I have a new understanding of HC's!

[rainydaze]

Wow, all I can say is that I have learned so much from watching Hurricane Isabel. Thursday I was in a position such that I had all day, with no interruptions, to watch HC Isabel coverage. I spent the entire day switching from TWC, CNN and MSNBC (I couldn't get FOX). Anyway, my first fascination was with the wind speeds. These reporters are out there barely holding on and in some cases being blown away and I'm hearing these are 50-60-70 MPH winds! I was shocked to see that strong TS winds were so hard to stand in. I would've thought these were 100 MPH winds or more. So now I have new reverence for even "lowly" CAT 1 storms. Second, I learned about storm surge. I didn't exactly get it. I thought storm surge was like this one giant wave heading for the coast! By watching the reporters at VA Beach, I was able to see the water build up from the shore all the way to the sea wall and understand that it is the wind and force of the storm that blows in water from the ocean. And I learned that one of the reasons lakes and rivers overflow is because that wind and force prevent them from flowing out to the ocean and I see now how they get stopped up and overflow. Also, I saw the amount of sand that gets washed in by the storm and what that can do. This is the first time I ever watched a HC come in from beginning to end. It's the first time I've ever seen reporters be able to stay out the entire length of the storm. I understand so much more now what a HC is and how it affects the coast, the flooding, the storm surge and how dangerous it can be even miles inland. Wow. I think I will always be more afraid and more cautious for the rest of my life when it comes to Hurricanes. I hope there were alot of people out there Thursday who were able to watch the whole thing from beginning to end and learn the lessons
I did about these powerful creatures of mother nature.

God Bless , Marie

[WeatherEmperor]

True that.