# 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:** 3
**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, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025/41 "2011-08-25T17:23:46Z")
[More info here from WunderBlog](http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/show.html). PB emergencies aside, personally I would definitely be preparing for a lengthy power outage, just in case. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025/42 "2011-08-25T17:37:33Z")
PSNH is a terrible power company and power failures are a regular occurrence. Since the power goes out here during moderate thunder and snow storms, so we’ve filled the propane tank for the generator in case it does get here as predicted, and so were a bunch of other people at the hardware store (turns out that the generator sales place a couple of towns over specializes in propane generators, hence the popularity). Hell, it’s thundering right now, power could go down at any minute. Other than that we’ve taken down the umbrella for the patio set and brought the chairs and any other loose things in off the deck, but mostly because we don’t know what today’s storm will be like. Tomorrow or Saturday we’ll scour the yard for potential projectiles and hope than if it gets windy the trees that fall - and trees do fall whenever it’s about 40mph because [poplars are extremely weak](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liriodendron_tulipifera)\*. we lose more than half a dozen a year. - don’t actually fall on the house. Been there, done that, it sucked. - I’ve always wondered if some idiot made a point of planting them all over town a century or two ago, or if it’s an unfortunate natural occurrence ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025/43 "2011-08-25T17:39:16Z")
It’s cute when a hurricane heads towards somewhere other than us or the Gulf - you guys freak the hell out. Don’t you have a disaster kit already? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025/44 "2011-08-25T17:40:31Z")
In the storm track area, there has been a lot of rain lately. I saw a weather commentator say if it goes on the northernly coast track, a lot of bad flooding could follow. ---
**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, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025/45 "2011-08-25T18:16:37Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > It’s cute when a hurricane heads towards somewhere other than us or the Gulf - you guys freak the hell out. Don’t you have a disaster kit already? Yeah, but this is a new and exciting disaster! Not some boring old blizzard. 😃 ---
**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, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025/46 "2011-08-25T18:19:04Z")
I’m just sitting around trying to think what I have in the house that can be eaten without needing to cook it. What can you make out of peanut butter, Twizzlers and ranch dressing? Keep in mind that the ranch dressing will need to be refrigerated once opened, so we’ll need to finish the bottle in one meal. ---
**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, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025/47 "2011-08-25T18:27:03Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > It’s cute when a hurricane heads towards somewhere other than us or the Gulf - you guys freak the hell out. Don’t you have a disaster kit already? Yes, if I could pick one phrase which best characterized the tone of this thread, it would definitely be “freaking the hell out.” Pardon me while I go make a PB & Twizzlers sandwich. ---
**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, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025/48 "2011-08-25T18:27:59Z")
Don’t forget the ranch dressing! ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025/49 "2011-08-25T18:29:17Z")
> [@Motorgirl](#): > > Yeah, but this is a new and exciting disaster! Not some boring old blizzard. 😃 Yes, the usual staples, like our growing stack of cut wood for the fireplace, aren’t going to do us a lot of good _now_. The candles and hurricane lamps probably will, though. ---
**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 25, 2011, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025/50 "2011-08-25T20:41:27Z")
I work at an insurance company with lots of homeowner’s policyholders in that region. My boss said Irene is a cat 4 now with 40 foot waves, and we anticipate taking so many claims that they’re crash-trained the commercial claim reps (my department) to take personal property claims–I’ve been working here for three years and they’ve NEVER been this worried about a storm, since I was hired at least. They’re even begging reps to put in some weekend overtime, and we’ve been sending over more and more outside adjusters every day. We expect a shitload of shit to be going down all over the east coast. Whether you specifically will lose your house or get a hole in your roof, who the fuck knows. But it doesn’t hurt to be prepared. And to have your insurance company on speed-dial (and your policy number in your phone) just in case you lose shit. I hope you have a flood policy. But you probably don’t. ---
**Author:** ![susan\_foster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@susan\_foster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan_foster)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025/51 "2011-08-25T20:56:38Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > Yes, if I could pick one phrase which best characterized the tone of this thread, it would definitely be “freaking the hell out.” > > Pardon me while I go make a PB & Twizzlers sandwich. We’re on the same wavelength. My hurricane list was: - Fluff - Twizzlers - Coke Zero I guess I can fit some water, candles and matches in there too. Going to do some of the shopping today, to beat some of the crowd (I hope). I’ll be bringing in my heavy porch furniture. No trees but multiple branches outside of my apartment, so I guess I’ll be trimming those back. I do wonder what I will hear from my apartment complex in terms of prep. And I do wonder how flooded some roads will get. ---
**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, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025/52 "2011-08-25T21:01:33Z")
No offense to your boss, **rachelellogram** , but cite for Cat 4 now? Everything I see says Cat 3 now with just a _possibility_ of upping to 4. ---
**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 25, 2011, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025/53 "2011-08-25T21:28:42Z")
> [@emmaliminal](#): > > No offense to your boss, **rachelellogram** , but cite for Cat 4 now? Everything I see says Cat 3 now with just a _possibility_ of upping to 4. A citation? I said my boss said it (meaning it’s necessarily anecdotal). I’m still at work, and I can’t watch news reports while I’m tethered to my phone. Her hubby’s an outside adjuster who’s been stationed in Connecticut for the last 2 days, but since I apparently need a goddamn disclaimer in IMHO, neither they nor I are professional meteorologists :rolleyes: ---
**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, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025/54 "2011-08-25T21:36:18Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > A citation? I said my boss said it (meaning it’s necessarily anecdotal). I’m still at work, and I can’t watch news reports while I’m tethered to my phone. > > Her hubby’s an outside adjuster who’s been stationed in Connecticut for the last 2 days, but since I apparently need a goddamn disclaimer in IMHO, neither they nor I are professional meteorologists :rolleyes: Unbunch yer panties, hon, I was just curious. I thought maybe your boss mentioned where that came from. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025/55 "2011-08-25T21:55:04Z")
> [@black\_rabbit](#): > > Posting to subscribe, because I’m interested in board consensus. The Mrs. and I are taking our first vacation in a year next weekend, at Ocean City MD. It’d be nice if it weren’t flattened when we get there. Most likely it won’t be flattened but depending on how strong/direct the impact a number of businesses/attractions may remain closed into the following week and there may be significant to severe beach erosion. Utilities/road access should be fine by midweek. Strongly recommend calling up Monday or Tuesday to check out the status of your lodgings and any business/attraction you intended to patronize and based on that make any necessary change decision. (BTW in the 5-day forecast those circles are ranges of probability – so on Sunday it is more likely to be centered over the Shore but it could also, though less likely, be centered a hundred miles out to sea, or over Harrisburg, or have made it to West Point) ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025/56 "2011-08-25T21:57:01Z")
> [@Motorgirl](#): > > Yeah, but this is a new and exciting disaster! Not some boring old blizzard. 😃 I just hope this isn’t going to be the start of the sort of craziness we had last winter. From the end of December until mid-February or so it was one long snowstorm. By the end of it I had to carve a path of snow in front of my house. The path was nearly five feet of snow on both sides. Now _that_ was a winter. > [@Motorgirl](#): > > I’m just sitting around trying to think what I have in the house that can be eaten without needing to cook it. What can you make out of peanut butter, Twizzlers and ranch dressing? Keep in mind that the ranch dressing will need to be refrigerated once opened, so we’ll need to finish the bottle in one meal. Worst Top Chef challenge ever. 😃 ---
**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 25, 2011, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025/57 "2011-08-25T21:58:04Z")
> [@emmaliminal](#): > > Unbunch yer panties, hon, I was just curious. I thought maybe your boss mentioned where that came from. I’m not wearing underwear today. And I’m not your hon. :rolleyes: ---
**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, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025/58 "2011-08-25T22:34:20Z")
> [@LavenderBlue](#): > > I just hope this isn’t going to be the start of the sort of craziness we had last winter. From the end of December until mid-February or so it was one long snowstorm. By the end of it I had to carve a path of snow in front of my house. The path was nearly five feet of snow on both sides. > > Now _that_ was a winter. > > Worst Top Chef challenge ever. > > 😃 Update - surprise twist! We also have 1/2 a Toblerone bar and 3 bananas. ---
**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 25, 2011, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025/59 "2011-08-25T22:40:06Z")
with the amount of rain we’ve had recently, trees are going to be the biggest danger. trees = house, person, and elec. line damage. equal to trees will be flooding. there is just no where for the water to go. i really wish that there is some way to send all the extra water to the states that need it. they seem to think that irene is taking a track that is close to the '38 “sudden sea” hurricane. when the storm zipped up the coast and clocked new england on the chin. nearly lost ms. hepburn in that storm. also irene has a good diameter on her so even if you aren’t close to the coast you could be in trouble. the water has been a bit warm off the n.e. coast so you can’t count on that to downgrade the storm. i did notice that you still need a can opener for tuna, not so for campbell’s soup! make sure there is a can opener in that emergency kit. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025/60 "2011-08-25T22:46:39Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > i did notice that you still need a can opener for tuna, not so for campbell’s soup! make sure there is a can opener in that emergency kit. A manual…as in non-electric..can opener. It’s also good to have some books or something to help you kill time. And remember that your old portable TV is probably analog, and won’t get any stations. My hurricane kit includes food that I’d be willing to eat anyway..and has random condiments. I buy cans of chicken instead of cans of tuna..and have things likq BBQ sauce, mojo sauce, salsa, roasted red peppers.. I like to have real options after a hurricane hits. -D/a [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-irene-gonna-kill-me/594025.md?page=4)