This is NOT what air defense (is supposed to be) doing!
What air defense doing?
Somewhere in Ukraine, a Russian Pantsir S-1 Air Defense system suffers a malfunction and launches an interceptor towards the cameraman. pic.twitter.com/Uf0r6POELV
— CJ (@CasualArtyFan) September 27, 2022
Since I’m sure someone will ask, we’re fine here sheltering in place. We’ve had steady light to moderate rain and light to moderate wind with occasional gusts no greater than 41 mph. If everything continues as forecast, we’ll be out of the wind field no later than midnight. We’re basically on the outer edge of it given the storm track.
Alas, the folks between Naples south to Ft. Myers and inland to Punta Gorda were not so lucky. They had a 16 to 18 foot storm surge. I’m sure a lot of you have seen the videos, but basically you’re dealing with a hurricane created and driven tsunami. We’re already beginning to see reporting on the local news stations mildly chastising the folks in southwest Florida for not evacuating. Especially those calling 911 for help. Here’s the thing: the evacuation orders for Port Charlotte, Naples, Ft. Myers, Punta Gorda, Cape Coral, etc didn’t go up till yesterday morning when the 11 AM update went up. That 11 AM update was the first one using data after Ian cleared Cuba. Which means it was the first one with good data once the storm was in the Gulf. That 11 AM update was based on the models and forecasts that were finally starting to firm up. And the 2 PM and 5 PM updates just further solidified the track.
Those of us in the greater Tampa Bay area had and extra 24 to 36 hours to evacuate. Hillsborough County’s and Tampa’s evacuation orders for Zone A started on Monday. Same with Pinellas County. The Zone B and C orders went up at 8 AM yesterday. I’m not blaming the forecasters and hurricane scientists and modelers. They can only work with the data they have. But because the data was messy and unclear until Tuesday morning, everyone made an assumption on the early modeling from before Ian even hit Cuba. And that assumption was it was headed to Tampa Bay and the worst case scenario was finally going to happen. So Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties and the municipalities in them reacted the way we’d want, but the southwestern Florida municipalities did not because they were told they were most likely in the clear.
There’s going to be victim blaming. There’s going to be attempts to play hot potato among the politicians. I would not be surprised if NOAA gets the same treatment from Governor DeSantis that NHS did because he was all over TV telling people in Hillsborough and Pinellas to leave immediately. I don’t like the guy, but he can only work with the data he’s given, just like everyone else. But this is Floriduh! and there’s an election coming up, and someone is going to have to be blamed to cover other’s butts. I expect it’ll be the victims of Ian, insult will be added to injury. And, of course, the Federal government as that always plays well here.
Just a quick check in on the women’s revolution in Iran and then back to Ukraine’s defense!
Another beautiful “Bella Ciao” in Farsi. The song is catching on as Iranian women lead a revolt, standing against a repressive theocratic dictatorship. pic.twitter.com/4pO7KSkNoR
— Frida Ghitis (@FridaGhitis) September 28, 2022
Iranian women committing the crime of eating in a restaurant without wearing a headcover. pic.twitter.com/MqYS3zojEk
— Frida Ghitis (@FridaGhitis) September 28, 2022
The chant now in Iran: “We will fight, we will die, we will take Iran back” pic.twitter.com/3ZAwzRnU6B
— Frida Ghitis (@FridaGhitis) September 28, 2022
Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump:
War for Ukraine Day 2016: What Air Defense Doing?Post + Comments (80)