Irene Preparations ...Overkill?

monster · 08-28-2011, 10:49 PM

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?

classicman · 08-28-2011, 10:55 PM

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.

ZenGum · 08-28-2011, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monster

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.

Pico and ME · 08-28-2011, 11:04 PM

But what if Irene didn't weaken? Then the overkill would have been greatly appreciated. Hindsight is 20/20, you know.

xoxoxoBruce · 08-28-2011, 11:33 PM

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.

BigV · 08-29-2011, 12:26 AM

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.

DanaC · 08-29-2011, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigV

Obliviousness is excellent armor for all the slings and arrow of outrageous fortune, save the killing blow.

That's an awesome line.

Trilby · 08-29-2011, 06:45 AM

Oh! There's Dana!

*waves*

I was looking for you!

glatt · 08-29-2011, 07:14 AM

In hindsight, my preparations were overkill. But I'll do them again next time too.

Spexxvet · 08-29-2011, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glatt

In hindsight, my preparations were overkill. But I'll do them again next time too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

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?

Spexxvet · 08-29-2011, 07:43 AM

It seems to be comparable to a 25" plus snow storm in this area.

TheMercenary · 08-29-2011, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glatt

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.

wolf · 08-29-2011, 10:24 AM

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.

ZenGum · 08-29-2011, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glatt

In hindsight, my preparations were overkill. But I'll do them again next time too.

How many glow sticks did you have this time?

glatt · 08-29-2011, 08:18 PM

08-28-2011, 10:49 PM	#1
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	Irene Preparations ...Overkill? 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? __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

08-28-2011, 10:55 PM	#2
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	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. __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

08-28-2011, 11:04 PM	#4
Pico and ME Are you knock-kneed? Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Middle Hoosierland Posts: 3,549	But what if Irene didn't weaken? Then the overkill would have been greatly appreciated. Hindsight is 20/20, you know. __________________ Jesse LaGreca in 2012 “Seven Deadly Sins: Wealth without work, Pleasure without conscience, Science without humanity, Knowledge without character, Politics without principle, Commerce without morality, Worship without sacrifice.” – Mahatma Gandhi

08-28-2011, 11:33 PM	#5
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	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. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

08-29-2011, 12:26 AM	#6
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	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. __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

08-29-2011, 06:45 AM	#8
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	Oh! There's Dana! waves I was looking for you! __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

08-29-2011, 07:14 AM	#9
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	In hindsight, my preparations were overkill. But I'll do them again next time too.

08-29-2011, 07:43 AM	#11
Spexxvet Makes some feel uncomfortable Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 10,346	It seems to be comparable to a 25" plus snow storm in this area. __________________ "I'm certainly free, nay compelled, to spread the gospel of Spex. " - xoxoxoBruce

08-29-2011, 10:24 AM	#13
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	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. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

08-29-2011, 08:18 PM	#15
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717

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