Hurricane Irene
 

Because of this storms path (Both Past, Present & Future) skirting the eastern seaboard. I am confident that many fellow SeaCrafters have been or soon will be effected.
Please post, if you can, what your situation is in your town / neighborhood. Many of you have not been through this type of environment.
Please be safe & prudent :eek:

Capt Chuck for the CSC Crew

Re: Hurricane Irene
 

Been very quiet on this board this past week...most most have been preparing for this I assume from the lack of posts. Good luck everyone.

strick

Re: Hurricane Irene
 

It's a little after 2:00 and the wind has been blowing for the last 12 hours here. Picked up to around 35-40 early this morning and has steadily increased. It's currently blowing around 50-55 and still raining. As of 12:00, we've had 6.5-7 inches of rain. Saw some pics of a friends house on the waterfront with water up to the deck. I fully expect, before the winds change direction, for the water to be in their house. The winds are supposed to begin increasing over the next few hours up to around 75-80
here. Fortunately, we have not lost power, YET. BTW, the SeaCraft was put in a big strong warehouse yesterday!! I'll post an update later tonight or in the morning. Hope everyone else is safe and makes it through this event with no problems.
Boo

Re: Hurricane Irene
 

From someone who has weathered hurricanes since 1947 thru Katrina, we send our prayers and offer our assistance to those in the way of Irene.

Re: Hurricane Irene
 

Pulled the seacraft thursday to beat the panic.She is in my driveway strapped down.Under a mandatory evacuation but going to ride it out.Worried about trees falling because of the saturated soil from record rainfall recently.
Going to be a long night.

Re: Hurricane Irene
 

Monmouth County ,NJ
Saturday afternoon and I am prepared as I can be.
Pulled my 77,20ft MA from the Atlantic Highlands Marina yesterday at sunrise.
Boat is on the trailer in the driveway.
Good luck to everyone.
I've got my fingers crossed.

Re: Hurricane Irene
 

Yeah, been there done that. 3 hurricanes in 2 years, 2 of them the eyes went right over our house 3 weeks apart. And yes, it is dead still in the eye of a hurricane!

For those of you that haven't been through one, the biggest thing you'll face can be the "after" effects; no power at the gas stations, supermarkets, stoplights, etc. No power means no barcode readers, no cash registers! No shopping! No traffic laws! Chaos!!

Once the stores come back online, there will be a total chaotic, mad rush for food and water and gas by those who did not prepare. They will trample you to get food, litterally. They will blame the stores, the government, and even you for not taking care of them in a time of crisis. I've seen fights over simple things like a gallon of milk. A gallon of gas. Stupid! It was like a 3rd world country. Shocking.

Here's what my wife and I do now:

We have a 6KW generator (about $500 at the big box stores), and enough QUALITY extension cords and gang plugs (don't forget the gang plugs or you'll be unplugging a light in one room and stumbling through the dark with extension cord in hand to get to another room and plug one in there, don't ask me how I know that!) to power a bunch of stuff together.

We also bought a cheap little window A/C unit that the generator can handle along with the fridge and some lights. Just large enough to keep your bedroom cool so you can sleep at night. Don't go nuts with the size or you'll burn up all your reserves of gas.

At the first sign of a hurricane FILL your car with fuel. Fill your wife's car with fuel. Fill your kid's car with fuel. Do this 3 days before anyone else who is sitting on their duffs pondering how long they can procrastinate before taking action. Fill your boat if it's not a premix boat, as that can be used as a fuel supply should things not come online soon enough. Fill enough auxiliary cans that you think would last a week when running the the generator under load for a handful of hours a day (they burn more gas the more stuff you have plugged into them).

Get yourself a cheap little weber kettle grill for $80 and a few bags of charcoal. Also a little "chimney" charcoal starter to make life simple and easy. Keep a stack of newspapers to use as fuel in the chimney starter. Charcoal grill is safer to store than propane in your house/garage (don't use it inside obviously).

Get a ton of bottled water, lots of it, like AT LEAST 4 cases of the small bottles for 2 adults. You'll need about 1 gallon per person, per day.

Before the storm hits, turn your freezers and fridges to their coldest setting.

Stock up on ice if you don't have a generator. Blocks are far better than cubes. Fill your freezer and fridge to the gills with gallons of water. They will stay cooler longer if they are full of cold stuff. You'll want 2-3 gallons of milk, a couple dozen eggs as those are things that you can survive on as long as they are cold. Get a few boxes of cereal for your milk.

You'll need more than that to eat obviously, but that will get you started. During hurricane season we stock the freezer with burgers, hot dogs, etc as those are things we will cook on the grill. Also lots of bread, peanut butter, jelly, and other food items, focusing on non-perishable stuff in case you run out of gas with the generator (or ice).

Personally I would not stay in a wood-frame house that is NOT hurricane rated in any hurricane over a cat 2. A wood frame house that is hurricane rated my butt would vacate at Cat 3. Our house has poured concrete walls, floors, ceilings on both levels and hurricane shutter and we feel safe here until a cat 4. I can't offer you advice on how to prep your wood home for a hurricane, maybe others can though.

If you're going to leave, don't waste time debating it. Pack your stuff and leave before the rush so you don't go through a hurricane parked in traffic on I95.

Hope I didn't bore you guys with the details, but that's our hurricane preparation in a nutshell, and it's worked through three hurricanes, so hopefully it will help some people in the future who have not been through one.

The beauty of the shopping list (barring the generator and window A/C) is that it's all stuff that will come in handy in everyday life. You'll eat all the food and water anyways should the hurricane come through or not. So you're not spending a ton of cash on stuff that will go to waste should the storm not hit.

The best thing about a hurricane is that you get great warnings from NHC and they are slow-moving. If you're in doubt, pack up early and head West young man!!

To all those getting pounded out there as we speak, my heart goes out to you and I hope the damage is extremely minimal, like just a good yard cleaning! Just remember how lucky you are that it wasn't a cat 5, and that will put things into perspective.

-T

Re: Hurricane Irene
 

Thats the way to do it. Be prepared to not rely on anyone but yourselves and you neighbors!! After your first storm you become a little closer to your neighbors. One thing to note, I ran out of jerry canned fuel on the 4th day and siphoned pre mix out of my boat for the next 10. Small engines run fine on pre mix. Peanutbutter and jelly dominate my survival kit. I live on high ground and get water from a well, so water isn't an issue.
Good luck to all!!

Re: Hurricane Irene
 

Hello Everyone!!
Greetings from sunny Sayville, on the south shore of Long Island. It is now 5:45 pm. Light breeze with gentle warm summer shower. Took boat out this AM in Dense fog and light rain and no wind.. Checked out Ocean at Schinnecock Inlet did not look that bad, one hour later I could hear surf from the dock, one mile away. Local gas stations OUT OF GAS last night around 9PM. Expecting delivery 4PM today. Ice in very short supply. If this storm materializes as predicted I would anticipate a break thru of the barrier beach. This morning when I took the boat out Dune Road had spots with 1" of water and rising.
Have necessary supplies on hand and look forward to seeing what the morrow brings.
Stay safe
The Old Timer

Re: Hurricane Irene
 

If you have natural gas, consider converting generator to run on natural gas. Doesn't cost that much and avoids the hassle of filling and storing jerry cans of gas! I have boat configured with a tee'd-in OB quick connector downstream of filter so easy to siphon fuel out of it for emergency use.

Re: Hurricane Irene
 

Shoot Denny, that Seafari is your hurricane kit!! :D :D

Re: Hurricane Irene
 

Yeah, my in-laws live out there and they boarded up their store in Sag Harbor for the first time ever. They are at their house in East Hampton just waiting for the fun to start. You take care and be careful.

Re: Hurricane Irene
 

Well, it's about 7:40 p.m. and the winds are higher than they have been all day. Gusting around 70-75 at times. All is still well on the home front. The authorities advised everyone to stay home so, we are. An 11 year old child was killed in a car wreck in eastern NC today. I'll be getting out tomorrow to check on things in town and will update my findings. To all our northern brothers, get your s--t together. We've been pounded with rain and it doesn't look like Irene is finished dumping. Take care you all!

Re: Hurricane Irene
 

Looks like a big rain event now. It was nice to see the upper level wind shear show white bands.

I have a good report from Wilmington as things these go.

Looks like high tide up north.

Be good,
Us

Re: Hurricane Irene
 

Richard,
You're right, it IS my hurricane kit! 35 gallons of gas for truck, 6 gallons of water, shower, sink, propane stove, head, TV, bug proof cabin, and comfortable bunk that's cooler than my house is at night W/O AC! Harry and I lived on it for 3 days on the St. Johns River trip, so I figure I can live on it for 6 days while my wife stays with daughter who has underground utilities and rarely loses power! Only problem is all the racket from neighborhood generators! Need to find a propane powered refrigerator like my grandparents used to have on their ranch in New Mexico; those things will run forever on a small jug of propane! Seems dumb to run a generator just to keep your beer cold! Denny

Re: Hurricane Irene
 

Boo,
Glad to hear you've survived OK! Do you still have power?! Just be careful getting out afterwards; as Tomfl said, the aftermath can be worse than the storm itself! Seems like these storms bring out the best in some folks and the worst in others! Take care and stay safe! Denny

Re: Hurricane Irene
 

HUH??? I beg to differ........ :D

Re: Hurricane Irene
 

A Seafari as huricane central....Hmmm.
We have restaurant connections for ice.

The fishing should be outstanding tomorrow afternoon after the lay down.

Nudge,
GFS

Re: Hurricane Irene
 

OK, Boys & girls of CSC...
Being a life long Florida cracker this storm would be a cake
walk for us.. Not to say that I take any Hurricane any
less serious, of which I prepare better then any boyscout would!! Please be safe, do nothing dumb or stupid because
those dad-gum 100 mph flying coconuts are a real pain in the head... ;)

If any of our fellow CSC brethern are in real need I'm willing to come help out if you need it! NO BS!!
I have a spare 6500 watt portable generator that I could
get fairly quick to NC if you need it or any other supplies that you may need, just say the word!!!

Be safe guys, this is a rare storm for those in the NE!!

See ya, Ken

Re: Hurricane Irene
 

My old Revcon was our back-up during hurricanes...
Yeah, I know Fighting Lady Yellow just happens to be my favorite color... :D

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...PDR_0002-3.jpg

See ya, Ken

Re: Hurricane Irene
 

That thing must be older than my Seacraft!

Last time I saw one of those(a while back) the proud new owner gave me a tour of what he called his, "new to him antique."

Nice rig.

Re: Hurricane Irene
 

My mom would purchase some interesting old furniture from two brothers who would go into the old famiily estates of Fall River, MA and New Bedford, MA. and buy EVERYTHING in one big lot and then sell it by the piece at their Antiques business. Most of them had been family homes of the textile industrialists and whaling ship captains/officers.

She would spend a lot of time stripping them down if they were painted or simply refinishing them. She did great work!

My younger brother started to call all the furniture "third hand furniture." My Mom asked him what he meant by third hand and he said, "first the peope had it, then antiques the dealer had it and now we have it." That's about right!

Each of my brothers and I have some of that third hand furniture now that she and our Dad are gone, but we take a lot of pride in that 3rd hand furniture.

Irene's LOW pressure must be effecting my brain for me to post this, but.....

Re: Hurricane Irene
 

just got power back here in va beach.. really wasnt as bad as expected.

Re: Hurricane Irene
 

You mean the news oversensationalized to gain viewership and sell ads???????

Say it isn't so... :-)

Glad it was a non-event. Hope everyone made it through safely. Count your blessings.

-T

Re: Hurricane Irene
 

Why do you think the old "daytime" fare was called Soap Operas.

Re: Hurricane Irene
 

They never are..Until the one headed to Tampa Bay makes a quick jog to the east and runs over your ass! Be prepared for the worst if your in that damned "Cone of Uncertianty" as they like to call it. They do like to hype it up for sure. They even conveyed a little dissapointment on the evening news tonight.

Re: Hurricane Irene
 

I caught a shot from Va bch - guy standing in the rain on the street - yelling he couldn't believe all the people out. Behind him was a steady stream of traffic, as a car pulled out right behind him a little limb slid down the street and into the tire, only debris in site - he went nuts - "did you see that it hit the car", not really sure they noticed.

glad it wasn't any worse but the wind was never an issue north of the carolina's but the surge could have caused issues

Re: Hurricane Irene
 

Well, we made out pretty well here in Edenton. Some trees and alot of limbs all over the place. Some areas of town lost power around 1:00 am Saturday before the real winds even came. Throughout the day the winds got stronger but not until dark did it get ugly. Funny how the winds were only about 50-55 during most of the day and, when the eye was about 50 miles northeast of us, the winds picked up to 70-75 with higher gusts. I lost power at around 8:30 Sat. nite then had it restored at 9:00 Sunday. Although I'm only a 1/4 mi. from the Town of Edenton, I'm on EMC electric and it comes from the other direction, one with minimal damage to power lines. I cleaned my yard up yesterday then went for a look. The town was messy, but, all in all, not too bad a shape. We have around 3 new inlets at the Outer Banks near Rodanthe. (I need a new inlet to cut in around Duck so the Albemarle Sound would get as salty as I want it :D). Anyway, I have a few pics that I'll post a little later. Hope everyone else survived with minimal problems.
Boo

Re: Hurricane Irene
 

Just thinking of how many hurricanes (not counting mere Tropical Storms) I've lived through in my life. It was more than I thought, but then, I was born and raised in South Florida.
I've lived through 28 total hurricanes, (and the last one in '05 because my tow vehicle broke down and I couldn't evacuate my camper and SeaCraft out of the Keys, and decided to ride it out. That was stupid.)

• 1959 - Judith
• 1962 - Alma
• 1964 - Cleo
• 1965 - Betsy
• 1966 - Inez, Alma
• 1968 - Abby, Brenda, Dolly
• 1971 - Beth
• 1972 - Dawn
• 1976 - Belle (rode that one out at sea in a square-rigger)
• 1979 - David
• 1981 - Dennis
• 1983 - Barry
• 1985 - Bob, Gloria
• 1987 - Floyd
• 1989 - Hugo (in the Bahamas)
• 1994 - Gordon
• 1995 - Erin
• 1996 - Bertha (in the Bahamas)
• 2000 - Gordon
• 2001 - Gabrielle (actually only TS winds hit us)
• 2004 - Charlie, Frances, Ivan, Jeanne (lived off my 15kw diesel generator for 8 days after Frances, I powered my house and two neighbors, including central AC)
• 2005 - Dennis (in a 23' travel trailer in the Keys, pulled between two buildings with no clearance to the buildings)

Hurricane "Experts" say you need supplies to be self-sufficient for 72 hours during and after a hurricane.
They're wrong!

Be prepared to be on your own for 7-10 days, including food, water, power, medicines, batteries, and fuel. Have extra of everything so as to help your neighbors.

Re: Hurricane Irene
 

Been wondering how the folks in the Abaco's fared, as the eye went right over them when it was a Cat 3! My daughter sent me this link to a good video taken at Hopetown on Elbow Cay.

The island folks have learned to be very self sufficient, and some of those 100-150 year old wooden houses are built just like their boats - SOLID! Sounds like Hopetown didn't have too much damage; haven't heard anything yet from Man O'War or Green Turtle Cays, but their places are built as well as Hopetown, if not better!

Re: Hurricane Irene
 

Denny doesn't sound like much, tree's and power and thats about it and they have generators. I can't imagine it wasn't worse but apparenty not - Sundowners on Green turtle lost some deck and docks but were open on the weekend with generator. Some of the big Banyons bit the dust though

Re: Hurricane Irene
 

Justin reports: BEC has restored power to most of the island! There are a few houses with individual problems, overhead lines and so on, that are still out. BEC has moved on to MOW and will return after they have done what they can for the majority of people. It is a fantastic effort on their part. Land phones & DSL seem to still be out. Will probably take some work by BATELCO to sort things out. Work continues on the road in White Sound. It is still not passable. Rained most of today.. good for washing off the salt.
That was posted in the HopeTown Fire rescue page. I saw alot of pics from Elbow, it wasn't bad, saw some pics from Treasure, tree's down and such, haven't seen anything from GT, but heard they had some minor stuff. Nipper's and Pete's are just fine!! :cool:

Re: Hurricane Irene
 

http://i833.photobucket.com/albums/z...1_grid-5x2.jpg
One of the new inlets on Hatteras Island.
http://i833.photobucket.com/albums/z...s/100_2218.jpg
Where I launch my boat.
http://i833.photobucket.com/albums/z...s/100_2214.jpg
Edenton waterfront. Tide is about 6" over land Sunday.
http://i833.photobucket.com/albums/z...s/100_2220.jpg
My pile!
http://i833.photobucket.com/albums/z...s/100_2221.jpg
My front yard after all the sweating. :cool:

Re: Hurricane Irene
 

Boo, glad you came through basically unscathed!! :cool:
Now go change that bent blade on the rider :eek: and
for gods sake man put up some of that fancy fencing
you sell... :D ;)

Lookin' good man!!

See ya, Ken

Oh yeah, looks like the pic was taken from a golf cart. :D

Re: Hurricane Irene
 

Thanks. No bent blade. It's the yard that's uneven. I just bought a Hustler ztr mower last week! Funny that I sell fence for a living, but, love my open yard. That pic was taken from my front porch. No golf cart yet, but, it's on the list. Trying to sell my daughter's 4-wheeler, (with her approval), and my old mower first.

Re: Hurricane Irene
 

The power came back on in Hatteras villiage today and some phone service. It will probably be a month before hwy 12 can be fixed. They are supposed to set up a ferry to bring supplies to those that are trapped. The towns north of us got the worst of the flooding on the island.

Re: Hurricane Irene
 

Which one is Uncle Boo inlet?

Auntie Paula lives in Wrightsville Bch. Glad all are well.

It`s a different story for some of my dear old friends in Vt.

Paul "Bakerman" has lost everything. He is a pastry chef and musician. 12 inches of rain in 7 hrs. Many roads there follow the rivers. It is killing me watching all of my old familliar places on the evening news.

The bridge over Quechee Gorge is 163 ft. off the water. Ziggy said the water was over old growth trees.

Simon Pearce is underwater. Stevo`s houses are all flooded.

Saying Vermont and hurricane damage in the same sentence is strange indeed. Four old covered bridges gone. Many other bridges gone. Every dirt road is rough, and there are many.

Here`s the gorge.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lSg9S5o7CM

Leonard`s lp gas co. lost some tanks that went boom on the rocks.

It`s a long walk to a store down by a river in many places.

GFS

Re: Hurricane Irene
 

That's for sure. Vermont hasn't seen flooding like this since 1927. This is about five miles upstream on the same river that runs through my sister's property. When we were there in July, we crossed the river on four wheelers without getting our feet wet. Over the weekend, it was running 10' deep and forty mph.

Re: Hurricane Irene
 

This is heartbreaking. I sit here watching the news and where are they? Woodstock, Vt. Jeffrey, the owner of a local shop was staring back at me.

Re: Hurricane Irene
 

I was at my cuz's place (no-bones) for the week, had to cut it short and fly back to cow-hampshire for the storm..we had 3 hrs of heavy rain and wind then calm till 11pm when the second round of winds kicked up. Been on generator for 4 days now and never lost cable go figure. no water or tree damage on the compound..