Re: About to transfer the flag

[Guest guest]

I was kind of worried this would happen. The good news is that most hotels are

built with concrete exteriors that can withstand the effects of wind blowing

things into them.

I hope you will be safe. If you have access to the internet, I hope you will

indeed keep us updated.

I have relatives who live in New York, so I am watching the hurricane closely.

Administrator

About to head to a hotel. Its getting really windy hear, higher I think than the

forecast are saying. That's getting worrisome with the big trees. At least one

transformer has blown up and the power is flickering. I'll post later on from

the hotel.

[Guest guest]

:Stay safe.

rl

'My cat Rusty is a servant of the Living God....'

adapted from a poem by Smart

From: environmental1st2003 <no_reply >Subject: Re: About to transfer the flagTo: FAMSecretSociety Received: Saturday, August 27, 2011, 10:49 PM

I was kind of worried this would happen. The good news is that most hotels are built with concrete exteriors that can withstand the effects of wind blowing things into them. I hope you will be safe. If you have access to the internet, I hope you will indeed keep us updated. I have relatives who live in New York, so I am watching the hurricane closely.AdministratorAbout to head to a hotel. Its getting really windy hear, higher I think than the forecast are saying. That's getting worrisome with the big trees. At least one transformer has blown up and the power is flickering. I'll post later on from the hotel.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/28/2011 12:49:22 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, no_reply writes:

I was kind of worried this would happen. The good news is that most hotels are built with concrete exteriors that can withstand the effects of wind blowing things into them. I hope you will be safe. If you have access to the internet, I hope you will indeed keep us updated. I have relatives who live in New York, so I am watching the hurricane closely.Administrator

I've been going to hotels since Hurricane Isabel.This one seems quite sturdy, much more so than the others I have stayed in. The outer and between rooms walls are strong.

I've actually been without power and internet since Saturday afternoon. The hotel just got it back a few minutes ago and I'm writing this while I have the chance.

The wind was very strong at times perhaps hot hurricane strength but high all the same It howled around the corners and window well into the night. It is interesting but the strongest gusts from Irene were well inland. Some 70 MPH gusts were registered just north of here. The city took some damage and many trees are down in my neighborhood. A few houses were hit and damaged but none of the ones I saw looked totalled. One probably has serious damage but the roof was covered up so I couldn't see. There was only one way into my neighborhood by road and I got in the first time on foot and walked a couple of blocks. I then watched some of the people leave and figured out the route. The roads are more open now because a crew finally came and started clearing the roads. That might take a while in some cases because a couple of the trees were huge.

I'll post pics later of the trees down in yards and in the streets, as well as lines at the gas stations, one of which was at least half a mile long. One convenience store was open and it was mobbed all day long. The KFC, Bojangles and Arby's also had power and were mobbed. One grocery store was also open and mobbed. Another opened today with limited stock and they were throwing out spoiled perishables.

My house came through ok and the neighbors I am friends with all came through as well. One had trees down in his yard and one had some damage part of their house but I don't know how bad. I had asked my next door neighbor to check on the house during the storm while and call me if anything happened. He agreed and so when I got back to the house, I found my steaks were still frozen and offered them to him and his if he wanted. He appreciated that. I also helped an elderly neighbor set up his phone since one didn't work without household current.

For now I'm at the hotel and going home to check on things and spent about an hour working in the yard until a thunderstorm brewed up and I had to stop. It was nice to have power even here again.

Also, it is amazing how unprepared people were. So many people didn't buy gas and had no cash. Most places could not access the credit card system and so were cash only. Lots of people were being turned away and burning up gas as they drove around looking for a place that could still take credit.

I'll post more later.

[Guest guest]

:Stay safe.

rl

Thanks RL. The trip to the hotel was a rather interesting because of the heavy rain and some wind. I was told that I would only check in late afternoon but the storm was going to be bad by then, though it would get worse. Fortunately they had a room and I brought the stuff in and then power went out about 2 hours later.

Right now some 600,000 people who get power from Virginia Power are without power now with statewide totals closer to 800,000 plus. That had been over 1 million at one point. 4 people died from the storm, including at least one person in their home when a tree hit it. This was why I wanted to be some place without 100 foot tall trees around it.

The only reason I might have stayed would have been to see how Spot the raccoon handled coming up for dinner in the storm. She did at some point since I had left a big dinner for her. I left her some last night and tonight as well since she might have trouble finding something the next couple of days.

The worst has passed for now and thanks again.

[Guest guest]

" I'll post pics later of the trees down in yards and in the streets, as well as

lines at the gas stations, one of which was at least half a mile long. "

I'd like to see those, and I am thankful that you are okay.

Administrator