Looks like Tropical Storm (soon to be "Hurricane") Barry might be paying us a visit from tonight through Tuesday. Anyone who's ever been through a hurricane (I've been through several) knows how rough it can be.

Most people (especially those who've never been through a real hurricane) focus on the wind speed and Saffir-Simpson rating. "Oh, that's not such a bad storm -- it's only a Category 1 with 80 MPH winds."

The real danger from a lower-category hurricane isn't wind, it's flooding. Even a weak tropical storm, if it stalls and just sits in one spot, can pee out megatons of water for hours on end, causing catastrophic flooding, damage and loss of life.

Fran, the last storm that I experienced, was like that; it wasn't a Camille with 200Mph winds, but she was huge and slow; she caused flooding in Eastern NC that lasted for days. I was well inland (near Fayetteville, NC), but my power was still out for a WEEK.

At the coast, the danger is multiplied because of the storm surge. The tide can rise many, many times above normal, flooding the first and even second floors of buildings. The winds and flooding knock down trees and fill the roads with debris, making it very difficult to drive, too.

But the biggest danger is that this flooding can start many hours before the storm actually makes landfall. By the time that you realize that you need to scram to a safer place, you may not be able to. The roads may be blocked by then.

Sure, I know not that many people visit this forum; I'm only speaking to a few. But that doesn't mean I can't give you this advice: if you're in the path of this storm, make sure your home isn't in a low-lying area that could flood; if it is, get your family to a safe place.

At any rate, you should buy some canned goods, a flashlight and a battery-powered radio. You'll be glad you did.

(Now: because I just know these things, some people will say, "Stephen, you made fun of people who prepared for Y2K; now that the shoe is on the other foot, you advocate it! What gives?")

(That's a perfect opportunity for me to repeat what I said a MILLION times in 1999: I have NEVER had anything against common-sense preparation. I think that everyone should store a week's worth of food, keep prescriptions refilled ahead of time, and take other simple precautions to ensure that you could go several days without being able to drive to a market.)

(I was doing that LONG before Y2K became a household word. My box of "hurricane preps" is sitting here to my left as I type this.)

(What I addressed in Y2K was unwarranted FUD, theories about martial law and the collapse of society, and other wild-eyed stuff. A fine -- but important -- distinction.)

-- Anonymous, August 05, 2001

Answers

But then again, one other thought on the wind: most people also don't realize that hurricanes spawn zillions of tornadoes. Even worse, these little devils usually appear on the periphery of the storm, well away from the eye.

Sandy and I were actually many miles from the Fran's eye at her closest approach, and we experienced that firsthand. For several hours, we heard freight-train noises off in the distance to either side of the house.

Once, though, the "train" sound approached and passed the house pretty loudly. I could feel the floor shaking; then it passed.

The next morning, after the storm had passed, we looked around at the damage. You can differentiate tornado damage because the trees will often look "twisted" -- like a giant had grabbed the crown of the tree and twisted it off.

There were twisted and mangled trees behind the house and across the street in front, and the roof tiles on that side of the house were shuffled up. I said a little prayer of thanks to God when I saw that, believe me. That's how close at least one of the twisters had come. :)

-- Anonymous, August 05, 2001

Good luck to all ya'll down there Stephen. Floyd was two years ago next month, and we're still not completely back to normal yet. Drove by some still-abandoned buildings just Sunday afternoon.

-- Anonymous, August 06, 2001

Stephen, I have been worried about you since I heard about the storm. I hope you don't experience anything harmful.

CL, It has been that long already? Time sure is flying by! I think the way they managed to keep the poer on was the final nail on the coffin of any worry I may still have been holding about problems with Y2K. It reconfirmed my belief in the intellegence and ability of those who are in charge of the job on a daily basis.

-- Anonymous, August 06, 2001

Cherri,

Thankfully, the storm didn't make Hurricane status. It's just going to be a wet week for us; hopefully the flooding won't be too bad.

CL, I didn't realize it had been two years, either. I thought of you this morning when I posted this, as a matter of fact. :)

-- Anonymous, August 06, 2001