# Is Irene gonna kill me? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 25, 2011, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025 "2011-08-25T13:05:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025/21 "2011-08-25T14:27:00Z")
> [@stw004](#): > > Texas Coastal Plain resident here, having ridden out several hurricanes without evacuating I have a few nuggets of info. > > 1. If you are in the path of the storm, you should expect to lose power, if you are in a rural area it could be a rather lengthy wait to get it back on. (I waited 10 days after Ike) > > 2. Sometimes the storm screws up the cell towers and you phone might not work for a couple days > > 3. If you haven’t gone ahead and filled your car with gas, go get in line, nothing sucks more than trying to find a station that isn’t sold out, or has functioning pumps after the storm. > > 4. Bottled water is nice, but the pumps on water towers usually have back up generation. > > 5. A few bags of ice to keep your groceries from spoiling will make any power outage a lot less stressful. Rule of thumb from my last emergency management class is to assume 3-5 days without power. That’s an average for a suburban area, BTW. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025/22 "2011-08-25T14:29:21Z")
I am more annoyed than worried. We lose power in my neighborhood (northern NJ) if someone _sneezes_, so I am always stocked up with candles, cereal, water, battery-operated radio, clock and flashlight, etc. But the timing means I won’t be able to do my usual Sat. grocery and laundry errands, as the town will be full of panicked peasants running around buying bread, eggs and milk like the Cossacks are coming and we’ll all be stranded for _months_. My main worry is one of the neighbors’ huge trees crashing down on my house, but there’s little I can do about _that_ except sleep in my clothes Sat. night. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025/23 "2011-08-25T14:30:25Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > [What about Bob](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Bob)? I have very little memory of Bob. All I remember is putting masking tape X’s on the windows and thinking "Yeah, now I feel safe. :rolleyes: " ---
**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:** [August 25, 2011, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025/24 "2011-08-25T14:33:01Z")
> [@VunderBob](#): > > Rule of thumb from my last emergency management class is to assume 3-5 days without power. That’s an average for a suburban area, BTW. I live just north of downtown Houston. Power on my street went off in the early morning hours as the storm blew in; they got it back on at 6PM the next day. (But my cable & internet were down for a few days–hey, I was _suffering!_) Two blocks over, they never lost power. Two blocks in the other direction, power was out for three weeks… ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025/25 "2011-08-25T14:34:49Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > But the timing means I won’t be able to do my usual Sat. grocery and laundry errands, as the town will be full of panicked peasants running around buying bread, eggs and milk like the Cossacks are coming and we’ll all be stranded for _months_. The bad news: Your back yard is flooded. The good news: Everyone within a five-mile radius is perfectly equipped to make french toast. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025/26 "2011-08-25T14:35:03Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > Are you close to the ocean? About 5 miles and I’m on a hill, so I’m not worried about flooding. But much like **Eve** ’s neighborhood, power in my building is iffy in the best of times. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025/27 "2011-08-25T14:35:50Z")
Yes. Probably. [So long. It’s been good to know you](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqiblXFlZuk). ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025/28 "2011-08-25T14:40:00Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > I live just north of downtown Houston. Power on my street went off in the early morning hours as the storm blew in; they got it back on at 6PM the next day. (But my cable & internet were down for a few days–hey, I was _suffering!_) > > Two blocks over, they never lost power. Two blocks in the other direction, power was out for three weeks… It’s definitely variable. My parents have lived in the SW Houston suburbs for going on 40 years now, and haven’t had any significant issues with any of the hurricanes or tropical storms that have hit the area. Alicia: Power was out for about 12 hours. No significant flooding- it got slightly over the curbs into the front yard. Allison: Didn’t even make it over the curbs, according to Mom. No power outage. Ike: Dad slept through most of it; power was out for the better part of the day that Ike hit. IIRC, the power was back on that night. Water (due to rain) got up to the curbs. My grandmother, who lives about 50 miles further south (Texas City) had no significant damage to her 60-some-odd year old home from any of the above storms. Ike tore her trees up some, but didn’t hurt the house. Power was out down there for a couple of weeks or so. (I got a case of MREs that she was given and didn’t want when she got some ice.) ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025/29 "2011-08-25T14:43:11Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I like your way of thinking. The Apocalypse is nigh, I need cookies, dammit! If the power’s out and I can’t get to my internet, my phone, or my TV, I am going to get _grumpy_. Cookies may end up saving my husband’s life if we’re without power for more than a day or two. > [@MsWhatsit](#): > > TWC is saying they anticipate a “significant power outage event” in the northeast. > You really can’t have too much peanut butter in such a situation. Can I run my TV off peanut butter? I was off work yesterday so I was able to get some shopping done, as well as my housework, so all the laundry is done and the dishes are clean, and we’ve got plenty of food available. I suspect that Saturday morning will be chaos at the grocery stores, so I am _very glad_ I got out early. And yes, it’s probably overkill, but even if Irene zips by without doing any damage at all, I can be making peanut butter banana french toast this weekend with my delicious supplies. ---
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025/30 "2011-08-25T15:24:38Z")
Looks like Irene is slowing down some – estimation on Weather Underground \*was \*to get to us around midnight Sunday/Monday, now changed to about 8 AM Monday. Which means it probably won’t coordinate with high tide, which is Good. Weather Channel is still splashing all \*\*EXTREME \*\*up in our biz. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025/31 "2011-08-25T15:25:52Z")
The problem is that no one knows how bad it will be, and that authorities always try to be as cautious as possible, just in case. If you were on Long Island sound, right now it sounds pretty bad (my parents are right in the probable path of the eye). A lot will depend on the timing – if it hits at low tide, it’s one thing; if it hits at high tide, things can get very dangerous. The further inland you are, the safer you are; the storm starts to lose power when it leaves the ocean. Still, this looks like it’s going to hit New England pretty hard, especially Connecticut and Rhode Island. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025/32 "2011-08-25T15:33:13Z")
My big concern is the safety of pets. If a window breaks in the storm, pets could get outside and get lost or hurt. I’m going to have my birds cages, covered and away from the windows as much as is feasible, but they do expect to be out of their cages so I don’t now how much complaining I can stand. The dogs probably can’t get out of any windows during the day. The cat might, but I’m not sure I like him. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025/33 "2011-08-25T15:34:34Z")
> [@black\_rabbit](#): > > Labor Day. For the purposes of a relaxing long weekend, post-apocalyptic destruction and cholera isn’t that far off from an actual hurricane. Yeah, I’m hoping that infrastructure will be up and running. It’s my last vacation of the summer. And it’s in a very coastal town. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025/34 "2011-08-25T15:51:56Z")
The last time my eletricity was knocked out was by the nor’easter on Marh 13, 2009. I went to the groery store. I was standing at the checkout, listening to the people behind me complain about the blackout. I finally turned my head around and asked “Were you able to use both hands during the blackout?” They looked very puzzled and said “Well, yeah.” I then turned around to reveal my full arm cast. “Then quit your bitching.” ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025/35 "2011-08-25T15:59:44Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Last night I got not one, but three urgent e-mails from my father about the floods, power outages, loss of water services, looting, general malaise, pestilence, and sniffles that hurricane Irene is going to cause. He wants me to stock up on lithium batteries, bottled water, and peanut butter before store shelves are picked clean. > > A friend thinks that’s “cute”, and that we’re going to get little more than a gentle tropical breeze and light showers. > > So what’s it going to be in New England? A beach day, the Apocalypse, or something in between? Don’t worry. Jim Cantore is going to Providence. We’ll be fine here in Boston. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025/36 "2011-08-25T16:34:06Z")
[I would start boarding up my windows if I were you.](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/post/hurricane-irene-tracks-shifts-west-potentially-extremely-destructive/2011/08/25/gIQA10IkdJ_blog.html) -RNATB, Florida resident. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025/37 "2011-08-25T16:44:12Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > The bad news: Your back yard is flooded. > The good news: Everyone within a five-mile radius is perfectly equipped to make french toast. Behold the [French Toast Alert System](http://www.universalhub.com/french-toast) ---
**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:** [August 25, 2011, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025/38 "2011-08-25T17:00:39Z")
As I mentioned in another thread, I lived in FL for 18 years - we did more than our share of hurricane prep and managed to survive. We’ve been in Maryland for 7 years or so, and apparently my inlaws, who still live in Florida, must think we don’t get weather forecasts or news up here. Our daughter was going on a short cruise in the northern Caribbean when Emily was starting to churn up in the southern Caribbean. My mother in law called and wanted to know if we could call our daughter and tell her. OK, why? Did she think the captain of the cruise ship didn’t get weather reports? Did she think he’d blythely sail on - must keep to schedule, must make port calls… :rolleyes: Then she called after the earthquake. OK, I can understand that - she was worried about her firstborn son. But the next day, she called to warn us about Irene. My husband and I just laugh. We’re in our 50s. And, as I mentioned, we lived in Florida and have been affected by hurricanes. Plus we live somewhat inland at one of the higher points of the area, so if it floods here, look for the animals being loaded 2 by 2. Anyway, his mother just has to call and make sure we’re aware. So yes, it’s true, there’s a hurricane heading our way. I’ll be at the marina tomorrow, starting to secure our boat. I’ll let my husband double check after me and fix what he thinks I did wrong. I have to say, I am glad we got the dead tree out front taken down last year, along with the 2 huge branches that overhung the roof. The rest of the trees close to the house seem to be strong and sound… ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025/39 "2011-08-25T17:10:40Z")
I think I’ll go buy charcoal and beer tonight. I need the charcoal anyway; since I don’t drink much, the beer will be useful to barter with after the Irenepocalypse caused collapse of civilization next week. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025/40 "2011-08-25T17:12:29Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > All I remember is putting masking tape X’s on the windows and thinking "Yeah, now I feel safe. :rolleyes: " They actually advise you not to do that anymore. All it does really is make for _bigger_ flying shards of glass. From a practical point of view, it took forever to get the stickum off all the panes after I did it for Ike. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025.md?page=3)