2008 Atlantic hurricane season

[jbm32206]

That fact of the matter is, there's at the very least a tropical storm in our area, and predictions call for it to strengthen to a category 1 hurricane while it slips off shore, then turn back in around St. Augustine. Even if it remains a TS, it will still bring heavy rain and wind to the general area...that'll mean flooding, wind damage, very likely thousands will lose power and potential for storm related injuries.

There have been storm related deaths and injuries with category 1 hurricanes, many of which are a result of people being complacent about category 1 hurricanes (and TS) and being ignorant to the fact that they are still pose dangerous conditions.

It was a good call to close the schools and city offices that are non-essential. This allows people to prepare for the real threats this storm poses. It boils down to common sense and heeding the warnings of the weather/emergency officials.

Let's hope that the storm loses it's punch and that we all make it through this safely.

[BridgeTroll]

A little humor for the storm...

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/082008/dic_320670784.shtml

Don't stare into cone of concern


By TERRY DICKSON, The Times-Union


ST. SIMONS ISLAND - Here we go again. Every year we go through this, watching storms coming at us and hoping they'll be like Madonna, far less dangerous than they appear on TV.
   
We've got all these TV weatherpersons - excuse me, meteorologists - who hype storms and make us want to crawl under the bed with our blanky and suck our thumbs until the thunder and wind fade away. With brows knit with deep concern, they form sweeping angles over their weather maps with their hands to tell us where Fay will go. They did it with Hugo, Floyd and Katrina.

"If you live anywhere in this cone of concern,'' one said of the projected path, "you need to be making preparations right now.''

The weatherpersons seem to love the cone of concern, the tornado watch boxes and other little overlays for their maps.

OK. So here's the Dickson hurricane plan: a) Collect all the important papers, wedding photos, pictured with grandpa and a stringer of fish, insurance policies, aspirin. b) Put them in the car. c) Whoops, almost forgot the dog. d) Start the car. e) Shut off the car and check the back door. f) Repeat step e. g) Drive until you see the mountains.

A weatherperson's hurricane plan always involves extra hair mousse or spray depending on their personal preferences.

The acute angle of angst.

As if we didn't have enough to worry about, the Coast Guard just informed us it has gone to Situation Yankee, whatever that is, at the Port of Jacksonville and outlying areas. I've got news for them, we've had situational Yankees on St. Simons for a long time. It is especially bad on Easter.

And now the weatherpersons are telling us that Fay may cross Florida, go out into the Atlantic and come back ashore near the state line. So now the cone of concern looks more like a cornucopia of concern with a big curve in the middle.

The parabola of paranoia.

Out on the St. Simons pier Tuesday, folks were taking the threat of bad weather in stride. Merrill Smith was in his usual spot in a chair watching the ends of his fishing rods for any signs of movement.

"Gives me something to do,'' he said. "Gas is so high we can't travel.''

Tropical storms can take a high toll on the coast, but Smith knows what they can do inland. He moved to St. Simons from Macon about five years ago, turning his vacation home into a permanent residence. He and his wife were on St. Simons when Tropical Storm Alberto came across the Florida Panhandle in early July 1994, stalled out in Georgia as a depression and dumped 21 inches of rain in three days flooding everything from Macon to the southwest corner of the state.

"We had trouble getting home,'' he said. Then with a smile he says, "If it wasn't for this pier, I wouldn't be here.''

The trapezoid of tribulation.

Behind him, Annie Jackson, a youthful 67, is putting whiting in her cooler with amazing regularity. She fishes every day she can, but says, "If they say evacuate, I'm gone.''

Maybe not for Fay, but isn't she fretful about what's coming.

"That's the Lord's work. I'm not worried about it,'' she said.

Tonight, she'll be in church while others are home watching moussed meteorologists.

Those of us not in church will reside uneasily in the sphere of fear.
terry.dickson@jacksonville.com, (912) 264-0405

[jbm32206]

It's this kind of crap that results in people becoming complacent, and heeding real warnings. Personally, I don't find humor in it, in fact, I feel it's rather irresponsible.

[BridgeTroll]

It's this kind of crap that results in people becoming complacent, and heeding real warnings. Personally, I don't find humor in it, in fact, I feel it's rather irresponsible.

Jeez... relax a little.  Have you been watching the local weather guys... they are so excited I think they will wet their pants...

[Driven1]

[jbm32206]

I am relaxed, and it's their job to continue reporting the status of the storm. In fact, they've been saying that it's looking more like conditions will not be quite as bad as predicted last night. It's also a fact that even if it remains a tropical storm, we'll still have lots of rain and the potential for flooding, power outages, tree damages, and so on.

My stance remains about feeling it's that kind of irresponsible articles that cause complacency, which can be dangerous in of itself.

[BridgeTroll]

Ok... perhaps it is a flaw in my personality that seems to find a sliver of humor in virtually any situation...

[Jason]

I'm right there with you Bridge Troll.

The Weather Channel reporters are the worst.  You watch them and you'll think the world is comming to an end.  Yesterday was hilarious, they were out in the street in the rain wobbling and staggering around to appear that they were being blown around.  The weather was nothing worse than the average Florida thunderstorm. 

People should be prepared but at the same time they should also maintain their composure and not panic from all of the weatherman hype.  They live for this stuff and of course they're going to make a big deal about it.

There are only two things you need to weather a tropical storm or hurricane... Beer and ice!! 

CHEERS!!!

[David]

Man,  Jim Cantore is the leader of the pack when it comes to dramatic weatherman. He really does know how to hype it up! Earlier in the thread I said Tim Deegan hypes it up but he's actually being very "well this isn’t' certain" with this storm, so I have to give him props for that.

Nothing tops this one time at Jax Beach though; I saw a news reporter standing in front of a stop sign, camera guy to her front and another guy ducked down behind the reporter, SHAKING the stop sign with his hands, to create the illusion of higher winds.

That's why I started chasing these things, I just got tired of watching some jackass standing out in the winds and decided I’d rather be the jackass experiencing the situation and while trying to document it without all the made for t.v. drama. All I have on tape is Charley and some of Frances, freaking Jeanne damaged my camcorder & mini dv tape beyond repair which is why I’m itching to get some new footage. Looks like I'll have to wait as thankfully the forecast models are keeping Fay close to the coast as a moderate t.s. . These storms aren't the same when they come to you....I like my electricity   

[reednavy]

Damn, you REALLY need a spelling lesson. I mean badly.

[jbm32206]

Nothing tops this one time at Jax Beach though; I saw a news reporter standing infront of a stop sign, camera guy to her front and another guy ducked down behind the reporter, SHAKING the stop sign with his hands, to create the illusion of higher winds.

That is completely out of line and that's what adds to people not taking threats of storms, seriously! They should be ashamed of themselves for doing that kind of crap!

[BridgeTroll]

Classic hype video...

http://www.youtube.com/v/OTogixKBAJU

[Charleston native]

Unfortunately, hyping the weather is what many stations do to boost ratings. The Weather Channel has lost loads of credibility with their junk reporting. In many of these cases, you have the news and weather channels creating news rather than reporting it.

Tropical depressions, tropical storms, and even most cat 1 hurricanes are the equivalent of normal, severe thunderstorms that occur everyday in the South. Of course, if there is a threat of wind or rain damage, one must be prepared, but that applies to any severe weather. Use common sense. People shouldn't be walking around outside during a thunderstorm, but they should pay attention to the weather for their safety. The same logic applies with a named storm. It really is elementary.

[jbm32206]

what a moron! How shameful is that! I like how they called her out on it...that's funny

[jbm32206]

Unfortunately, hyping the weather is what many stations do to boost ratings. The Weather Channel has lost loads of credibility with their junk reporting. In many of these cases, you have the news and weather channels creating news rather than reporting it.

Tropical depressions, tropical storms, and even most cat 1 hurricanes are the equivalent of normal, severe thunderstorms that occur everyday in the South. Of course, if there is a threat of wind or rain damage, one must be prepared, but that applies to any severe weather. Use common sense. People shouldn't be walking around outside during a thunderstorm, but they should pay attention to the weather for their safety. The same logic applies with a named storm. It really is elementary.

I couldn't agree with you more!