# Hurricane Sandy: Potential Catastrophic NorEaster Brewing in the Carribean \[edited title\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 24, 2012, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766 "2012-10-24T22:11:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766/61 "2012-10-28T01:38:38Z")
This isn’t the kind of hurricane that will rip your roof off and impale you with a tree branch - it’ll be sustained wind and a lot of rain, but nothing that should be life threatening. Sure, someone won’t leave their beach house and drown, and somebody’s going to have a tree fall on them, but if you stay on high ground and away from trees, you’ll be fine. The real damage from this storm will be economic - power outages keeping businesses from operating, downed trees making roads impassible, etc. The biggest danger is water being pushed up the Hudson River and inundating the New York Subway system. If that happens, we’re talking billions. It is a real threat - Irene pushed water to within eight inches of breaching the subway and Sally is worse. The current track brings the height of the storm surge right at NYC, and the full moon means tides are at their highest. ---
**Author:** ![2gigch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2gigch1/32/3313_2.png) [@2gigch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2gigch1)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766/62 "2012-10-28T02:15:05Z")
Back from Ocean City, it has started to rain here in Princess Anne. The surf was up and the tide rached it’s zenith at dusk. [My daughter enjoyed building a sand wall to protect us from the waves.](http://youtu.be/St1mbkpOwLI) Didn’t work that good as we got soaked. Good night all. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766/63 "2012-10-28T03:04:53Z")
LIPA is cautioning we prepare for 7-10 days with no power. ☹ Did this last year in CT, don’t want to do it again. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766/64 "2012-10-28T03:57:33Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I was living in the Lost Valley of Manville at the time. Floyd was not fun. > > So far my Guard unit has not been activated but we are on alert. I’m getting packed. Wow. I lived in Bound Brook apartments at the time Floyd went through. Which, luckily, wasn’t in downtown Bound Brook. These days I’m about 30 miles west of Philly, and not close enough to any significant waterways to be overly worried. I went to Wegman’s about mid-afternoon, and while there were a lot of people there, it seemed to be more regular Saturday shopping than storm stocking. There were plenty of staples and non-perishables to be had, including water. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766/65 "2012-10-28T04:02:02Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > Wow. I lived in Bound Brook apartments at the time Floyd went through. Which, luckily, wasn’t in downtown Bound Brook. > > These days I’m about 30 miles west of Philly, and not close enough to any significant waterways to be overly worried. I went to Wegman’s about mid-afternoon, and while there were a lot of people there, it seemed to be more regular Saturday shopping than storm stocking. There were plenty of staples and non-perishables to be had, including water. During Floyd after I got my family settled into their new living arrangements at my mothers I joined my National Guard unit in Bound Brook. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766/66 "2012-10-28T04:11:47Z")
Looks like the cavalry is on the way. I made a trip from Indy to Columbus OH this weekend, and on my way there I passed a few dozen “bucket trucks.” The ones that have the extendable boom with a bucket on the end for someone to get up and work on restoring power. Coming back today there were well over 100… all headed Northeast. There were also the wood chippers, flatbeds with industrial generators and all kinds of things heading out to help out. Word was that they are heading to Eastern PA to wait to see where it hits. ---
**Author:** ![Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47c2d/32.png) [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hershele_Ostropoler)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766/67 "2012-10-28T06:16:06Z")
All the shit New York City is doing to prepare for the storm (hitting the off switch for the subway, frex) is going to fuck things up so much that the actual storm will have very little marginal effect. We learned during the Republican convention that Obama can control the weather. Why would he hit a bunch of blue states with a hurricane right before the election? ---
**Author:** ![Enkel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766/68 "2012-10-28T06:42:02Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > And remember, more delicate perishables in your fridge (milk, soft cheeses, some cold cuts, etc.) are only good for about 4 hours once the power stays out, and that’s if you didn’t open the fridge. Large blocks of ice put in the fridge and freezer will extend how long they’re good for. > > CNN had some [advice on food/water during a hurricane](http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2012/08/27/disaster-dining-stay-safe-fed-caffeinated-and-entertained/?iid=article_sidebar) during Isaac. Actually, if I put my refrigerator on the highest (coldest) setting, it puts everything in the refrigerator into a semi frozen state. That would cause the food to last longer than just the 4 hours. But you do want it organized so that you don’t have to stand there with it open searching for something. ---
**Author:** ![Enkel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766/69 "2012-10-28T09:46:45Z")
Interactive “live” tracking site on [weather.com](http://weather.com) [http://www.weather.com/weather/hurricanecentral/tracker/2012/sandy](http://www.weather.com/weather/hurricanecentral/tracker/2012/sandy) ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766/70 "2012-10-28T10:22:40Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > This isn’t the kind of hurricane that will rip your roof off and impale you with a tree branch - it’ll be sustained wind and a lot of rain, but nothing that should be life threatening. Sure, someone won’t leave their beach house and drown, and somebody’s going to have a tree fall on them, but if you stay on high ground and away from trees, you’ll be fine. > > The real damage from this storm will be economic - power outages keeping businesses from operating, downed trees making roads impassible, etc. The biggest danger is water being pushed up the Hudson River and inundating the New York Subway system. If that happens, we’re talking billions. It is a real threat - Irene pushed water to within eight inches of breaching the subway and Sally is worse. The current track brings the height of the storm surge right at NYC, and the full moon means tides are at their highest. It sounds like you guys can handle power outages & inland flooding; really annoying but nothing totally new. But storm surge causes the [most serious hurricane damage](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hurricane_Ike_Gilchrist_damage_edit.jpg); the aftermath resembles the aftermath from a tsunami… Be careful! ---
**Author:** ![piepiepie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47774/32.png) [@piepiepie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/piepiepie)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766/71 "2012-10-28T12:28:31Z")
It’s been raining all morning in Cecil County. I guess this is gonna be real. We live in a flood zone. Crap. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766/72 "2012-10-28T12:45:32Z")
I was looking at live weather radar and it’s as if there’s an invisible like down the middle of the Chesapeake Bay preventing the rain from coming farther west - weird! It’s overcast and breezy, tho, so the rain can’t be far behind. I wonder how many leaves will be left on our trees after this little adventure… ---
**Author:** ![2gigch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2gigch1/32/3313_2.png) [@2gigch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2gigch1)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766/73 "2012-10-28T13:24:07Z")
None. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766/74 "2012-10-28T14:08:02Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > Looks like the cavalry is on the way. I made a trip from Indy to Columbus OH this weekend, and on my way there I passed a few dozen “bucket trucks.” The ones that have the extendable boom with a bucket on the end for someone to get up and work on restoring power. Coming back today there were well over 100… all headed Northeast. There were also the wood chippers, flatbeds with industrial generators and all kinds of things heading out to help out. Word was that they are heading to Eastern PA to wait to see where it hits. That must have looked like a scene from _ **The Mist** _ ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766/75 "2012-10-28T14:26:57Z")
> [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](#): > > All the shit New York City is doing to prepare for the storm (hitting the off switch for the subway, frex) is going to fuck things up so much that the actual storm will have very little marginal effect. > > We learned during the Republican convention that Obama can control the weather. Why would he hit a bunch of blue states with a hurricane right before the election? Irene caused $15 billion in damage. If the storm hits on the northern track the storm surge could go straight up New York Harbor. That would be very bad. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766/76 "2012-10-28T14:59:12Z")
You know, if for any reason Sandy turns out to be not as bad as expected there will be plenty of folks complaining how the weather forecasters were crying “Wolf!” without needing to. They’d be the same ones to complain if they DIDN’T get dire warnings and were blown out to sea. To coin a cliche “Better to be safe than sorry.” ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766/77 "2012-10-28T15:08:15Z")
everybody stay safe, and good luck with the power. I made it through Isabel without any problems, but that same storm knocked out a LOT of power for a LOT of people for weeks and weeks and weeks. It was pretty bad. Glad to hear about the bucket trucks 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766/78 "2012-10-28T15:09:09Z")
Gas panic has set in, at least in Leonardtown. We were going to stop on our way home from breakfast just to top off the car, and the one station was out of regular and plus - only premium remained. So we went to the WaWa closer to home and filled up the Sonata. My Scion has half a tank - that’s good for almost 200 miles. The truck has over half a tank also. I think we’ll be OK. Plus I filled 2 gas cans yesterday for the generator - I expect I’ll be burning that gas in the leaf mulcher after this party is over. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766/79 "2012-10-28T15:24:30Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > You know, if for any reason Sandy turns out to be not as bad as expected there will be plenty of folks complaining how the weather forecasters were crying “Wolf!” without needing to. They’d be the same ones to complain if they DIDN’T get dire warnings and were blown out to sea. > > To coin a cliche “Better to be safe than sorry.” Even if it causes billions in damage people will complain about crying wolf as long as their house isn’t under water up to the roof. “It was just a little windy what’s the big deal?” ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766/80 "2012-10-28T15:26:43Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > Gas panic has set in, at least in Leonardtown. We were going to stop on our way home from breakfast just to top off the car, and the one station was out of regular and plus - only premium remained. So we went to the WaWa closer to home and filled up the Sonata. My Scion has half a tank - that’s good for almost 200 miles. The truck has over half a tank also. I think we’ll be OK. Plus I filled 2 gas cans yesterday for the generator - I expect I’ll be burning that gas in the leaf mulcher after this party is over. Unless things go really weird and it takes the least likely track, I doubt you’ll have much problem. The worst part will be to the north and east of landfall. You should just get maybe a couple inches of rain. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766.md?page=5)