I'm Going In - And I Need Advice

[Extremeweatherguy]

I think this storm may be a bit too strong for you to put yourself in front of, especially as an amateur. I would wait for a strong TS or a Cat. 1 to chase if you are only looking for the "experience" and are not doing something university or media related. I chased Edouard back in August, and that was a good time. Nice winds and some good video footage, but I never felt endangered and I never felt like I was impeding in the progress of evacuations, rescues, etc. That will not be the case with Ike though. He will be a very strong storm (Cat. 3-4) and even 15-20 miles inland, you might very well run into a few hairy situations. Gusts well over 100mph could easily damage your hotel and I hope you are prepared to stay awhile just incase your escape route is cut off by trees, power poles and other debris.

With all this said, my best advice for you is to either...

A) Not chase this.

OR

B) Put yourself in a location much further inland than 15-20 miles and make sure you are not taking a room from someone who needs it.

***DISREGARD THIS POST - I just realized that you had cancelled your trip on page one.***

[DanKellFla]

Well Swimdude, you got your wish. Here is comes. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

[Fego]

Interesting situation that you bring to our attention. I think you should go. Eh eh eh, wait, wait... go home and begin to plan how to experience Ike the storm or td. After all, you said it, it's probable that you will experience some kind of impact... may be more rain than wind. You made a mature and conscious decision. Congratulations.

[fuzzy]

You're obviously no dummy. Good choice, etc etc etc.

As the wife of a former RA, may I say that your future wife (current 5-yr gf?) will thank you for not endangering her future with you for the sake of a weekend experience.

As the survivor of three hurricanes (all in the same year, all over my house- central FL), I can tell you that you could well flunk out of school before you could get yourself back to your university. Curfews will be in place, electric poles and wires will be down everywhere, trees will be across the road, gas will be completely unavailable (once the stores reopen, which could take a while), and until then, there could be nowhere to buy food, water, batteries, or anything else.

And sympathy for a storm tourist would be at an all-time low at that point, when every community resource needs to be used to help its own members.

So yeah, smart not to do it. But here's my two cents on something else: If you want to be a meteorologist, go for it and CHANGE YOUR MAJOR NOW. I wish I'd majored in historic home renovation or folklore, but didn't realize it until my junior year. I figured "too late" and finished my education degree, taught for four dreary years, and quit. End of degree use, no chance to pursue my dream careers because of responsibilities (marriage, house, etc). If you want it, do it NOW. This is the best possible time for you to make a switch. It will only get harder-- or downright impossible-- later on.

Best of luck to ya!

Kim
(now happily away from hurricanes in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas)

ps- and to whoever posted that Kansas tornado photo- HOLY COW. That made me feel sick in my stomach just to see that.

[physicx07]

Friends and Neighbors,

Two quick points I must get across immediately, and then I will respond more generally to everyone's comments:

First, I wouldn't go for the thrill, I would go for the experience. Perhaps there's a difference, perhaps not.

Second, thank you, I think.

---

I've read all of your comments... And I've thought about everything y'all have said. I felt like I was going to take a "mini-vacation" of sorts. You know, bring some cash and a tank full of gas, hang out in Corpus for the weekend, and experience my first hurricane. So, I was wrong.

1) My eyes were really opened when you guys mentioned that I would be taking a hotel room from someone (perhaps a family) who needs it. I can't see myself doing that. Just wouldn't be right.

2) I didn't realize the time commitment that might be involved. I was planning to stay far enough inland to avoid the worst damage, but nevertheless, if enough roads are impassable, I could be stuck for a week. My studies are important. So is my money. And food. And electricity. And running water. I don't think I would do so well with a week without those things.

3) Didn't realize how expensive this could be... Especially with all of the supplies that I would need that I just hadn't thought of.

4) The models do appear to take Ike in my current direction after landfall. This wouldn't help my getting back to school on time.

So, I won't go... But.

---

But. Many of you misjudge me. You think I'm out for the thrill - that my brain has fallen from my head, and that I'm a rebellious college student out to put my life at risk for the "fun of it." No. I don't know how to else to explain myself, except by this: As a teenager, I never once tasted alcohol, tried drugs, smoked, or had sex. I've never been to a frat party. I'm the RA on my hall, for the second year now. I don't think highly of myself, but I do believe I'm one of the most responsible people I know. That is to say, I (typically) think things through before I do them, I'm punctual, and reliable. I have never had contact with a police officer in any way, except for chatting with a few of them. I have a normal family. Parents who love me. A brother who's one of my best friends. I've dated the same girl for five years. I've been in a single car accident - it wasn't my fault.

Perhaps that's enough. What I want you all to see is that I'm not who you think I am. I didn't want to experience Ike for the "thrill." I knew it would be scary. I wanted to experience the storm as kind of... a life lesson to myself. I feel like for me to understand the full impact of a natural disaster like a hurricane, I must experience it myself. My Aunt and Uncle lost their house in Meterie during Katrina... And though I understand what occurred and how it occurred, I have never really been able to wrap my mind around the idea of distruction caused by these storms, despite watching countless videos about them throughout my life. So... I'm not dumb. I'm just curious. Please don't compare me to your sons. We're probably very different.

---

So, with that said, I won't go.

I'm now a Junior in college. I'm an English and Psychology major. I would LOVE to major in meteorology, but how do you tell that to someone who made C's in high school Chemistry, Physics, Biology, and didn't even brave calculus, while I've maintained a 4.0 in my English and Psychology classes (both high school and in college)?

I feel like it's too late anyway. Deep down, I think I might've been trying to use my experience with Ike to make a decision about my future.

Anyway, that's that. Let me know what y'all have to say now... I am indeed quite interested.

Thanks,

Jason

Jason, you sound like a very reasonable and open-minded (and pretty humble for 20) young man. Good luck with everything. If you can listen to reason from a bunch of people online who you could have easily chosen to ignore, I'm sure you will learn more in life than most people.

Take care.