Reply #54: So, Nadine.. what is this a picture of?

[kdmorris]

No one is chuckling. No one has said that it won't be a Category 1 storm. No one has said that you should not prepare or listen to the officials at your local Emergency Management Center. No one said that there will be no flooding, which you seem to be implying by posting this 12 year old picture.

Seriously... why do you need this to be so bad, anyway? The issue is the amount of HYPE the media (not NOAA or NHC... the Weather Channel et al) has put into this, NOT that people prepare and keep their properties and lives safe.

Category One Hurricane (Sustained winds 74-95 mph, 64-82 kt, or 119-153 km/hr).

Dangerous winds will produce some damage

People, livestock, and pets struck by flying or falling debris could be injured or killed. Older (mainly pre-1994 construction) mobile homes could be destroyed, especially if they are not anchored properly as they tend to shift or roll off their foundations. Newer mobile homes that are anchored properly can sustain damage involving the removal of shingle or metal roof coverings, and loss of vinyl siding, as well as damage to carports, sunrooms, or lanais. Some poorly constructed frame homes can experience major damage, involving loss of the roof covering and damage to gable ends as well as the removal of porch coverings and awnings. Unprotected windows may break if struck by flying debris. Masonry chimneys can be toppled. Well-constructed frame homes could have damage to roof shingles, vinyl siding, soffit panels, and gutters. Failure of aluminum, screened-in, swimming pool enclosures can occur. Some apartment building and shopping center roof coverings could be partially removed. Industrial buildings can lose roofing and siding especially from windward corners, rakes, and eaves. Failures to overhead doors and unprotected windows will be common. Windows in high-rise buildings can be broken by flying debris. Falling and broken glass will pose a significant danger even after the storm. There will be occasional damage to commercial signage, fences, and canopies. Large branches of trees will snap and shallow rooted trees can be toppled. Extensive damage to power lines and poles will likely result in power outages that could last a few to several days.

No one said that's not bad. Just not as bad as the media portrayed it.

You say you worked in an EOC. Then you must know what happens when the media keeps saying over and over and over that this is the "storm of a lifetime". People become numb to it and when they really do have a "storm of a lifetime", they do not prepare properly and put their lives and property at risk. I seriously would have thought that you, of ALL people, would be able to see the potential damage the the media hype is going to do. Instead, you keep twisting everyone's words and acting like we said this storm isn't at all dangerous or we are laughing about it. That's insulting, by the way.