Reports from Friends on East Coast affected by Earl

[emeraldislencguy]

Just got back from the pier
the waves have relly gotten larger since 6 pm
looks like they are rolling in every 6 to 7 seconds

[brunota2003]

My dad and I will be staying at a friends house in coastal NC (no surge threat)...I am bringing my Vantage Vue along with me and will be setting it up on my tripod tomorrow afternoon to record weather data throughout the event. Doesn't look too good for video, since most of the action is going to be at night. This system has been frustrating, as we have been trying to decide whether to go or not, and figured by today we would know whether it was going to make landfall or stay out to sea...instead, we don't know any more than we did yesterday! Will try to check in tomorrow afternoon, but not sure about internet, so might not be around until Friday evening.

[emeraldislencguy]

where will you be in coastal nc

[greels]

Tho we are now seasoned hurricane folks, hubby and I began our preparations last night to bundle up the cottage we are currently renting here on the river in Wareham MA. Stage #1 consisted of bringing in everything that could be airborne (I am quite the gardener of sorts so have a huge assortment of hanging plants strung on all the trees of this property we rent....the inside of this cottage now looks like an arboreteum of sorts....).

We will finish up tonight by securing or storing all our deck furniture somewhere beneath the cottage or lashing it to the frame of the deck. I am not very much help to my husband at the moment as I just had knee surgery two weeks ago and am still on crutches and hobble mode....so have been designated the official "supervisor" of our preparations.

As a Member of the American Red Cross and a First Responder as I was in the Islands, I have gotten numerous requests to participate in the response now being made in preparation for Earl ...however, I am on "medical leave" so can be of no help to them in the least

The procrastinator that he is, hubby now wants to buy a small generator......good luck I've told him as I am sure it will be a madhouse in this neck of the woods today and people in panic mode now that the news is reporting Earl to approach at 30 miles off coast of Nantucket.....

At his job they have already begun preparations for Earl....as he is working on the construction of 500' cooling towers at a nearby coal fired power plant located directly on a river, there is much heavy equipment involved and many cranes with very high booms....everything will be broken down today and brought to higher ground for as one supervisor told them yesterday...."Should Earl hit us, in the aftermath this site will look like a hell -hole (sorry about the off color language....).

I sit here watching the boat moored out in front of our home not far out in the rivah and wondering if its owner will take some sort of action to move it inland and to a safe harbor....I am not too keen on the thought of it breaking free of its mooring and landing in my front yard, as a lawn ornament....

Sorry for my light tone if it shoud offend anyone, but I have a touch of cabin fever after having had this knee surgery and now perched on this couch overlooking the water for the past two weeks spinning cobwebs....

Botttom line.....everyone in the path of Earl please be safe and take all necessary precautions necessary for this hurricane...It is not a hurricane to be tangled with...
Thank you all for taking the time to read my "rant of the morning"....
Gretchen

[tracyswfla]

I have been lurking. But wanted to take a moment to wish everyone safety from Earl. Please, after been through Charley, storms can make a last minute turn and take you off guard. If you are in an evacuation area, leave. There is nothing more precious than you. Take care all..

[emeraldislencguy]

so far so good
partly cloudy day on the crystal coast
light winds and no rain
but things should change after lunch

[artist]

JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT IN THE CONE MEANS NOTHING>
one thing I would like to mention is the hurricane cone forom the NHC, as you will, is simply for the center of the storm and where they think it might go. It does not account for the fact that hurricane winds are 90 miles out from that center:

Quote:
HURRICANE-FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 90 MILES...150 KM...FROM
THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL-STORM-FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 230
MILES...370 KM.


Please, remember, the cone is nothing but of the center of the storm and where that center could wobble, according to the NHC's usual forecast errors for that given time in a hurricane forecast. So what you are seeing does not tell you where the 90 mile radii of hurricane force winds are expected and can reach or where the tropical storm force winds that begin out past the 90 miles of hurricane force winds, will reach. Therefore from the center of the storm out on all sides ts force winds extend 230 miles each way from the hurricane force winds. The tropcial storm force winds will be lower the further from the center. Another point, within the hurricane there will always be points that could have higher winds or lower winds than within these radii. Just because it is lower when it hits you, doesn't mean the back side might not be higher, and vice versa. Many times there will be mini vortices within the storm where you could see extreme winds, even more than what is forecast, as well as there will be areas that at times may see much lower winds. Always remember that it is saying 90 miles from the center to all sides from the center- not across the center, so in other words the center 90 miles out to the north, south, east and west. And remember, that 180 miles of hurricane force winds exist across the storm. There will be areas as I stated above that may see some higher and some lower winds within these areas, as this is just a general rule of how far they go out. Just because you are not in the cone has nothing to do with whether you will receive hurricane force winds or tropical storm force winds. Total tropical storm and hurricane force winds stretch across the storm for an approximate total of 640 miles. Fortunately the storm is not forecast to go completely on shore. Tradidtionally the ne side of a storm is the worst, but sometimes that is not always true. Also, for those that have never been in a storm, remember if you are forecast to be near the center and the winds suddenly cease, this could be the eye and the other side of the storm will be there shortly. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

I know I probably repeated myself above but just want everyone to be aware of these facts that are not readily known.

Here is a wonderful tool put out by stormcarib.com so that if you know approximately what your logitude/latitiude is, you can find out how far away the center will be from your location with each forecast-
http://stormcarib.com/closest.htm

[greels]

Quick and extremely serious question I have that needs to be addressed in preparation for this storm.....

Can anyone offer any suggestions as to what to do with a cord and 1/2 of wood now stacked against one side of our cottage? I am thinking tarps and bungee cords (tarps probably get ripped to shreds) to secure the wood as I do not wish to have them become airborne and cause additional damage to what we may get anyway.

I am at a complete loss at the moment as to how to resolve this pending problem. Any and all advice will be greatly appreciated.

Gretchen

[pimentel2]

In Rhode Island, preparing for the worst, hoping for the best. Sunny day, I'll post if anything changes.

Currently we're under a Tropical Storm Watch inland (Providence County). So, time to put things indoors and double check each flashlight.

We're not called the Ocean State for nothin', we have 100+ of miles of coastline.

[artist]

Quick and extremely serious question I have that needs to be addressed in preparation for this storm.....

Can anyone offer any suggestions as to what to do with a cord and 1/2 of wood now stacked against one side of our cottage? I am thinking tarps and bungee cords (tarps probably get ripped to shreds) to secure the wood as I do not wish to have them become airborne and cause additional damage to what we may get anyway.

I am at a complete loss at the moment as to how to resolve this pending problem. Any and all advice will be greatly appreciated.

Gretchen

hey Gretchen, I have tried to find soemthing for you but this is all I came up with from the Sun Sentinel in south Florida -

Patio. Remove furniture, flower pots, grills, firewood, etc. to a secure place. Patio furniture can be stored in the pool.

You might want to ask the question in the hurricane preparation forum as well as in the Earl discussion forum. Maybe someone will know there for you.
Stay Safe!

[UpTheCreek]

Getting some soft mist here in New Bern, breeze picking up. Water starting to rise a bit too, about 6 in. in last hour.

[tewallace73]

Here in New Bern, the wind has definitely started to pick up as the day has gone on. Starting to get some sprinkles. It has been cloudy all day. Local radar can now see the first major feeder band offshore. My guess is a few more hours before we get the first good squalls. Not at home right now, but I suspect the Neuse is starting to get a lot more choppy than it was this morning.

My best wishes go out to our neighbors on the Outer and Inner Banks. Tonight is looking at being a rough night for y'all.

[sandyb]

Just got back from Atlantic Beach had to make a delivery for my husband who work at some condos on the beach... cked out some nice waves really getting rough and breaking way out now, has a few sprinkles on the windshield on the way over the bridge but..a leaf blew in front of my car...no winds are just blowing a little have not cked the speed yet have my weather channel hat and anemometer ready to go back to the beach when i get off work and see what i can find wind wize and ck out some more waves after 5 you have to have a pass to get on the beach so i wanna hurry, we do have one but we dont use it when just going over for the joy of the event. yall keep safe and we will keep posting as things happen. I am thinking in our town we wont get to much in the way of high winds 30-50 at best

[vbhoutex]

Quick and extremely serious question I have that needs to be addressed in preparation for this storm.....

Can anyone offer any suggestions as to what to do with a cord and 1/2 of wood now stacked against one side of our cottage? I am thinking tarps and bungee cords (tarps probably get ripped to shreds) to secure the wood as I do not wish to have them become airborne and cause additional damage to what we may get anyway.

I am at a complete loss at the moment as to how to resolve this pending problem. Any and all advice will be greatly appreciated.

Gretchen

Unless that wood is very old and very light it probably will be ok as is unless you have it stacked high. I won't say it won't become a problem but unless your winds get really high I wouldn't expect it to be a big problem. Is it on a side of the cottage that will get direct winds?

[brunota2003]

I'll be down near the Crystal Coast, but away from the evac areas. We will be safe, hope that the hurricane doesn't damage my weather station, but if it does, I can always get a new one. Hope it turns out to sea earlier than expected, but afraid we'll be counting the miss of the eye/eyewall in single miles, versus 100s of miles (for the OBX areas, I'll be in the IBX).

[emeraldislencguy]

just got back from the ocean
the wind has picked up some and the ocean is getting rough
my baramoter is dropping

[artist]

stay safe everyone and thanks for the reports!

[Stephanie]

Just got back from lunch. Took a look at the Atlantic City beach in front of my casino - it's all water right now. I don't know if it's high tide right now, but the waves are getting pretty high and rough already. There are people out in the water where the beach is/was. There's also surfers. No lifeguards were posted that I could see but I think that there was a sign warning against swimming.

This thing IS NOT being taken seriously enough. They want to save the Labor Day weekend up and down the coast. I do have to come in tomorrow to work...

[kpost]

Just wanted to wish everyone in this monsters path safety and i will hope for the best. I haven't been on much since we moved from central Atlantic coastal Florida. But please take precautions even a mild TS (fay 2008) can cause massive flooding. I will be hoping for the best for everyone involved. Best wishes.

[summersquall]

Just got back from lunch. Took a look at the Atlantic City beach in front of my casino - it's all water right now. I don't know if it's high tide right now, but the waves are getting pretty high and rough already. There are people out in the water where the beach is/was. There's also surfers. No lifeguards were posted that I could see but I think that there was a sign warning against swimming.

This thing IS NOT being taken seriously enough. They want to save the Labor Day weekend up and down the coast. I do have to come in tomorrow to work...

I agree entirely. I lived in Cape May, NJ for nearly 10 yrs. and my experience is that the conditions at the Shore were often under-reported by the media as to not discourage tourism. Merchants benefit from poor beach days as it encourages increased spending in the shops in town.