This is for the survivors of Hurricane Irene
By mentalward
@mentalward (14690)
United States
August 28, 2011 7:20am CST
We are just now getting out from under the rains and winds. I have no idea how much rain we got throughout this hurricane because Weatherbug is not working right (giving me an 'N/A' where it would normally tell me the total rainfall) and I can't find our local rainfall amount anywhere else. 
I'm thinking that the weather dudes on TV have extremely overestimated this storm. Oh, it was a hurricane but a very weak one. I went to bed around midnight when the winds were just beginning to really pick up here and the worst I saw was a gust of around 30 miles per hour.
My sister-in-law said that she had flood water in her yard of about 6 inches but she still had electricity around 10 p.m. last night. She lives just outside Ocean City, Maryland. Irene came right over Ocean City. That says quit a bit about this storm.
I'm hoping that everyone who was/is in the path of this storm has fared well. I know that some are still without electricity so you can't respond unless you do it from a cell phone but, if you went through this storm and still have electricity (or it's back on after going out), did you have any damage or did you make it through without any damage? All we got was some rain (not a lot) and some wind (also not a lot).
All in all, I'm rather disappointed by this hurricane. I've been through some before that really did warrant all the preparations. This one... geez. Still, I suppose I should be thankful that it wasn't bad here. After all, we just had that extremely rare earthquake a week ago so we had our eye-opening weather event for the year. 
I'm thinking that the weather dudes on TV have extremely overestimated this storm. Oh, it was a hurricane but a very weak one. I went to bed around midnight when the winds were just beginning to really pick up here and the worst I saw was a gust of around 30 miles per hour.
My sister-in-law said that she had flood water in her yard of about 6 inches but she still had electricity around 10 p.m. last night. She lives just outside Ocean City, Maryland. Irene came right over Ocean City. That says quit a bit about this storm.
I'm hoping that everyone who was/is in the path of this storm has fared well. I know that some are still without electricity so you can't respond unless you do it from a cell phone but, if you went through this storm and still have electricity (or it's back on after going out), did you have any damage or did you make it through without any damage? All we got was some rain (not a lot) and some wind (also not a lot).
All in all, I'm rather disappointed by this hurricane. I've been through some before that really did warrant all the preparations. This one... geez. Still, I suppose I should be thankful that it wasn't bad here. After all, we just had that extremely rare earthquake a week ago so we had our eye-opening weather event for the year. 8 people like this
19 responses
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
29 Aug 11
The U.S. government wasn't about to undergo another fiasco-like response to a major hurricane like they did in the 2005 Katrina. So all departments were mobilized appropriately in their "prepare for the worst, but hope for the best" attitude. And that they did. And very well. That the storm was less than expected is irrelevant. We were prepared. I can only hope that future hurricane warnings will not be ignored because this one was only of tropical storm status.
In watching the news reports today, I see that record floods are being recorded. Some of these folks were unprepared as they ignored the evacuation orders.
Hopefully, when the next "big one" is forecast, residents will take the warnings as seriously as they did Irene's. Katrina taught us the consequences of unpreparedness.
1 person likes this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
1 Sep 11
yoyo1198 I absolutely agree with you. I have experienced Hurricane David and also mandatory evacuation from Hurricane Floyd. All I can say is that some people seem you find that they are more upset at being inconvenience by the Media warnings instead of being very grateful that it was not much worse and they are alive to complain about it.
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
28 Aug 11
im still watching CNN and they are actually a lot of people still left there in maryland and NY area that seem to be just enjoying the nature of it and i imagine they are just celebrating being well and safe. since it wasnt that bad. just lots of people are without power but otherwise thankful.@mentalward (14690)
• United States
29 Aug 11
I have two sisters-in-law on Maryland's Eastern Shore, plus a good friend. We haven't heard about one of my husband's sisters who lives in Ocean City but I hope she was smart enough to evacuate. My friend also lives right on the coast and I am worried about him because the only place he might have gone was to his brother's house and his twin brother lives right on the coast in New Jersey. They had a lot of flooding up there. Both of them are older and have health issues.
My other sister-in-law has called and said she's fine. She had some minor flooding in her yard (about 6" at last report) but kept her electricity. I'd say that's pretty good for living on the eastern shore where this hurricane came right over.
I just hope that everyone stays safe where they've been having extensive flooding.
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
28 Aug 11
I'm so glad that Irene didn't meet expectations!! However, Joe Bastardi says there will probably be another that is as bad or worse.
I know you're not disappointed, but relieved. All the hype, the preparation and the warnings got you all prepared for the worst. And I'm glad it wasn't the worst. The media was hoping against hope for a catastrophic storm but happily, they were disappointed.
Don't let your guard down, stay prepared because the season isn't over yet.
1 person likes this
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
28 Aug 11
You're right about the relief. I was without electricity for 4 days after one hurricane (Isabel, I believe). I did alright without electricity, though, and thought of it as "camping out" in my own house.
Plus, we actually did have some damage from the earthquake. I wasn't aware of it until my husband went to the basement to add salt pellets to the water softener and noticed water on the floor. Apparently, we have a leak in the plumbing somewhere down there and I know there was no leak right before that earthquake. We sure don't need any hurricane damage!
This hurricane did show me one thing, apparently Winchester is the place to go TO when trying to avoid a hurricane. I guess we're just far enough away and high enough up the mountains that we don't get much from east coast hurricanes.
I hope that none of my friends suffered any damage or worse. We haven't heard from my sister-in-law yet today and I have yet to hear from my long-time friend on the Eastern Shore. I worry more about him because he's older with health issues, plus he has a twin brother who lives on the New Jersey coast. I hope they're both okay with no damage. Geez, I think I'll call him now, just to put my mind at ease (hopefully!).
Plus, we actually did have some damage from the earthquake. I wasn't aware of it until my husband went to the basement to add salt pellets to the water softener and noticed water on the floor. Apparently, we have a leak in the plumbing somewhere down there and I know there was no leak right before that earthquake. We sure don't need any hurricane damage!
This hurricane did show me one thing, apparently Winchester is the place to go TO when trying to avoid a hurricane. I guess we're just far enough away and high enough up the mountains that we don't get much from east coast hurricanes.
I hope that none of my friends suffered any damage or worse. We haven't heard from my sister-in-law yet today and I have yet to hear from my long-time friend on the Eastern Shore. I worry more about him because he's older with health issues, plus he has a twin brother who lives on the New Jersey coast. I hope they're both okay with no damage. Geez, I think I'll call him now, just to put my mind at ease (hopefully!).1 person likes this
@LetranKnight25 (33121)
• Philippines
28 Aug 11
Obviously Not that much compare to my country that experience that kind of storm every once in a year. but if the provinces and counties there had more strong structures and sewers, probably they will treat another typhoon as another days ahead. but we got to experience extreme floods that destroy houses.
Oh, well it's better to be prepared than sorry. Media seems to like sensationalize things and most specially since it's rare that it happened in the east coast, like what the media guys mentioned. 
but yes, be thankful that it wasn't that BAD.@mentalward (14690)
• United States
29 Aug 11
There has been some pretty bad flooding since the hurricane left, especially up in the northeastern US. I hope everyone is using caution and stays safe until all this flooding ends.
@nezavisima (7408)
• Bulgaria
28 Aug 11
This leads to many hurricane effects are not favorable.
very sorry about what happens to you and the fact that so many things that you might lose.
I can only wish you less victims and also many health luck and hopefully everything can be arranged and dabade together soon.
nice day!
1 person likes this
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
29 Aug 11
I have seen that there is some very bad flooding going on in the northeastern US because they had some extensive rains before this hurricane and the ground could not hold any more water. I hope everyone there stays safe.
@Rick1950 (1576)
• Lima, Peru
28 Aug 11
Hi MW! It's a good new that the hurricane wasn't worst. I think it's better that authorities have overestimated how dangerous could be it. Thanks God Irene is over. You are right we need to have an eye open for possible events like those. They are happening around the world and we have to be ready as possible.
1 person likes this
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
29 Aug 11
Yeah, I've noticed that the weather is more unpredictable all over the world recently. People are experiencing things they've never seen before. We had that earthquake last week which is an extremely rare event here in the east. Hurricanes up this far are kind of rare but they do happen. I'm thankful that it's over, although there is still flooding in the northern regions of Irene's path. They had received a lot of rain just before the hurricane so now they're flooding.
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
29 Aug 11
Hello mental. I have been watching the hurricane news a lot of Sat. Sun and this morning. Irene may have been only a category one as it traveled north but it was at least 500 miles wide. If I had lived in it's path I would have run. It is going to affect 1 in 5 people one way or another. So far there have been 24 deaths related to Irene. One from, stupidity. After the warning went out someone dec9ided to go surfing. The recovery from Irene is going to take a long time. The damage isn't just from the winds but from swollen rivers and creeks. Some of the dams may have to let out water to keep them from collapsing. Montpelier is order evacuations for this reason. There going to be a high cost of businesses lost and the clean up after the floods have gone down. I'm glad that you didn't have much damage.
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
29 Aug 11
I agree about the flooding being the worst of it. We had flooding here in Virginia but, thankfully, we've had much less than normal rainfall this summer which meant that the ground here could absorb a lot more water than they could up north of here where the ground was already saturated before the hurricane hit.
I feel so badly for everyone affected by this horrendous flooding and the loss of property (and life).
1 person likes this
@moondancer (7433)
• United States
28 Aug 11
I guess it's better to be prepared and nothing happen than it is not to be been prepared and needed to have been.
I have lived on the coast a huge part of my life and even though the hurricanes do damage it's the tornadoes they spawn they do the most damage at times, or the rains.
I'm glad you are alright.
1 person likes this
@pergammano (7682)
• Canada
28 Aug 11
Marti....Marti...Marti--there are a million cliche's and I hate to be the old hen that repeats them; but here goes; "Prepare for the worst, Hope for the best, You can never be too prepared!" I will not continue, I hear what you are saying, but Lordy, dear girl..if it would have manifested itself in just a modicum of the predictions there would/and could have been so many tragedies. Living here on the West Coast, we are prepared ALL the time for THAT inevitable nasty SHAKER that will leave us without power and water for DAYS! We ALL have a "preparedness kit/s" with provisions to last us for a week, including all the Pet Foods, and Meds. It's just a way of life...and a good practice.
I am tremendously sorry for all the folks that did feel the "wrath" of Irene, and DID SO worry about you and yours--as you do, when you hear an Earthquake reported in my area. SO nice to hear you were NOT devastated! Loads of HUGZ!1 person likes this
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
3 Oct 11
I saw some of the aftermath when I was doing outreach with the Red Cross disaster services in NY. I guess they were worried about NYC, but other parts of that state got hit worse. I saw people gutting their homes in hopes of rebuilding. I just hope that everyone that may have been affected have fully recovered. Have a great week!!!
@neildc (17239)
• Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines
31 Aug 11
hi marti. good to hear that you are safe after irene passed by. you know, the same problem also happens with our weatherman here. there are times they could not tell exactly how typhoon will give us harm, they could not tell exactly how much rain will bring. exactly what happened to our countrymen during the "ondoy" typhoon affected wide area of manila, including the nearby provinces. and left several casualties and missing people.
one thing i am enjoying my stay here in cebu. miles away from manila, from my hometown bulacan. aside from traffic, typhoon and floods come and go, yearly without miss, our house gets flooded.
@neildc (17239)
• Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines
2 Sep 11
we still pray for you that katia will change her mind and also leave with no damage to you and your properties.
i never heard of too many aftershocks and 20 i guess is too much already. i think the rains brought be irene and katia will bring could also cause the movement of lands so aftershock is still happening. does it make sense?
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
1 Sep 11
Hi Neil. We are very fortunate here since we live in the mountains and, even though we have a lake on our property, our house sits far above the lake so, even when that floods, we are not affected. But, we do get high winds that have brought some trees on our property down, one fell only a few feet from our house. If it had hit our house, it would have caused a lot of damage so we were very lucky with that, too. I hope our luck keeps up!
Now, we have Hurricane Katia heading our way. This one, at the moment, is headed straight for our area, the mid-Atlantic region. Actually, from what I saw, it's heading right for Virginia! I think it will gradually turn around and head back eastward and away from the US but it could come ashore and continue inland before it changes direction. No one can say yet where it will go and who will be directly affected but, at the moment, it looks like we will get more from Katia than we did from Irene, not that I'm looking forward to it but we sure do need more rain in this area. It hasn't been as dry as last year but we're well under the average for rainfall this summer.
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
1 Sep 11
Oh, I forgot. Just this morning, around 5:00 a.m., we had another aftershock from that earthquake we had recently. This brings the total aftershock number up to 20. We were all surprised by the earthquake since they almost never happen in this area but to have so many aftershocks is unheard of!
The earthquake took place just a bit east of us here so I'm thinking that, if they continue and everything east of these earthquakes falls into the ocean, we'll end up with oceanfront property!
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
30 Aug 11
You certainly have been through some very odd natural events. I am glad that it wasn't worse than it was too. I was thinking that it would be nothing but disaster in New York. I havve always worried about that place where weather and natural disasters are concerned. If there was any place it would be devastating it would be there with all those buildings and subways. Alot of people there too.
I am glad that you are ok.
Take care.
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
1 Sep 11
Thanks, Jen. I'm thankful it was no worse, too. We have so many really tall trees around our house and wind has brought down quite a few of them since we've moved here so stronger winds from a hurricane could have really caused some horrible damage. I'm very thankful that we didn't get really strong winds. Still, Katia is aimed at us at the moment. I'm hoping it turns around and goes home because the mid-Atlantic and north-Atlantic regions sure don't need any more of the incredible flooding we got from Irene.
I'm very happy to hear that the damage in New York was minimal. Sadly, there was such devastating flooding! The ground up there was already saturated from heavy rains before the hurricane hit, then they had all that extra rain. I feel so bad for everyone whose home and life was affected by this. Let's hope Hurricane Katia turns around and goes back home!
@LaDeBoheme (2004)
• United States
29 Aug 11
Irene hit NC as a Cat 2 hurricane. By the time it hit VA (where I am located), it was a Cat 1 storm. My area was actually under a tropical storm watch, the coastal areas were still under hurricane watch. Western VA (along the I-81 corridor) basically just saw rain and wind.
I think the reason so much warning was issued about Irene was not necessarily the strength, but the breadth and size of Irene. I lucked out. Power stayed on in my home, but many traffic lights were still out today and a lot of businesses were closed.
I do know that I am in no way disappointed Irene spared my area for the most part.
*exhales big sign of relief*
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
29 Aug 11
Yep, I'm in that I-81 corridor (Winchester, VA). It got windy here and blew down some medium-sized tree branches but we got very little rain, probably about an inch.
Before the hurricane, I went down to our lake to clean out my boat from some rainwater from an earlier rain so I could put it under our pavilion during the storm and found that I have tadpoles in it. They were so cute I couldn't just dump them out so I left them, thinking that they'd probably be washed out by the hurricane. Nope, they're still there, quite happy, too. I'll have to get them out of there and put them in the lake but I know that most of them will just become fish food. (That's the real reason I didn't touch them... they're too cute, in an ugly sort of way, to become fish food. lol)
"Disappointed" was a poor choice of words by me. I'm really quite relieved. I've been through a much stronger hurricane before and never want to again.
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
29 Aug 11
I hope that you did not have much damage. I am glad it wasn't as bad as they thought, but it it would have been, and they had not been prepared and taken the steps they did, people would be yelling big time. After Katrina, I don't think they wanted to take any chances at all.
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
29 Aug 11
I would still rather you guys be over prepared than under prepared. I am in the middle of the US so not likely I will face hurricane weather, but we would like some of the rain. I am thinking that before winter I want to get some kind of generator, though. I have this gut feeling that this is gonna be a tough year.
@scorpiobabes (7225)
• United States
7 Sep 11
New Jersey was hit extremely hard, as was Vermont. Perhaps it was a bit overblown with the extensive evacuations BUT it is extremely unusual to have a hurricane cruise up the East Coast and drop that much rain over an extended period of time. Did you happen to see pictures of Paterson, NJ, where President Obama visited? It was horribly flooded for days--and it's an urban area! At least Vermont, albeit worse in spots, IS rural.
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
29 Aug 11
Hey MW! I have to say that where I live in Yonkers, NY (which is 45 minutes
from Manhattan) we didn't get hit nearly as hard as some of the surrounding
areas where some of my friends live. My bff lives in Mamaroneck, NY and had
to evacuate her apartment and went to her brother's house in CT and they
are flooded, downed trees surrounding their area, no electricity! And alot
of the Villages and Towns right near where I live were hit very hard. There
are alot of places where the water rose to the point where people had to
be evacuated from their homes by little power rafts! Very frightening sites!
Westchester County and NYC have been declared a State of Emergency and we
will possibly be without the Metro North Train Service for I don't know
how long. We have major parkways, bridges and streets closed! So I surely
can't say that Irene didn't "disappoint"~she was definitely a "devil" to
alot of New Yorkers, I'm sad to say!
@minimoyz (277)
• Philippines
29 Aug 11
Good for you that you're all safe. The weather dudes as you call them never have estimated the storm. It was the storm who had weakened down I suppose. This is better that they overestimated it so that all of you guys could be ready for it and at least find yourself a spot where you can be safe.I hope you wouldn't look at the guys in the weather bureau as fails because they were just doing their jobs and nobody can really predict what nature can really come up with. Another thing it was good that maybe they overestimated it as you say they did is that people will not take it for granted and will also be ready when the storm comes. We should not be off our guards so that we won't experience what happened when hurricane Kathrina struck the country, this should serve as a reminder. I hope hurricane Irene won't do so much damage north, until then be safe.
