Please...Let's Stay Calm and Prepared

[MWatkins]

With Dean now bombing out and possibly on it's way to a Category 5 hurricane, it is easy to get excited and scared.

Texas and Louisiana have both issued state of emergency orders this evening, which is sure to worry some people.

They are taking a page out of the Florida playbook. In years past...if a hurricane could even remotely threaten the state, Florida would do the same thing in order to mobilize resources and streamline requests for aid if needed.

THIS DOES NOT MEAN THE HURRICANE IS POSITIVELY EXPECTED TO COME TO EITHER STATE...and this should not be read as such.

The states are getting ready...just in case.

For residents in LA and TX...this storm is still 4 or 5 days away. There is still plenty of time to prepare. Do all of the things you should have done at the start of the season. If you don't have a hurricane plan...make one. If you don't have your supplies...get them now. If you don't know whether or not you live in an evacuation zone...find out.

We are days away from needing to take significant preparation anywhere in the US.

For members in the western Gulf...or Mexico...now is the time to do everything you did at the start of the season...right now. Then you just have to wait...and see if you will need to take action as the weekend ends.

For everyone else, I respectfully request that you do not get get caught up in the hype or rumors. Please do not use S2K to spread either one. Instead...focus on the weather...and use your implicit knowledge to help others understand what is happening...and prepare for it.

MW

Added my mf_dolphin:

There's a wealth of Hurricane Prep information here : viewforum.php?f=30

[Swimdude]

And, Houstonians, you know this if you were in town for Rita... Buy gasoline now. Better safe than sorry. I agree with the need to stay calm. The computer models are far, far too spread out for any particular area to panic 4-5 days in advance. Let's relax and have an enjoyable weekend.

[Tommedic]

Mike, Thanks for the great words. It is true, NOW is the time to finalize preparations that hopefully were begun at beginning of season. Keeping fueled in the event that any need to travel is indicated is a wise thing. May God be will all the people in the Caribbean as well as GOM.

[mf_dolphin]

Amen! Tomorrow we'll be opening new threads for the potential landfall areas. These threads will be for Emergency Information and for people within the potential threat areas a source for the latest information from our stellar ProMets and selected others like Mike. We will delete ANY extraneous posts. Right now we're discussing how many threads to setup and where the break points will be. More info to follow.

[KBBOCA]

Suggestion: make this sticky. And link to Hurricane prep. forum. Some folks may have forgotten about it.

Update: That was fast in making it sticky! excellent.

[mf_dolphin]

We try

[KBBOCA]

Here's the link to the S2K Hurricane Preparation forum. Great information from storm veterans.

viewforum.php?f=30

[tropicsgal05]

Maybe i'm wrong and to never let your guard down but to me it's looking more like a Mexico, Texas and Louisiana Hurricane. I don't want to see anyone hit by a hurricane but it sounds like the Panhandle is pretty much out of the woods.

[fci]

Great words Mike.

And speaking as a member NOT in the threatened area, I will use a lot of restraint going forward in making any posts.

Now is the time that S2K becomes the most valuable tool that there is to deal with a storm that is simply "dangerous:.

I URGE others to use restraint in your posts.
The Invest and Cat 1 Hurricane euphoria, excitement and games are over.
This is SERIOUS stuff and lets not clog up the board with our little guesses, gut feelings and the like.
Let the Pro Mets speak and have their posts be easy to find and not amongst a bunch of one liners, emoticons, I agree's, It's bombing and other wastes of time and space.
Make it easy for the Mods and don't waste their time deleting useless posts and settling petty arguements.

I'm off my soap box and will stay on the sidelines and watch this unfold. My prayers are with whomever ends up in the path of this deadly serious storm.

See you again when its back to normal.... or in other "non-essential" threads.

Good luck to all.

[baygirl_1]

Also, if you are overwhelmed by the information you see here or on TV or hear on the radio, don't be afraid to ask the question here. Even if you are mostly a "reader" or "lurker" (like me) who doesn't really post messages. The crew here helped me when we were deciding what to do when Katrina was threatening. Everyone, including the pro mets, is very willing to help you as you try to decipher the info and make decisions about evacuating and keeping your family safe. There are excellent resources here-- use them!

[Sambucol]

As a member who is in the threatened area, thank you for creating an emergency information thread. Right now, my head is spinning with all the info out there. Thanks again.

[SETXweatherwatcher]

I do have a question. The way I see this, in lamen terms, this is basically a race between Dean and the High pressure system that is moving from the east. If Dean slows down, and the high moves west fast enough it should be a Mexico event. Now, how slow does Dean have to get down to. Less than 15 mph or is 18 mph (what it is now) slow enough or is that the big question everyone has?

[rjgator]

One great thing you can always do as well is book REFUNDABLE airline tickets to anywhere you may want to go when the storm comes in lieu of hitting the road. You can book them for a day or two prior to the storm coming and need to make sure you leave enough time to make sure the airports are not closed. You can make them one way and always rent a car to get home. Also do it sooner than later or you may not be able to get a flight. I do it everytime we are threatened by a major just as a precaution and so far it has paid off and I have never had to use them. (Like a good insurance policy to keep it away) They are expensive but if you do not need them they don't cost you anything.

[Yankeegirl]

I havent even heard that Texas has declared a state of emergency.... Its not on the news or any websites?

[caribepr]

A note, with thanks. The island(s) dedicated thread was and is, for the most part, extremely clean and very helpful for everyone around here, and easy to negotiate for real info.
I'm sure making that happen was due to the mods being hard at work and to the restraint of posters as well. It worked as hoped for, a very welcome experience this year (this time, this storm, this year).
Thoughts of all of you in harms' way, with best hopes. When it seems the desire is almost overwhelming to panic, come back here and read the first post of this thread, and take the next step necessary.

[jhamps10]

I havent even heard that Texas has declared a state of emergency.... Its not on the news or any websites?

well I would assume that they have, since TXdot was supposed to get the contraflow lanes ready tomorrow.

also Folks I hate to say this, but the panic buying is already setting in in Houston. This from a poster on the KHOU forums:

I just dont know what to do... I just got back from Wal Mart here in the La Porte area and the gas station is a mad house at 10:30 there were like 40 cars there. Long lines. Walmart is selling out of all water, can goods, toilet paper, snacks and stuff. It is already begun. I even saw a guy on my street cutting plywood for hus windows... It is a good thing for so many to prepare early before the storm, but it is scary... Flash backs of Rita... We will wait and see what happens, I just have the same feeling as I did with RIta and I wish I didnt... Say some prayers tonight Houston

[KBBOCA]

Texas didn't use the term "state of emergency" but instead declared Dean an imminent threat. Here are two links.

1: a recent news story. Note the good news re: fuel trucks already being sent!
http://www.kswo.com/Global/story.asp?S= ... =menu495_1

2. Tex Governor's office:
http://www.governor.state.tx.us/divisio ... 08-17.1849

[bayoubebe]

Amen! Tomorrow we'll be opening new threads for the potential landfall areas. These threads will be for Emergency Information and for people within the potential threat areas a source for the latest information from our stellar ProMets and selected others like Mike. We will delete ANY extraneous posts. Right now we're discussing how many threads to setup and where the break points will be. More info to follow.

I don't come around that often and I mostly lurk here. I come to get information.

Are you saying that certain threads will ONLY have the pro mets and a select few posting on them? I would really like that. There are plenty other threads for everyone else to post on. But, as we approach a possibly very dangerous situation, I would love to be able to read a thread that just had the pro mets comments on them. It would save much time and IMO could cut down on anxiety too.

Thank you.

[artist]

viewforum.php?f=29

you can find that in the analysis forum above

[Stratosphere747]

Texas has in no way, shape or form, declared a SOE.

Coastal OEM's have begun to meet - nothing more.