What's with hurricane season?

[Deleted]

Here's hoping you and yours stay safe dearheart.
We're watching closely too.

[htmb]

Aug 25, 2012 21:30:06 GMT casimira said:

Here's hoping you and yours stay safe dearheart.
We're watching closely too.

Thank you, Casimira, and the same to you. I'm not too worried at this point. It looks like its going to go somewhere between us, but it sure would be nice if the winds and rain calmed down a bit so as to avoid causing any more problems. As always, time will tell.

[htmb]

RNC Chairman: Convention will convene Monday, then recess until Tuesday afternoon due to Isaac

[htmb]

Both the governors of Florida and Alabama have cancelled their trips to the Republican National Convention. Key West is being evacuated. Schools in south Florida have been closed for at least Monday and we have started hearing the words "feeder bands." But most unusual of all for me is the US Weather Channel reporter broadcasting from Cuba! Is this a first?

[htmb]

It now appears Isaac is forecast to travel more to the west and away from much of Florida. Casimira, unfortunately this means you may receive some of the storm effects in NOLA.



www2.tbo.com/weather/isaac-track/

[Deleted]

Looks like my birthplace is going to be hammered again.

[htmb]

Sadly, yes it does, Kerouac.

[htmb]

Mike Seidel makes history in Cuba with Tropocal Storm Isaac

This is the first time a Weather Channel report has been filed from Cuba since the inception of the network in 1982. According to a Weather Channel source, Seidel is currently the only international weather reporter broadcasting from the island.

[Deleted]

Actually, that article claims that he is the only international reporter in Cuba giving coverage of Isaac. Well, having watched the evening news here, I can certainly confirm that it is not true -- they should have indeed qualified that as you did and written "international weather reporter." There are not a huge number of international reporters in Cuba, but they do exist!

When I went to Havana, I was very interested to watch a report on Cuban television about hurricane preparedness. It was not hurricane season when I was there, and that was sort of the whole point -- the report showed how important it was to keep ditches free of weeds and how even small bridges should be raised higher and strengthened whenever possible, because you never know in what conditions you might need to use them.

[htmb]

Despite their slightly inaccurate reporting in the article (i did know it was wrong), I think the fact there is even an American television crew and reporter in Cuba is absolutely groundbreaking, and I hope it is a sign of more reporting to come. I'm sure they must be traveling under many restrictions. While the reporting of weather is usually non-controversial, I think this is a big step towards more opening up of information coming out of Cuba to the U.S.

-------
Interesting now that the Weather Channel is reporting the European tracking model predicts landfall will be at Mobile Bay, while the American model predicts a hit west of New Orleans.

[Deleted]

Aug 26, 2012 19:37:35 GMT htmb said:

Despite their slightly inaccurate reporting in the article (i did know it was wrong), I think the fact there is even an American television crew and reporter in Cuba is absolutely groundbreaking, and I hope it is a sign of more reporting to come.

I absolutely agree with that. I still cannot comprehend that the United States put an embargo on a country less than 100 miles away 55 years ago -- a country that was seeking to have healthy ties with the U.S. but wanted to kick the American mafia out. Unfortunately, the U.S. preferred the mafia.

[bixaorellana]

This is a great thread for info right now! The last I read was that the hurricane was hammering the Keys & expected to land in the "northern gulf".

Kerouac, can you put a link to that discussion about the embargo, please? I remember it well because you filled in a lot of gaps for me.

[Deleted]

I think just about everything is in my Havana pictorial which also contains quite a bit of discussion and links.

[Deleted]

Continuing to slide a bit to the west. Do you have everything you need, casimira?

[Kimby]

Not to wish a hurricane on anyone, but it looks like Sanibel is off the hook (tenterhooks, that is).

[Deleted]

It's looking rather grim for us here. The Mayor just called for a State of Emergency for the City of NOLA. The next couple of days ought to be interesting...

[htmb]

Stay safe, casimira.

[mich64]

I am hoping for all of you that it is only a tropical storm when it arrives. Very sad to hear this morning that 3 people in Haiti were killed as a result of the hurricane.

[htmb]

Thank you, mich. I think we are fortunate in north central Florida and are going to be just fine. We will be watching with concern to see how others fare.

[bixaorellana]

According to this report (which I hope updates automatically), La. & Alabama have ordered evacuations. Oddly, Mississippi has not. Projected track looks much as it did in the map at #133 above.

[Deleted]

Mississippi wants to keep all of the coast casinos open as long as possible.

[mossie]

Thanks for the link Bixa, it works perfectly.

Good luck all those in the path of this storm.

How unusual to see the Americans and Europeans disagreeing. ;D

[Deleted]

Aug 26, 2012 21:27:15 GMT kerouac2 said:

Continuing to slide a bit to the west. Do you have everything you need, casimira?

The gas station was a zoo this a.m. when I went to get air for my bicycle tires.
I also saw long lines of cars at the Walmart when out on my bike ride.
We're pretty well set, having ridden out many hurricanes here before.
Lots of water, pet food,canned goods,rice, beans as well as batteries, candles and a couple battery operated fans, kerosene lamps,flashlights and insect repellent.
We'll stick it out, my husband swore he would never leave again after Hurricane Katrina and I won't leave him save maybe if it was more than a category 3 in which case I have a few places to go with friends if need be.
Today I'll be putting up all the potential projectile objects from the garden that could do damage if the wind is fierce enough.
When my husband worked for EMS he would have to stay at work around the clock and I rode out many a storm alone in this house with my pets. One year I had 3 dogs, 2 of my own and a stray dog who showed up the day of the storm and I took him in along with my 3 cats. That was an experience I'll never forget I assure you.

[mich64]

I am very glad htmb that your area seems safe, still perhaps tropical storm weather though?

Casi, I will worry about you. I have been watching the news this morning and the advisories are to evacuate. Hopefully you will endure with the least of difficulties.

What happenned to that stray dog you took in during that storm?

Stay safe friend.

[Deleted]

Assuming that the hurricane zones are properly prepared for this storm, I do see a silver lining for part of the country. It's too late to save most of this year's harvest, but it certainly looks like some of the worst drought areas are going to finally be getting a lot of rain next weekend!

[bixaorellana]

My feeling, completely unscientific but from the gut, is that this is NOT going to get bad.

Still, thinking of you all in the gulf area & other friends & relatives there.

I was interested in the inclusion on Casimira's list of insect repellent & battery-operated fans. THAT is good thinking ahead!

[htmb]

Aug 27, 2012 15:17:06 GMT bixaorellana said:

I was interested in the inclusion on Casimira's list of insect repellent & battery-operated fans. THAT is good thinking ahead!

I sooooooo envied our neighbors who had battery powered hand-held camping fans during the three week period when we lost power a few years ago. I also learned that if I went swimming in the lake in my clothes, and slept in the wet clothes on a lounge chair outdoors, I stayed a lot cooler and got a better night's sleep. Kinda of pathetic when you think about it.

[Deleted]

The stray dog was adopted by some neighbor friends of mine and aptly named "Georges" (the French pronunciation) which is what the name of the hurricane was.
He lived well up until a year or so ago.
Not long after my friends adopted him and were out walking him, a guy came up to him and said "that's my dog!". My friend said "oh really?" (The dog was cowering at the sight of this man). The man said "yes, we cut him loose for the storm" (!!!!) So my friend said, "what's his name?". The guy says it's Sunshine" So my friend said "well, why don't you call Sunshine and see if he comes to you?" Needless to say the dog did not, and my friend and Georges went on their merry way. ;D

[Deleted]

Aug 27, 2012 15:24:47 GMT htmb said:

Aug 27, 2012 15:17:06 GMT bixaorellana said:

I was interested in the inclusion on Casimira's list of insect repellent & battery-operated fans. THAT is good thinking ahead!

I sooooooo envied our neighbors who had battery powered hand-held camping fans during the three week period when we lost power a few years ago. I also learned that if I went swimming in the lake in my clothes, and slept in the wet clothes on a lounge chair outdoors, I stayed a lot cooler and got a better night's sleep. Kinda of pathetic when you think about it.

After being without power in 2006 or 7 during Hurricane Gustave,for almost a week, I swore that I would get a battery operated reading light, (reading by kerosene lamp doesn't cut it, )battery operated fans and alot of mosquito coils and repellent. Those were the 3 most miserable things about that experience.
My outdoor shower also got alot of use.

[mich64]

I love your story about Georges!

I often wonder if our Jebidiah missed his family when we first brought him home from the Humane Society. He was brought their as a stray and needed medical attention as he had broken a hind leg.

After our second visit with him, he was hopping up on the wall and was stretching to see us when we were leaving as if to say, "hey where are you two going!" We knew then he would adjust to us just fine. When we picked him up a week later ( we had to wait until he was well enough from his surgery ) he came running to us and he had only met us on two visits. They know who to trust. Six and half years later, he is upstairs stretched out on a bed on his back snoring, it is raining here, no fishing for him today!