# Hurricane Irene - Up the East Coast **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 25, 2011, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irene-up-the-east-coast/594044 "2011-08-25T15:31:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irene-up-the-east-coast/594044/81 "2011-08-26T20:58:29Z")
How are you guys doing on plywood and portable generators? Those are usually cleaned out down here in Florida. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irene-up-the-east-coast/594044/82 "2011-08-26T21:00:56Z")
In fairness my local water sucks. It has an off aftertaste that you can really only cover up with lots of ice. I’ll drink it only if nothing else is available. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irene-up-the-east-coast/594044/83 "2011-08-26T21:18:46Z")
I was scheduled to drive to Stratford CT Sunday morning from central MA and back in the evening. I’m thinking I should probably cancel that drive? ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irene-up-the-east-coast/594044/84 "2011-08-26T21:54:47Z")
Anyone know what happens if the people in the evacuation zone do not evacuate? Will people get arrested or fined if they don’t leave? ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irene-up-the-east-coast/594044/85 "2011-08-26T22:07:07Z")
I don’t want to discourage preparedness, especially for folks in areas that will actually experience hurricane conditions, but godDAMN, DC area people are the most lily-livered, panicky, supply-hoarding, chicken little douches on the face of the earth. There’s no bottled water left in the grocery stores, but there’s still plenty of beer. What the fuck is wrong with you people? Jesus Christ almighty, you are the lamest fucking people I have ever had the misfortune of living near. I hate every one of you and I hope each and every one of you clueless, lemming-ass fucks are crushed by a falling tree, because you are too fucking chickenshit to live. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irene-up-the-east-coast/594044/86 "2011-08-26T22:18:52Z")
> [@Lakai](#): > > Anyone know what happens if the people in the evacuation zone do not evacuate? > > Will people get arrested or fined if they don’t leave? When I was a fireman/EMT, we’d ask for their SSNs so we could notify next of kin. ---
**Author:** ![DooWahDiddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9bcb4/32.png) [@DooWahDiddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DooWahDiddy)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irene-up-the-east-coast/594044/87 "2011-08-26T22:52:07Z")
> [@Lakai](#): > > Anyone know what happens if the people in the evacuation zone do not evacuate? > > Will people get arrested or fined if they don’t leave? Bloomberg said no one will be fined or go to jail, but it’s mandatory so do it. Take that for what it’s worth. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irene-up-the-east-coast/594044/88 "2011-08-26T23:31:08Z")
There’s a mandatory evacuation for all of southern Brooklyn including Coney Island, Sheepshead Bay and Brighton Beach. :eek: I grew up there. That’s a lot of people to get out by tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irene-up-the-east-coast/594044/89 "2011-08-26T23:33:18Z")
> [@Lakai](#): > > Anyone know what happens if the people in the evacuation zone do not evacuate? > > Will people get arrested or fined if they don’t leave? Bloomberg said they _could_ be, but he also said, the reality is, they don’t have the manpower to drag people out of their homes. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irene-up-the-east-coast/594044/90 "2011-08-27T00:29:57Z")
> [@boytyperanma](#): > > I was scheduled to drive to Stratford CT Sunday morning from central MA and back in the evening. I’m thinking I should probably cancel that drive? My family lives near Stratford, and that’s right in the middle of the cone showing the projected paths of the storm. So in case you weren’t being sarcastic, yes, you should cancel your drive. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irene-up-the-east-coast/594044/91 "2011-08-27T00:49:32Z")
> [@An\_Arky](#): > > I don’t want to discourage preparedness, especially for folks in areas that will actually experience hurricane conditions, but godDAMN, DC area people are the most lily-livered, panicky, supply-hoarding, chicken little douches on the face of the earth. There’s no bottled water left in the grocery stores, but there’s still plenty of beer. What the fuck is wrong with you people? Jesus Christ almighty, you are the lamest fucking people I have ever had the misfortune of living near. I hate every one of you and I hope each and every one of you clueless, lemming-ass fucks are crushed by a falling tree, because you are too fucking chickenshit to live. Why yes, let’s wish death on people who are freaking out when a hurricane severe enough to warrant the evacuation of Brooklyn and huge swaths of New Jersey is heading for their homes. Surely that’s a well-reasoned and defensible stance. :rolleyes: I hope a mutant hurricane toad gives you warts. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irene-up-the-east-coast/594044/92 "2011-08-27T01:12:00Z")
> [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > Wegman’s was crazy here too. Most of the water was out of stock. If I came any later there’d be no water left. Couldn’t find a flashlight at either of the two stores I checked. > > But we’ve got crackers, canned goods, TP, and a full tank of gas. Looks like it’s going to be a crackers and pajamas kind of weekend. that sounds good. i do like wegman’s. we may get there next week unless trucks have trouble getting in to restock. i believe mr arky was outraged by the fact that the wonderful beverage of beer was left like a wall flower. should be the other way about, beer sold out, water left. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irene-up-the-east-coast/594044/93 "2011-08-27T01:19:51Z")
Well, but beer dehydrates you. OTOH, no TV and no beer make people something something. ---
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irene-up-the-east-coast/594044/94 "2011-08-27T01:38:27Z")
This ain’t anything in the grand scheme of things, but I just lost a weeklong vacation due to Irene. Yet I’m relieved. I was supposed to fly into LGA tomorrow, landing around 1:30 PM, to meet my parents and do a tour of the East Coast. Two days in NYC, then two days in Boston, then…I forget, I had nothing to do with the itinerary. Honestly, after the first serious hurricane news started making the news (last night) I was dreading this trip. Nightmarish visions of being stuck in a hotel in NYC, no power, no transportation. For days. _shudder_ My mother, God bless her, was blindly optimistic up until the very end (~4:15 PM CST.) “It won’t be that bad! Maybe it will rain a lot on Sunday, but on Monday we’re off to Boston!.._sniffle_, if you really don’t want to go, you can…_choke, sob_ cancel!” :rolleyes: Uh, mom, Boston ain’t gonna be much better. But she really, really wanted this trip and I love her so I dutifully said “Mom, don’t worry. I’m gonna show up. It’ll be…_forces smile_…FUN!” So it wasn’t TOO much of a disappointment when I got the call around 5 PM CST from United saying my flight was cancelled. In fact it sounds like all flights are cancelled. It does suck a bit that I have to work now next week. I haven’t had a vacation all year. But that’s nothing in the big picture. East Coast Dopers, be prepared, stay safe and let’s all hope that Irene doesn’t do too much damage. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irene-up-the-east-coast/594044/95 "2011-08-27T06:15:14Z")
> [@LavenderBlue](#): > > :eek::eek::eek::eek: > > Double wow. Is that a historic first? Have the subways been voluntarily shut down ever before? I know there have been strikes and problems with service. But have they ever done this systemwide voluntarily? Since the opening of the NYC subway in 1904, this is the first time that there will be an entire transitwide shutdown, encompassing all subways, buses and railroads. So yeah it’s a pretty big deal. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irene-up-the-east-coast/594044/96 "2011-08-27T10:33:57Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > Why yes, let’s wish death on people who are freaking out when a hurricane severe enough to warrant the evacuation of Brooklyn and huge swaths of New Jersey is heading for their homes. Surely that’s a well-reasoned and defensible stance. :rolleyes: > > I hope a mutant hurricane toad gives you warts. But we’re only going to have TS conditions here, if that. I’m venting on people _in the DC area_ who are overreacting, which is something that happens every time any bit of weather occurs. I also used this thing called hyperbole. I don’t sincerely wish death on anyone, with the possible exception of the truly evil. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irene-up-the-east-coast/594044/97 "2011-08-27T10:47:22Z")
> [@Lakai](#): > > Anyone know what happens if the people in the evacuation zone do not evacuate? > > Will people get arrested or fined if they don’t leave? From what I gather listening to TWC, they just won’t get emergency services. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irene-up-the-east-coast/594044/98 "2011-08-27T11:02:33Z")
Rain from the first band will start here in southern Maryland within the half hour. I’m so terrified I’m going back to bed. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irene-up-the-east-coast/594044/99 "2011-08-27T11:57:42Z")
I’m in the suburbs just west of Philly. We’re filling water jugs (there’s no water left on the store shelves) and stocking up on canned food. The worst case here would be flooding and utility outages with loss of power and water. Back in the 70s this area had extensive flooding and lost municipal water for several days due to a hurricane, I think it was Agnes. So we’re preparing for the worst case. Fortunately for us we’re too high for flooding to reach us, but if the Schuylkill and the local creek flood a lot of people around here will have property damage. I’m thinking of you guys who are going to get the worst of it. Don’t take any chances. Get out if you have to. ---
**Author:** ![mariposalabrown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ad7895/32.png) [@mariposalabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mariposalabrown)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irene-up-the-east-coast/594044/100 "2011-08-27T15:24:22Z")
Fill up your bathtubs as well, then you can use it to flush the toilets. Growing up in Texas, I always thought hurricane season was fun. I’ve never had my house flooded, though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irene-up-the-east-coast/594044.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irene-up-the-east-coast/594044.md?page=6)