# MADs: batten down the hatches! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 2, 2003, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mads-batten-down-the-hatches/199199 "2003-09-02T19:57:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [September 2, 2003, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mads-batten-down-the-hatches/199199/1 "2003-09-02T19:57:57Z")
We’re in for some stormy weather. The remnants of Tropical Storm Gloria (which was responsible for the flooding in Kansas, right?) is bearing down on us and we may see Hurricane Fabian this weekend. Whee! ---
**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:** [September 2, 2003, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mads-batten-down-the-hatches/199199/2 "2003-09-02T20:03:01Z")
Correction: Grace is the tropical storm. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mads-batten-down-the-hatches/199199/3 "2003-09-02T20:33:33Z")
Hooray! My first hurricane! ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_Heart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@Angel\_Heart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_Heart)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mads-batten-down-the-hatches/199199/4 "2003-09-02T20:38:26Z")
Lovely :rolleyes: I can’t wait for fall. ---
**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:** [September 2, 2003, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mads-batten-down-the-hatches/199199/5 "2003-09-02T21:16:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GingerOfTheNorth \* > \*\*Hooray! My first hurricane! \*\* I’ve lost count of how many I’ve had to deal with. I graduated high school in New Orleans; Juan sideswiped us and we ended up rasing a squirrel which had its nest blown into our yard. At least my SO & I have fewer plants and patio furniture to move whenever a hurricane heads toward us, and we’re quite a bit further inland than I was with my parents. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mads-batten-down-the-hatches/199199/6 "2003-09-02T21:31:11Z")
When you’ve seen Juan, you’ve seen 'em all, huh, **Jeff**? ---
**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:** [September 2, 2003, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mads-batten-down-the-hatches/199199/7 "2003-09-02T23:24:51Z")
I knew someone would pick up on the straight line. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mads-batten-down-the-hatches/199199/8 "2003-09-03T12:09:13Z")
Bah. We’re not dealing with hurricanes here; we’re dealing with the ugly bastard redheaded stepchildren of hurricanes. All it does is rain a bit harder. And blow a bit harder. Rain and blow, rain and blow… ---
**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:** [September 3, 2003, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mads-batten-down-the-hatches/199199/9 "2003-09-03T12:17:10Z")
MADs can get a point of reference of the destructive powers of remnants of hurricanes on a mountain near Madison Virginia (Graves Mill), where one mountain looks as if giant claws dug scars in the side. The Staunton River, normally a babbling brook, scoured out a 50 yard wide swath of destruction including trees and boulders. This was from Frances, I believe in 1995. They got 15 inches of rain in a day or two. ---
**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:** [September 3, 2003, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mads-batten-down-the-hatches/199199/10 "2003-09-03T13:38:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dantheman \* > \*\*Bah. We’re not dealing with hurricanes here; we’re dealing with the ugly bastard redheaded stepchildren of hurricanes. All it does is rain a bit harder. And blow a bit harder. Rain and blow, rain and blow… \*\* I’m hoping that’s all we get. The only Fabian I want to deal with on my way to work is the one on the radio. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mads-batten-down-the-hatches/199199/11 "2003-09-03T14:42:57Z")
Any MADs been around the area long enough to remember Agnes in 1972? ---
**Author:** ![eeclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/49beb7/32.png) [@eeclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eeclem)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mads-batten-down-the-hatches/199199/12 "2003-09-03T14:49:38Z")
crap, i knew there’d be hurricane the one weekend i go to O.C. ---
**Author:** ![av8rmike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/edb3f5/32.png) [@av8rmike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/av8rmike)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mads-batten-down-the-hatches/199199/13 "2003-09-03T15:38:51Z")
Boy, when they proclaimed Labor Day the end of summer, they sure weren’t kidding! ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mads-batten-down-the-hatches/199199/14 "2003-09-03T16:12:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bricker \* > \*\*Any MADs been around the area long enough to remember Agnes in 1972? \*\* Yes. That was about a week after I graduated from high school. Been through a few other hurricanes since then, most notably Hugo (Columbia, SC, 1989). Also, back in 1985, there was a hurricane (can’t remember the name) headed towards the Hampton Roads area, and I was up in the night, praying that it would go somewhere else. It did, but that publicity whore Pat Robertson claimed the credit. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/22080_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mads-batten-down-the-hatches/199199/15 "2003-09-03T16:15:36Z")
Looks like the most you have to fear from Fabian is a high surf. Unless he changes directions in the next day or two. Hope it’ll be a nice Saturday and my firstborn is flying to Balto to hang with Dad this weekend. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mads-batten-down-the-hatches/199199/16 "2003-09-04T20:48:10Z")
Meanwhile, you’ll be getting rained on by [Tropical Depression Twelve](http://wwwa.accuweather.com/adcbin/public/headlines.asp?iws=1). Nyaah, nyaah!! ---
**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:** [September 4, 2003, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mads-batten-down-the-hatches/199199/17 "2003-09-04T21:00:53Z")
[NOAA is predicting Fabian to graze Newfoundland](http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories/s2046.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Knighted\_Vorpal\_Sword](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ac91a4/32.png) [@Knighted\_Vorpal\_Sword](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knighted_Vorpal_Sword)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mads-batten-down-the-hatches/199199/18 "2003-09-04T21:05:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bricker \* > \*\*Any MADs been around the area long enough to remember Agnes in 1972? \*\* [raising hand] Yoo-hoo! I do![/raising hand] I was about 10. I remember I couldn’t sleep at night - the wind was shrieking so loud that it sounded like cats screaming. I’m not sure that I’ve ever heard anything like that since. ---
**Author:** ![Anita\_Vacation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Anita\_Vacation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anita_Vacation)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mads-batten-down-the-hatches/199199/19 "2003-09-04T22:48:03Z")
I remember that Agnes really trashed Fletcher’s Boathouse. I was in NYC visiting my boyfriend and Agnes made all the toilets overflow. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mads-batten-down-the-hatches/199199/20 "2003-09-04T23:55:45Z")
First one I remember is David in (I think) 81 or 82. Man, was that a lot of damn rain. I remember the storm drains being completely overwhelmed and the streets flooding all through Gaithersburg. Moron me (at 14 or so) accepted a dare to cross a 3 mile swamp on foot during the storm. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mads-batten-down-the-hatches/199199.md?page=2)