Attention

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not represent our advertisers

Friday, August 26, 2011

Katrina Was A Catagory 5 As It Hit The Coast

I don't want to take Irene lightly but one thing is for sure, there's a major difference between Katrina making landfall as a category 5 hurricane and Irene still hundreds of miles away as a category 2 storm.

Like every one else out there, today I stopped in the stores to pick up some items, (or should I say necessities) just in case we do get hit hard. Better safe than sorry, I always say.

In the mean time, Americans always seem to fear the worst and obviously when Home Depot can unload 240 generators at $599.00 each, we tend to go overboard at the drop of a hat.

Ocean City has been completely closed down and now even inland areas are being told to evacuate. There is a good possibility of severe flooding because the storm is moving so slowly. However, are we really in as much danger as many would like to have us believe?

Mind you, I understand it's wise to be prepared but over my almost 50 years on this earth I have watched weather reports increase in accuracy and from what I can see at this point and time, this storm is weakening and will only get weaker as it moves north.

Yeah, I know, I'm not a meteorologist. Then again, I seem to call the weather better than the professionals who went to school for such a career. Before you react, I'm also not a journalist, yet I seem to have crushed the local MSM and that's something you can't argue.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, common sense sure does seem to beat the living crap out of very expensive degrees any more. Or maybe I should call it, WISDOM.

Media seems to get hyperactive on ONE issue.

In closing, Salisbury News will not be begging local radio stations to cover our blow by blow broadcasts during the storm in case every one loses power. IF things get that bad, GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE and stop worrying about anything else.

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

Okay, we have a hurricane...WBOC...ZOMG...we're gonna be wiped off the face of the earth...

NOAA...yeah, it's gonna be really windy, damage likely, well certainly, it's gonna be a CAT 1 (hopefully!!!). I guess you gotta prepare for the worst, but...if I lived in a flood zone I'd be outta here, but we've (hopefully probably) had worse nor'easters.

Anonymous said...

I think your exactly right. WBOC puts all their eggs in one basket and now that you are around they are finally being called out for their bs. Heavy rain and maybe some flooding but thats about it.

Anonymous said...

Any more, I can't decide whether to watch BOC or MDT. They both suck (regardless of what is going on news or weather) so bad it's not even funny! BOC is so unprofessional during their broadcast in the morning, and MDT is getting just as bad...Weather is a joke around here.

Anonymous said...

we spend billions on satellites, radars, aircraft, bouys, you name it, and they still never get it right. What other job can you have where you can be consistantly wrong and have a job the next day. Well other than obama it would be the meterologists!

Anonymous said...

It's the flooding we need to worry about. The category really doesn't matter.

Anonymous said...

thank God for a voice of reason. i almost get defiant against the media frenzy...i'll be prepared, but i'm not going to sit in the corner having an anxiety attack. it is what it is. if it scares you that much, leave town.

Anonymous said...

That new girl they have on WMDT, Gina whatever, drives me crazy. She so does not know what is going on.

Beezer said...

Today - I received an automated power company message from DP&L - saying to expect several days of disruption of service.

Then - I had another automated call from Allstate - our property insurer.

All I can say is that I expect we will experience a lot of broken tree limbs, some blown off roof shingles, disruption of electricity, and a heck of a lot of rainfall and wind. I just hope we don't receive the brunt of this storm - but one really never knows until just before its arrival.

Anonymous said...

Some storms are intense, like Katrina, but don't discount what the lower Cats can do.

Irene IS a monster...yesterday, 430 miles wide for tropical force winds and higher, today 580 miles wide!

It's not the high winds that are the problem for us. The amount of water this puppy's gonna dump on us makes it easier for trees to come down (uproot). The storm surge is not the highest ever, but its size is big not just in height, but the amount of territory it covers.

If a storm hits hard 100 miles away, the disruption to the grid still means a less hard hit here can disrupt service for days.

The population to be affected by this is huge, around 3/4 of the East Coast.

Face it, the small town media are excited to have something to cover, just like they peed on themselves over the earthquake. That doesn't mean that people shouldn't take Irene seriously.

Anonymous said...

I'd rather be told I was gonna get a foot of snow and be prepared for it, then get 6 inches, than the other way around. If the MSM makes a dire prediction about a storm, it is up to me to look at the facts and do what I think I need to do. Panic? No. Protect my family? Yes. If this storm knocks out power for a few days, those people who spent $599 on a generator will be the ones laughing. And clean. LOL

Anonymous said...

this is going to be a nothing event.

Anonymous said...

can you give me some examples of have you have crushed the local MSM in the last year. There are 365 days in a year, please give me examples of over 50% of a year.

Joseph Albero said...

anonymous 9:56, I'd be happy to. Every single major snow storm Salisbury News caled it while the local MSM said there'd be a dusting, if anything at all. I never said anything about 50% of a year.

If its just hot, raining or whatever, who cares. Again, we don't claim to be professionals in any way, shape or form. However, we have delivered better information during more critical times than the local MSM has, period.

Anonymous said...

Thanks, Joe, for letting us know there's nothing to worry about tomorrow. I was pretty sure the media and government were just trying to scare me. It's pretty ridiculous, when you think about it.

Anonymous said...

pardon my ignorance but what does MSM stand for?

Anonymous said...

Beezer I got the same phone call but it did not say delmarva power. It just said delmarva. It was very strange how they were wording it.

Anonymous said...

MSM = Main stream Media

Anonymous said...

Joe I'm not sure that most people are scared to death of this - while I know that some are. When we talked yesterday about generators, we talked primarily about preperation. I do my best to stay prepared. Be it snow, hurricane, ice, etc., I don't panic but I prepare to implement my precautionary measures. The wind will be a problem for me as the saturated ground cant provide adequate anchorage for trees and they blow over taking electricity out. While we really don't need lights, we will need to keep our refrigerator/freezers running to prevent food spoilage. We have no way of knowing how long electricity will remain out for many. You may recall an ice storm in the late 90's that left some in Wicomico County without power for about 2 weeks. Unfortunately most people wait until a storm is upon us before they think about taking steps to prepare.

Anonymous said...

The MSM is just really getting on my nerves. These stations make money based on the selling of fear in the form of ratings, the weak minded populace, those that vote democrat mostly, are filled with worry, worry makes them easier to control, so when some O'Malley Toady issues a decree, people comply, then there is a car accident with fatality on 50 because of forced and perhaps panic driven evacuations. I mean really, did anyone listen to pretty weather boy last night? Mass destruction he said, I LOL'ed! These uneducated and over coiffed fashion poodles on the idiot box WANT something bad to happen, they choose their words so carefully, or their writers do, to craft an emotional response in the viewers mind. Again, it is irresponsible to try to frighten the populace by crying wolf. The weak minded pretty people in the news would better serve the populace by providing fact based analysis of what the storm is doing, where it is making land fall now, and then what happened. For example, on the outer banks right now, the highest wind speed I can find is 67 knots on Hatteras. Move inland and the wind quickly drops to 20 to 40 knots. Could a few lose power? Could someone be inconvenienced? Heck yes! If you live RIGHT on the coastline should you maybe visit friends inland? Yeah fine, MIGHT be a good idea, but seriously, the people on the idiot box need to tone down the FEAR words because they sound like complete maroons.

Anonymous said...

Oh good, if there is nothing to worry about than we won't have to hear about how wonderful you are in helping everyone clean up afterwards!

Anonymous said...

I think my wife is studying meteorolgy, cause the other night the phone rang and the guy on the other end asked if the coast was clear.

Anonymous said...

8:28, don't you mean they sound like MORONS? Seriously, does anyone know how to spell anymore?? Just a pet peeve of mine! LOL :-)

Anonymous said...

Hey 838, I DIDN'T say there is nothing to worry about, on the contrary, the latest Hatteras peak wind shows gusts to 74 knots. Nothing to mess with. There is going to be some damage in OC, but giving accurate information so that the gen pop can make an informed decision is what pretty weather BOY should be talking about. Instead he or his writer thinks it better to try to spread fear in a wicked and lame attempt to garner ratings, and the next time I see him out, I am going to tell him so.

But your right about one thing, I am wonderful as I helped many clean up after Isabelle with my chainsaw and truck. We lived in an area with many old trees then, the smart homeowners took many trees down before that storm, the ones at least able to learn from their mistakes took many down afterwards. Which kind of person are you?

Anonymous said...

838 LOVE your comment!

Anonymous said...

wboc gets their forecasts from the NWS. This is on the NWS not WBoc.

Also this is not as strong wind wise as katrina but this storm has a massive fields of winds, I would compare it to Ike if anything.

Also it is hard to get a direct hit this far up the coast we are more apt to get brushed by storms.

I think this is a situation where you have to be safe not sorry.

Anonymous said...

Yes, Always to be better safe than sorry!!!!
Expect the worst, hope & pray for the Best. I think that about sums it all up.

Anonymous said...

Moron is the correct spelling, but the commenter is probably referring to the "Bugs Bunny" version of the word, famous in the 1950's. See the link for context. Old man?

Anyway, NWS, fine, but the reporters aren't reporting on the forecast, they are distorting the fact of the forecast in order to present a certain viewpoint. A meteorologist is a person who takes certain reports and forecasts and uses them to make a prediction. Again, this is not what is being done. 1144, you're not smart enough to understand this finer point, or you work for BOC or MDT, or perhaps you're in Pollitt's office collecting a fat paycheck to sit inside all day and think up an excuse to have a job. Here's a clue, learn the difference between a Cat 1 and Cat 5 first. Then worry second about your political career, because that's really what this all about.

Better safe than sorry many will say, Really? How much money has been lost in OC and Salisbury because O'Malley's two pet toads in Salisbury and OC bought into, willingly and knowingly, the "maroon" news forecasters irresponsible hype?

See the following to hear what I think of not only the national and local weather "reporters", but the weak minded and lazy elected representatives that infest our political class who don't fully understand that their actions can have dire consequences for many local companies who are already on the edge.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_Kh7nLplWo

Anonymous said...

Katrina was a category 3 when it made land fall in Louisiana in 2005- not a cat 5.