LaPlaceFF's thoughts on the 2006 season and the boards.

[LaPlaceFF]

As I look on the boards here at storm2k, I see topics such as "BRING IT ON" and yipee and such. I also hear of people who hate this time of the year too.

Many years ago, I was the young kid looking forward to hurricane season. I think it was my grandmother who spurned my interest in tracking the monsters. I remember many times going to board up my grandmother's windows everytime our area was under a watch. Back then I learned of a thing called NOAA weather radio. I would even track the areas of disturbed weather on my map.

When I was in trade school, I drew a hurricane tracking map on the computer aided drafting system. I still have the drawing today.

As I got older and was working at Winn-Dixie, that's when I saw the madness when my area went under a warning. Quickly the store ran out of bread, canned food items, batteries water, etc. The store became packed with people. It became the same when I started at Wal-Mart.

Before Katrina hit, I heard stories about Hurricane Betsy. I heard how she blew away my grandparents garage. I was very young when Camille came, all I remember is going to my aunt's house.

My dad told me to come by his house to ride out the storm. I thank God every day that I did. If you read my earlier postings here you know why.
I have a co-worker that told me some horror stories from New Orleans.


To the younger ones that never experienced a hurricane, remember to curb your enthusiasm. Enjoy tracking the fish storms. Learn from the fish storms. But please, PLEASE, do not wish to have one hit your area. Let's all learn about storms this year.

[cycloneye]

Very well said my friend.

[LaPlaceFF]

Thanks cycloneye

[SouthFloridawx]

Your absolutely correct on that. Most of it was about personal experience but, I think a lot of us can relate to what you were saying. It is important to remember that hurricanes are serious business and cause death and damage, even to the people you love.

[Clint_TX]

Most Folks will never believe the stove top is hot unless they've touched it themselves...sad but true

[HouTXmetro]

C'mon... lighten up guys. No one is wishing harm upon anyone. Some of us are just facinated by Hurricanes and Natures fury. Irregardless, no matter how much someone wishcast it's not going to change the track of a hurricane.

[CHRISTY]

I totally agree...i remember hurricane ANDREW like it was yesterday i remember tracking it on my friends pc right before it hit florida,then total darkness and the worst night of my entire life had just started everything just went crazy no power no nothing i mean my windows were shaking it felt like my house was about to give way which indeed after it was all said and done ANDREW totally destroyed my home and everything in its path the homes were i lived were gone it looked like an atomic bomb had fallen in my front yard.To make a long story short we spent the whole night in the bathroom which was the only room left standing after andrew,it took me and my family a real long time to recover from that but for me personally that night haunted me for months,but my point is i truly hope no one goes threw something like that but the best advise i have is come june 1 have a plan in place for u and your loved ones because we cant control mother nature and all we can do is be ready.

[BayouVenteux]

Most Folks will never believe the stove top is hot unless they've touched it themselves...sad but true

I've been trying to find an appropriate analogy for the "Bring It On" mentality but couldn't. You nailed it, Clint.

[Rainband]

As I look on the boards here at storm2k, I see topics such as "BRING IT ON" and yipee and such. I also hear of people who hate this time of the year too.

Many years ago, I was the young kid looking forward to hurricane season. I think it was my grandmother who spurned my interest in tracking the monsters. I remember many times going to board up my grandmother's windows everytime our area was under a watch. Back then I learned of a thing called NOAA weather radio. I would even track the areas of disturbed weather on my map.

When I was in trade school, I drew a hurricane tracking map on the computer aided drafting system. I still have the drawing today.

As I got older and was working at Winn-Dixie, that's when I saw the madness when my area went under a warning. Quickly the store ran out of bread, canned food items, batteries water, etc. The store became packed with people. It became the same when I started at Wal-Mart.

Before Katrina hit, I heard stories about Hurricane Betsy. I heard how she blew away my grandparents garage. I was very young when Camille came, all I remember is going to my aunt's house.

My dad told me to come by his house to ride out the storm. I thank God every day that I did. If you read my earlier postings here you know why.
I have a co-worker that told me some horror stories from New Orleans.


To the younger ones that never experienced a hurricane, remember to curb your enthusiasm. Enjoy tracking the fish storms. Learn from the fish storms. But please, PLEASE, do not wish to have one hit your area. Let's all learn about storms this year.

Excellent Post!

[feederband]

Yeah but its kind of like tornado chasing .You know what they are capable of doing as far as the deaths and destruction. But you want to see one anyway...

[boca]

Its a catch 22 people don't want the destruction that come along the hurricanes. They like the fancination of the storms like I do but without the lose of life and property

[benny]

C'mon... lighten up guys. No one is wishing harm upon anyone. Some of us are just facinated by Hurricanes and Natures fury. Irregardless, no matter how much someone wishcast it's not going to change the track of a hurricane.

I second that. Anytime I see a post that says that people want hurricanes to cause death and destruction.. it is just plain wrong. The power of mother nature is a fascinating thing... hurricanes themselves aren't a good or bad thing.... just a thing that causes a lot of interest. True there can be a lot of pain/misery in the aftermath but that is the choice every adult makes when deciding on where to live. Choose your natural disaster possibility really.. I would much prefer hurricanes to earthquakes at least!

[Regit]

It's also important to keep in mind when people say "don't tempt mother nature" that mother nature doesn't care what you or anyone else thinks. The hurricane is going to go where it's going to go, no matter what people on this board want. They've never cared in the past, theyr'e not going to start this year.

[bigmike]

Best thing for these hurricane fanatics would be to have a cane hit NYC or the northeast and that would change a lot of things. Seems like a lot of these "cheerleaders" don't live in hurricane zones.

[Cookiely]

Its a catch 22 people don't want the destruction that come along the hurricanes. They like the fancination of the storms like I do but without the lose of life and property

I agree. You nailed it. I have always loved thunderstorms and when the wind kicks up a notch, its like someone attached an electricity machine to my body. Incredible high. Its the same adrenaline rush that keep many police and fire fighters on the job.

[recmod]

Best thing for these hurricane fanatics would be to have a cane hit NYC or the northeast and that would change a lot of things. Seems like a lot of these "cheerleaders" don't live in hurricane zones.

If watching what Katrina did last year failed to "curb the cheerleader enthusiasm", then I truly don't think anything will....even a major into NYC.

--Lou

[Hybridstorm_November2001]

Sadly your right nothing ever will.

Before I went through storms like Andrew in Florida and the 2001 hybridstorm in my home area. I honestly was one of those cheerleader types myself, before I became a forecast up here. My Grand Parents always told me that unless you went through storms like Edna and Carol you couldn't even imagine what it was like, but I was still going game busters for one. Unless you see these things for yourself, and get the crap frightened out of you, you'll always have that attitude. After going through severe tropical storms I'm now very respectful of their power, and I hope they spend their lives harmlessly spinning far from land.

[LSU2001]

I believe that part of the fascination with hurricanes, at least for me, is the rush of adrenaline that comes with the tracking, preparing, experiencing the storm. I get excited when I think there may be a possibility of getting hit. Does that make me crazy or evil? I think not!! I am as aware as anyone of the dangers, potential destruction and general mayhem that accompany any land-falling storm having experienced Camile in coastal Mississippi, Andrew in Louisiana, Katrina and Rita in La. I do not feel that because I get excited/apprehensive about hurricanes means that I want any storm to impact anyone. Like has been stated before the danger factor and the awesome power of tropical systems combines to create feelings that cannot be experienced anyplace else. Its like skydiving, extremely dangerous and extremely sad when things go wrong but the rush is worth the risk.

Now speaking of the absolutely heartbreaking aftermath of ANY storm. I have witnessed first hand the destruction that comes with a land-falling system I have felt the terror of the storm, the helplessness that comes from having your life and property ripped apart. I feel that out of this comes the ultimate expression of human spirit. Because I prepare, and try to encourage others to prepare, I am able to provide help and support to others in the horrible aftermath of a storm. There is noting quite like the feeling you get when you can give others supplies, gas, ice, water, etc after a storm. After Katrina I was helping others cut there way out of their homes almost before the wind quit blowing. I carried supplies to my extended family in South Mississippi days after the storm. I was only able to do that because my fascination/obsession with tropical weather had me prepared and well informed prior to the landfall. I understand that some people cannot understand the "cheerleader" approach to hurricane season but I think that the potential excitement, danger, and general nervousness that the season brings is the root cause of this phenomena. I do not advocate putting ones self in harms way but if it happens use the situation to demonstrate your caring and helping personality and teach others to prep, prep, prep.
JMHO,
Tim