IKE watch...from California

[FirstLight]

Honestly, the worst storm I saw was a winter blizzard w/ winds over the ridges of 80-100mph, but only about 60-75 mph gusts, no sustained winds like this.

This is amazing to watch, the insane power of it! I am horrified and praying for anyone in their homes...I can't imagine the terror.

...and I have to say CNN is really doing a bang up job, covering different areas, and showing the difference betwen the experiences. It's interesting seing Rick Sanchez out there, he's being a little stupid, stepping out into it to show us how bad it is...and he has another 2 hours and 40+ more mph of winds to come at him... this is mother nature at her wild woolly-est

I tell you, it almost makes me say that earthquakes are better...at least they are over quick! I sure as hell would have been LONG gone from any of these places, would've taken a plane far away!

again, prayers are with anyone in the midst of this behemoth...

[LeftyMom]

1. We had a storm here over the winter with absolutely crazy freak winds

and in the past we've had very sudden flooding from cloudbursts, but I really have a hard time imagining that sort of weather sustained for hours, and with heat besides.

[oldgrowth]

2. 4.5 mil. without power as of now!!!nt

[pansypoo53219]

3. blizzards melt.

up here in the midwest is just fine. cept by the mississippi.

[FirstLight]

6. Ya, and snow just piles up!

when we would get 6' in a night, it just means you have to clear before bed and brace yourself for the morning....but water just comes right in!
I was thinking about that today, that I shouldn't bitch about shoveling, when this stuff happens to people!

[FreakinDJ]

4. My wife's home is in the Philippines and Typhoons are normal

Funny how there it is no big deal unless a huge mud slide or dam breaking does some significant damage.

I was in her home when a Cat 2 Typhoon rolled through. I couldn't sleep because the wind was howling so loud, but she slept through the whole thing. In the morning all the neighbors got together, cleaned up all the debris, and by 11:am all was normal again.

Of course her house has concrete walls and a steel roof

[Liberal_in_LA]

5. We only have to worry about a massive earthquake in CA.

[FirstLight]

7. I lived through the Loma Prieta...

but still, at least and earthquake only lasts a few seconds!

Though it is harder to get out of the way of a falling building ....or freeway...or bridge....