Drove across most of Pennsylvania this afternoon west-to-east for professional reasons (it is rather important and I’m driving back tomorrow, with an emergency kit in my trunk). I-76 is a nonstop convoy of power line repair trucks right now. ConEd and independent utilities from Michigan, Ohio, Illinois and everywhere else have a whole lot of crews moving east ahead of/into the storm.
It will make me happy to wake up Wednesday and find out that we all overreacted. If not, oy.
General Stuck
Lordy sakes, as my dead granny used to say.
You folks get out your snow shoes and prayer beads, cause you might need them.
The Snarxist Formerly Known as Kryptik
Jersey City here, scrambling to buy more rolls of duct tape. Fingers crossed people.
aimai
Jezus christ. Its not looking that bad here in MA but I don’t know what is happening on the cape. Somehow we didn’t end up with enough water for more than a couple of days without power.
aimai
arguingwithsignposts
They’re obviously setting up the electric for the FEMA re-education camps. Didn’t you get the memo?
Sayne
Pennsylvania Turnpike. I can drive parts of it blindfolded. Sigh…
Stay safe, Tim. I’m in Arlington, VA and not looking forward to power going out, which it is almost certain to do. Oh well, at least I’m not in Old Town Alexandria or low-lying parts of DC. I just heard that they’re calling for the highest tide on the Potomac since 1996. Yaaaaaay…
Spaghetti Lee
@arguingwithsignposts:
Com-Ed is? Well, I guess even the New World Order outsources the grunt work these days.
Elizabelle
Going to venture up 95-North to DC in a few hours. Shall let you know.
WaPost suggests that, if the summer derecho was a ten, Sandy could be an eight.
Albeit with more notice.
Suffern ACE
@aimai: I have enough water four three days. After that, it’s wine and bourbon for two more days.
dmsilev
@Spaghetti Lee: Think about it: Who better to run a set of dystopic internment camps than local utilities? I understand that the Kafka-esque show trials will be run by customer service reps from Comcast.
Cargo
Could you imagine if this was one week later and due to hit on the election? People’d be shitting themselves.
Spaghetti Lee
Game of the Week my ass.
arguingwithsignposts
@dmsilev:
Well, the cable TV and cellular phone companies are busy.
Culture of Truth
Obama speaking from FEMA headquarters now. Advises leaving threatened areas, storing needed supplies, and cooperation with concentration camp round-up personnel, who can be recognized by yellow rain jackets with raised black fist logo.
IowaOldLady
@arguingwithsignposts: I vote for the airlines.
PurpleGirl
My typing client, who lives on Avenue B at 12th St., called to see how I was. She has to evacuate and was about to leave her apartment.
Luckily, where I live is not an evacuation zone. I was out earlier and the wind was kicking up.
ETA: The clouds look stationary. If they are moving it is very slowly.
Raven
I’d be layin in ammo.
Kirbster
@aimai:
I’m on the south coast of the Cape near Chatham. NStar Electric has been trimming the tree branches away from the power lines all week, but I don’t know if that will be enough to avoid long-term power failures. When hurricanes threaten, I take solace from the fact that the house across the street has been around since the 1840s.
Southern Beale
Atrios just nailed it:
I do not for the life of me understand why ANYONE would vote someone into government who claims government is the problem, needs to get out of the way, needs to be made smaller, needs to be replaced by business, etc. etc. etc.
I do not go to a butcher who is a vegan. I do not go to a doctor who does not believe in modern medicine. I do not visit an auto mechanic who says the world went to hell when we replaced the horse and carriage with the internal combustion engine.
If you do not believe government has a function, then why the fuck do you want to run it?
Humanities Grad
If there is a silver lining to particularly severe hurricanes, it’s that they don’t exactly sneak up on you.
If you actually have a competent hand on the levers (aka, not “heckuva job” Brownie), you can get a lot of the necessary repair personnel/infrastructure prepositioned before the nasty stuff hits. You can’t stop the power from going off (nothing can do that), but you can get the repair crews in place to start working on the cleanup right away.
This comment would offend several of my students, who apparently are convinced that the government can’t do everything right under any circumstances, evah. Teaching is such a depressing profession sometimes…
MrSnrub
The storm track is currently projected to come within 20 miles of my house (Philly area). We’re wondering if we’ll be inside the eye of the storm.
trex
@dmsilev:
Funny shit.
SatanicPanic
@Southern Beale: So you can run it into the ground. Sadly this is a goal for a lot of priveleged people who have never had to live without competent government.
Lojasmo
@aimai:
If you have a top loading water, run a load with bleach, then run a second load without. Then fill up the tub and stop the cycle. That should give you thirty gallons for cooking and filling the toilet tank.
ETA it can also be boild for drinking. and there should be something called “rain” falling from the sky, which can also be consumed.
red dog
Let’s see right after duck tape what other minor things do we need? a deck of cards, new board game, a trashy book or two, dog biscuts and?????
PurpleGirl
@Humanities Grad: If there is a silver lining to particularly severe hurricanes, it’s that they don’t exactly sneak up on you.
That’s now, with technology and science. But in 1938 (New England hurricane) in the Northeast and 1900 in Galveston (Isaac’s Storm), they didn’t have much notice that a hurricane was coming.
Poopyman
@Southern Beale:
To run it into the ground so we (they) don’t have to pay taxes. Ignore the need for basic services, like roads, water, sewer, etc. That can all be handled by the free market, baby!
Anyway, pardon me since it was a rhetorical question.
As I was voting this afternoon, word came down that the governor cancelled early voting in Maryland tomorrow, with status for Tuesday pending tomorrow’s weather. Since we’re going to be on the back side of the storm for the most part, I doubt we’ll take the hit NJ and NY will, and there was a lot of trimming after the derecho. Still, 5 to 10 inches of rain with 40+ mph winds for over two days is going to cause big problems.
Litlebritdifrnt
As noted by someone on Twitter, not one competent reporter will see fit to ask Romney if he still believes that Federal Disaster Relief is “immoral”. Not fucking one.
All of you who are in Sandy’s path please stay safe. She just sailed by us (eastern NC) for the past two days and despite the fact that she was way offshore she certainly slapped us around a bit.
I was reading a smart piece in the Guardian as to why she is such a historic storm and not “just a cat 1 hurricane” one of the reasons mentioned is that she is so slow moving, when she hits she is gonna stick around like a bad house guest for days. You are all in my thoughts.
Mnemosyne
@Southern Beale:
So you can skim tax dollars for yourself and your friends. SATSQ.
Poopyman
@Humanities Grad: Actually, it’s not the size of the government, it’s the advance warning afforded by a multi-billion dollar satellite and ground system, coupled with a system of buoys in the Atlantic. I’d like to know what company would take a flier on putting that together. Can’t imagine a business model that would make it cost effective.
Poopyman
@red dog:
Scotch.
Ben Franklin
@Raven:
That’s a start…..
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/09/16/149549/-Are-YOU-ready-for-disaster-Part-4-of-5-Gear-supplies-and-training
gogol's wife
I can’t stand to watch TV weather because they’re so gleeful about it, so I’m kind of uninformed. It seems as if we’re (inland Connecticut) going to get damaging winds and heavy rain, but classes have not been cancelled for tomorrow. I’m trying to take that as something comforting, but I really wish I could just stay home tomorrow and Tuesday and watch over the property.
Poopyman
@Litlebritdifrnt: We’re in a rain band right now with a steady breeze around 20 gusting to 26 (according to NWS), and that mofo is still over 500 miles away.
Ben Franklin
@Southern Beale:
If you do not believe government has a function, then why the fuck do you want to run it?
To avoid the dreaded Sequestration .
But, why do you ask?
PurpleGirl
@Poopyman: Where are you? I’m in Woodside (Queens) and the clouds just seem to hanging there and not moving. Planes are still landing at LaGuardia. (The bad weather landing pattern goes over my apartment building.)
Litlebritdifrnt
@Poopyman:
That is the scary part about it, they have ALREADY hit Hurricane Irene storm surge levels up in the North East somewhere and it is still hundreds of miles away. When you look at the latest satellite she is basically just blanketing the entire east coast right now, and even as she is hitting New York or New Jersey the outer cloud bands will still be affecting Florida. It is stunning.
Elmo
NoVa here. Lost power for only 2 days with the derecho, so I’m hopeful. But when I lose power I also lose water, so I’ve filled up four utility tubs in addition to the horse troughs and 20 gallons of water for drinking. Stove is gas, so a match will give me the ability to cook. Ive pre-ground a week’s worth of coffee for the French press. Cooked a bunch of food that I can reheat on the stove.
Just really really dreading the inability to shower.
Cermet
@MrSnrub: People – this will NOT be a hurricane when it reaches land – repeat – Not a hurricane. No eye-wall nor winds anywhere that high. Yes, a really bad Nor’ester; lots of rain for many, winds running about 30 – 40 knots but the issue is the fact it will be a slow moving storm and cover a wide area. Rain totals along the worse path are projected to be 9 inches over five days; easy for most places to handle that rate.
The surge is the issue for people living near sea level (storm hitting at the same time as the full moon – not good.) This is not as bad as some of you think. Yes, some people will die due to crossing flooded roads (don’t!) and a few by tree’s falling; power for some will be lost for a number of days. Snow – if it really comes down – will be a different story and a major issue for power in those areas.
Be ready by having enough water and snacks; do NOT cross any running water in a car or by foot! If you are near the ocean or tidal zones and have flooded in the past, be aware this storm will have a very strong surge.
Be ready to move out with essentials and have enough meds if needed for a few days. Pets (food for the pets – shelters will not have that on hand.)
The storm will still be out at sea tomorrow but as Monday gets ater, the storm will reach landfall. You have time to prepare so don’t wait any longer.
Best of luck all you fellow BJ’ers here in the storms path.
nancydarling
I have found that one of those single burner Coleman thingies that screws onto those little green bottles of gas very useful since I am all electric. Also I am on a well so I run a tubful of water for flushing. I thought I was all set for an ice storm we had a few years ago. I had my old-fashioned cowboy coffee maker, but I forgot to grind the beans! I just bought a coffee grinder at an antique store recently. It works great.
quannlace
Was gonna comment then realized you said you lose water pressure along with electricity.
&&&&&&&
For those of you who have water heaters with a gas pilot light. Be aware, unlike me during a five day power outage from the freak Halloween snow storm, you still have hot water. There I was, washing at the kitchen sink, unaware I could still take a hot shower.
Cermet
One BIG issue for people running generators – run them ONLY outside! The fumes are deadly and should not be allowed near your house and NEVER run in any attached building! Also, candles start fires – never leave unattended even for a few seconds and never near anything that can ignite.
Again, best of luck you all you outhere – I too am near the storm center but safely inland; wind and rain is my only concern so this will be easy assuming travel (to work) does not become too dangerous … that is my only concern.
gex
@IowaOldLady: I vote health insurance companies.
Tried several times to contact someone to see if I could get a PCA to help care for my girlfriend during this whole cancer thing. It was futile. Once we got past the halfway point for treatment, I figured it wasn’t worth trying to talk to someone, because we’d be done by the time anything went through.
MM
About an hour ago I passed a line of about 10 Nelson Tree Service trucks heading east on Route 80 in NJ about 30 miles east of the Delaware Water Gap. There was just a light drizzle at the time.
Heliopause
East coasters overreact to a weather event? Heaven forfend.
Ben Franklin
@Cermet:
It’s a little late for this disaster, but check this out for the future.
http://www.rei.com/product/842689/goal-zero-yeti-1250-solar-generator?preferredSku=8426890001&cm_mmc=cse_froogle-_-pla-_-product-_-8426890001&mr:trackingCode=07B45AE7-83AA-E111-8DC4-001B21631C34&mr:referralID=NA&%7Bcopy:s_kwcid%7D=&mr:adType=pla&gclid=CKX5iIvRpLMCFQhyQgodRU4Akw
You can get monocrystalline panels for a lot less than $600 for 60 watts, but the foundation is sound.
poco
@PurpleGirl: Well, I am in Sunnyside, Queens and yes, the clouds are behaving just the way you describe. I am not sure how freaked out by this I need to be.
burnspbesq
Mark Kleiman is a big meanie.
http://www.samefacts.com/2012/10/campaigns/campaign-2012/crunch-time/
TheMightyTrowel
I love the hell out of photos like this. Fricking morans.
Check the title – it’s from the Grauniad – Surfing Sandy.
MrSnrub
@Cermet: I was afraid of that, Cermet. Thanks for the info.
max
And don’t cook with a coleman stove indoors if you have one. Carbon monoxide will get you.
(It rained six inches here during Irene and this one is supposed to be 3-4 and we never lost power for more than an hour or two, so not too worried.)
@dmsilev: Who better to run a set of dystopic internment camps than local utilities? I understand that the Kafka-esque show trials will be run by customer service reps from Comcast.
“Press one if you are scheduled to be tortured… Press two if you believe that works make you free… Press three if you are trying to escape…”
max
[‘Please hold… a maniac with a gun will be with you shortly.’]
Poopyman
@PurpleGirl: Maryland, Western Shore of the Chesapeake Bay.
burnspbesq
Who wrote this?
gogol's wife
@burnspbesq:
I’m guessing Mustache of Understanding, since someone recommended it to me earlier today but I’ve been too busy obsessing about Sandy to read it yet.
Poopyman
@burnspbesq: Tommy!
(I think this was covered this morning.)
Poopyman
@burnspbesq: Also too:
Of course, that train left the station long ago. Now what, Tommy?
JPL
@burnspbesq: I mentioned that column earlier. I had not read an entire piece the writer has written in over a decade until today.
The dems are the pro-life party…
uptown
Here in Seattle, we had a contractor cancel line moving this weekend, so the crews could head east.
burnspbesq
Ol’ Stache had hisself a good day today. He’s even getting som love from Erik Loomis.
barbequbob
@Kirbster:
up here in Eastham we’re planning for power outage, which happens a couple of times year, in most years.
RSR
wait, were you travelling with my buddy/neighbor @realsteveeboy?
Bill Arnold
@PurpleGirl:
My wife’s best friend was ordered to leave City Island (in the Bronx in the LI Sound.).
The authorities are taking this seriously. (Though the current NHC forecasted track has the hit centered on southern New Jersey.)
Betsy
@Litlebritdifrnt: @Litlebritdifrnt: E. NC in the houze — w00t
JPL
@Bill Arnold: Just got a note from someone in Stuyvesant Village and the buildings have shut off their hot water? Does that make sense?
Betsy
@Poopyman: full tank of gas in each vehicle, manual can opener, canned food, charcoal briquettes for grill, cash, cash, cash, ice chest with ice already in it, chainsaws for getting limbs/trees off of driveway and street, bicycle in case your street is blocked by downed stuff, hornet sting remedy (they get made when their nests come down and you try to remove the downed tree they were in). Valium for the third day of no electricity and thereafter. Extra battery for cell phone.
blingee
There will be lots of flooding and power outages. Other than that, make sure you have lots of booze and junk food you’ll be ok
Patricia Kayden
So far, nothing much except rain in Charles County, MD. But the Federal government and schools have already been shut down for tomorrow, so I guess it will get worse by the morning.
cckids
@Southern Beale:
Reminds me of the old joke about how going to a male gynecologist is like taking your car to a mechanic who doesn’t own a car.
Judas Escargot, Acerbic Prophet of the Mighty Potato God
@aimai:
For MA, looks like the south coast is going to get hit hard.
Up my way, it’ll be mostly wind. I’ve taken in everything I can, tied stuff down. One of the tenants helped me shore up this one old fence that I don’t think is going to make it. Sealed and locked all the windows except for one or two that are easy to get to and can be closed quickly. Batteries, water, etc. Beyond that, not much else I can do.
Good luck out there, kids.
Elmo
Drunk and eating pot roast and brownies. Wait, why was I dreading this storm again? This is niiiiiiiiiiiice.
S. Holland
@gogol’s wife: I’m inland CT also, and double check the irritating scroll across the screen of our local channels….everything cancelled for tomorrow…Tuesday on standby
AndoChronic
Good luck out there East Coast BJers, don’t be heroes unless the situation warrants and/or the media is there. I was thinking, if enough of you folks have any type of firearm you should all just start shooting at the hurricane. I saw that in a cartoon once, it seemed to work.
gogol's wife
@efgoldman:
They’ve now cancelled classes for Mon and Tue. I’m glad because I don’t have to leave the house, but I’m not glad because I guess it means it’s going to be bad.
PurpleGirl
I just visited the NYC gov site and the public schools will be closed tomorrow. Also most parking regulations are suspended tomorrow. The Staten Island Ferry stopped running at 8 PM tonight.
Maude
@efgoldman:
Only electronic Wall Street trading tomorrow.
I read Bloomberg
mainmati
@Sayne: That’s because we’re getting storm surge AND high tides from the full moon. So far, rain has been light in the DC area but I expect this to change.
burnspbesq
Hurricane Agnes hit North Jersey three days after the end of my junior year in high school. I remember enough to be grateful that I’m twelve miles from the Pacific for Sandy.
Stay safe, y’all.
gvg
School closings don’t have mean it’s going to be bad there. As I discovered in Florida, we close schools in the inland counties because they are where the lower level coastal counties evacuate too.
One of the things I LOVE about hurricanes is watching the good preparations pay off afterwards. If you go to the interstates into the state right after the storm clears out, it’s this huge line of traffic INTO the storm of utility trucks, national guards and supplies planed out in the prior years and drilled for. The planning is as intricate as an invasion and I love the feeling that comes from watching what humans working together can do. One hurricane my parents were out of state when one hit so their house had to go thru one without storm prep. Right after my aunt, cousin and I drove down to check. Usually we obey the standard rule, stay home and keep out of the way while utilities and emergency workers fix things. that time we had to go down to Orlando (direct hit 2004). The conversations at gas stations and rest stops were great. A couple who drove a red cross trailer down, an insurance adjuster who expected to be camping in a parking lot with others from his company processing claims………there is so much involved both government and private. There are a lot of great people in the world really. when my small city was pretty well fixed up after 2004, the local paper ran several pages of thank yous naming all the utility companies to our area to help and which states they were from. I think there were something like 80 companies listed. That help comes due to something like company treaties and it means we owe return help. a couple of years later some western fires got help from us and the paper mentioned it was part of the return favors. It comes round again. I can’t understand people who don’t think it does. It was a couple of years before we used up the huge pile of free much though. There were huge mountains of mulch you could get if you had a truck.
Maude
@gvg:
It’s important to keep this in mind. I am tired of the negativity of the Republicans.
Dems are Can Do
Repubs are No Can Do.
LarryB
@Elmo:
The best shower I ever had was under a rain spout in a downpour. It sounds like this one will be pretty warm near the coast, so strip down, grab a bar of soap and go for it!
Leila Argulewicz
If you have a buspirate you could just link onto the SPI lines during class and dump the whole session transparently while “participating” normally. If you have an n900 you can even do it without anything but a random cable going from pocket (containing n900+buspirate) to clicker. I’m sure it can be done with other phones/tablets as well.
Freemark
@max: Don’t make fun of Comcast service reps :). I was one for 3 years and I and my co-workers generally did great jobs. It wasn’t our fault that the higher ups put people through a gauntlet to reach us. That gauntlet pissed me off; it was practically guaranteed to make customers extra pissed by the time they got to me.