A cautionary note about Hurricane strength...

[brooklynite]

There's been some comfort expressed about Hurricane Irene weakening. Watch any of the idiotic weatherman out in the wind and rain; they're standing in a CAT 1 storm; that's the strength that NY/NJ could be getting tomorrow.

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. I'll add a note from that famous disaster manager texbook

damage of a storm is dependent on force, (aka category), direction of prevailing winds, high versus low tide. (Yes from memory)

They are expecting a historic storm surge in hamptom Roads VA already... equal or higher than Isabelle.

[Recursion]

5. It's still scheduled to hit NYC at spring tide

Which is the highest tide of the month.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. Tide is at 8:06, storm eye to hit at 9;00

they are expecting 6-9 ft from memory.

[Riftaxe]

2. Moving over land will weaken

it as it chokes off its power a bit, however instead of steady strong winds, you will get gusts that are almost as strong. And of course the water, I have a generator and a few sump pumps ready :P

[Little Star]

3. And there in is the problem for many of us. The flooding. n/t

[Riftaxe]

4. Amen, house built in 1810 next to a river

with an earthen cellar, flooding is always a problem.

[SidDithers]

6. According to Jeff Masters at Weatherunderground...

the storm surge associated with Irene will be at least one full category higher than the storm is given for its winds.

With Irene, it's never really been about winds, it's always been about extra water pouring into places like New York harbor.

Sid

[Recursion]

8. Normally hurricanes hit more or less perpendicular to the coast

Going straight up the coast like it is means a lot more water than a "clean" strike.

[jimlup]

9. My Dad (from a direct hit in NC) reported the biggest storm surge he's ever seen.

He did get a direct hit from the eye but I think he got hit by Irene or Floyd the same way. Watch out for this storm - even as it downgrades it is a monster.