Hurricane Florence

[no_hypocrisy]

Last edited Fri Sep 14, 2018, 04:08 PM - Edit history (1)

I wonder how many residents decided to "ride it out" instead of seeking safe shelter for themselves or their families.

The reason I wonder is the terrible example that Trump sets as far as derision about weather, climate, science, the media. Perhaps they don't believe the storm is as bad as reported or "it won't happen to me". The suspension of disbelief could be their deaths as well as destruction of their homes.

[malaise]

1. You know that tweet yesterday wasn't just racist disrespect for those who died in Puerto Rico

It was telling Harvard, GWU et al that research and facts don't matter. Just make up shit and blame the Democratic Party.

I hate that vile cretin.

[woodsprite]

2. I believe I saw the figure of 100 decided

To ride it out on Ocracoke (per their FB group) Probably 2-4x that on Hatteras Island.

[Siwsan]

3. Maybe they should financially charge those who could leave, but didn't, for their rescue

They chose to put their own lives at risk which is now needlessly risking the lives of others.

[Nay]

5. At this point, there will be few to no 'rescues.' It is too dangerous for rescue workers to

go in, now; they would simply be killed or injured as well. Those people are on their own until the waves and winds subside.

[Siwsan]

6. The best hope for some might be recovery, rather than rescue.

Eventually, those conditions will change. I head (I think on MSNBC) that first responders have been making rescues, where they can.

[Nay]

7. Yep. It's a recovery operation now, which will start when conditions moderate enough. If

you can stay alive long enough, you might get picked up out of the rubble.

[PJMcK]

4. Darwin Awards for each of them

Anyone stupid enough to try to ride out a hurricane earns their fate.

I've done a lot of ocean sailing on small boats between 18' and 45'. I've sailed though dozens of gales, (32-63 mph, 7 to 10 on the Beaufort Scale), and the force of those storms is terrifying. Florence's winds are nearly double that strength!

In a full gale, one cannot stand up against the force of the wind. It's too strong and you have to use nearly all your strength just to hang on. The rain smacks into you at that speed and it feels like scores of darts are stabbing into you. It hurts! You are nearly incapable of doing even the simplest tasks because you're just trying to survive.

In addition to the powerful wind and piercing rain, the waves are chaotic and carry their own dominating forces. The largest waves I've ever seen were between 20' and 30' and they scared the devil out of me. The offshore waves of Florence have been estimated at over 80'! When these behemoths reach shore, they'll collapse in the shallowing water but their energy will continue until they hit the land. That is a devastating power.

I won't apologize for my "insensitivity" for those who idiotically stay in the path of a hurricane. There is no excuse-- including financial-- to remain in an obvious danger. One might as well stand on the tracks of an approaching freight train.

[bdamomma]

8. this hurricane

is not going anywhere quick, and the rain and storm surge will be relentless.

[mnhtnbb]

9. There have been over 200 water rescues in New Bern, NC already

that began last night. More than 100 rescues to still be done.

This is due to wind direction/rain/river flooding/high tide/surge.

New Bern is not even right on the coast. New Bern is almost 90 miles northeast of where the hurricane came ashore in Wrightsville Beach.

The Weather Channel is showing a lot of photos and doing reports from storm tracker type folks and officials from there. TWC does not have crew in New Bern.