least I could read and go walk my dog. And maybe it won't be so bad now that my son is 4 and can do a lot of stuff. But when we got stuck in the house with no power during the snowstorms, where the snow was taller than my then-2-year-old, and it was getting cold FAST, it was pretty awful trying to entertain and comfort him. We can at least play outside. But as I posted elsewhere, he does have asthma, and hot, humid weather doesn't do him any favors. Going without a/c sucks for his breathing. And me sitting in my car for 1/2 hour every 4 hours recharging his nebulizer sucks as well. I fully expect work to be open on Monday as well, and look forward to it with relief (we have a back-up generator at work. It runs lights and a/c, but not elevators. Bizarre).

Have you never been camping? We even took our 3 children, one one 20mos old at the time. It really is not a big deal to not have power or running water for a few days. It is annoying at worst.

I too remember Isabell, same as the other poster. A gig non-event. We are not on the coast and are actually quite inland. RAIN is predicted west of the city and some wind. 30-50MPH winds, if they even get that high are not even enough to blow over my kids plastic play set.

Did you bother to read her post? She has a kid with a medical condition. Get over yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So if you actually check out weather.com you can see the path and as the day passes you see the decline in strength and path of the storm.

The problem with hurricanes is that they can "recharge" themselves if they move a little back out to sea. A decline now does not mean it will have a straight course downward in terms of strength (hence the fear that it will hit NYC hard as it works it's way up the coast).

No, the problem is that people LOVE drama when there is none. Gives them something to do in their otherwise mundane lives.

LOL -you are trying to create drama where there is none. Most of the posters on here are just trying to figure out what preparations they should make. That's called self-reliance. Not drama.

Exactly! Do I think we're all gonna die? No. Do I think we're gonna be stuck for days? No. Am I gonna do whatever I can to keep my family comfortable during the storm, whether or not we have water/power and taking all appropriate precautions? Absolutely.

[Anonymous]

Where were guys living when Isabel hit? Cause I was living in Germantown MD and the evening/night it hit was SCARY as hell.

[Anonymous]

We've basically done no preparation (just me and my wife, no kids yet though maybe power outages will be a TTC event). We live about 1.5 miles from downtown Bethesda so my assumption is we can just walk there for help/supplies/etc if things really get bad.

Am I being too non-chalant about this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We've basically done no preparation (just me and my wife, no kids yet though maybe power outages will be a TTC event). We live about 1.5 miles from downtown Bethesda so my assumption is we can just walk there for help/supplies/etc if things really get bad.

Am I being too non-chalant about this?

I'd have "some" supplies on hand. Stores may or may not be open right after the hurricane. But I never did prepare particularly well for hurricanes before I had kids. If you are addicted to anything (Diet Coke, coffee, etc.), I'd have that on hand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DH went shopping yesterday. He said it was cazy. He got everything I asked for, except I didn't put bottled water on the list (thought it was self evident) and didn't realize until this morning that we are out of TP. So I'm going to the store this afternoon...

I was here for Isabelle. We lost power for 48 hours. had to throw all the food in the fridge out.

Remember to place flashlights in convenient places.

48 hours without power, if only. I think Isobel was when the Pepco dry ice lines backed up the roads we had to give up hope of saving anything. We were so far down the list getting our power restored that our back yard neighbor's spotlight would shine down on our house and we were that half a block without power. I started to tell people if 100,000 people lose power when they say 20k are left we might be in business. It made me feel for the people that are the last 5000. Oh to be on the same line as the school. They get power restored the fastest and lose it the least. I wish I had been a girl scout and learned those survival skills given how often and how long we have lost power.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where were guys living when Isabel hit? Cause I was living in Germantown MD and the evening/night it hit was SCARY as hell.

Yes, same here. We were in North Potomac. Take the worst thunder storm & wind you've experienced in the area and x's it by 100. When the bands came through this area the rain & wind was frightening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DH went shopping yesterday. He said it was cazy. He got everything I asked for, except I didn't put bottled water on the list (thought it was self evident) and didn't realize until this morning that we are out of TP. So I'm going to the store this afternoon...

I was here for Isabelle. We lost power for 48 hours. had to throw all the food in the fridge out.

Remember to place flashlights in convenient places.

48 hours without power, if only. I think Isobel was when the Pepco dry ice lines backed up the roads we had to give up hope of saving anything. We were so far down the list getting our power restored that our back yard neighbor's spotlight would shine down on our house and we were that half a block without power. I started to tell people if 100,000 people lose power when they say 20k are left we might be in business. It made me feel for the people that are the last 5000. Oh to be on the same line as the school. They get power restored the fastest and lose it the least. I wish I had been a girl scout and learned those survival skills given how often and how long we have lost power.

We lost power for 8 days during/after Isabel. It wasn't pleasant at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you all realize that this is a category 2 storm?

Move along people, there is nothing to see here.

Even so, there could still be very high winds and Category 2 isn't a summer shower.