It has been a blustery day today here in this southeastern region of the United States. Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin along with their friends would certainly attest to this. My sister, who has been visiting here, and I went for a walk out on the farm this afternoon and felt cold as the wind whipped around us.
This wind, almost howling up in the trees is a direct result of a major hurricane churning up the eastern seaboard. "I can taste salt on my lips," my sister announced. And she was right. I could, too. The wind and clouds carried air from the sea although the taste was faint.
This hurricane...Sandy is its name...is scary. It's like nothing anyone in my lifetime has seen. And, strange as it seems, there is something exciting about it. Hurricanes are exciting. Tornadoes don't hold the same excitement . They come out of the clouds, destroy everything in their paths and are gone as quickly as they came.
Hurricanes are different. Some form as innocent batches of clouds, and if the conditions are just right, begin to grow and feed on whatever it is that causes them to start a slow spinning dance. Sandy is a gargantuan storm that started as innocently as any other hurricane. But it is different. It is late in the season. It doesn't necessarily have excessively high winds. It's what is known as a Category I storm, winds only...yes, only 75 mph. But it is huge, over 900 miles across.
The problem with this storm is that it is heading into a highly populated area, a highly congested area. It has been predicted that as many as 50 million people will be affected by this monster storm with a rather sweet innocent name. I've been following it ever since it began forming in the Caribbean over a week ago. At that time, it wasn't promising to turn into what possibly could become the Storm of the Century and beyond.
One of the biggest problems with hurricanes is the storm surge, the ocean waters that move ashore and inland. This surge floods and wreaks havoc as it moves upon the land. The surge from Sandy could flood subways in New York City. It could send water into the Battery. Hurricanes aren't picky at what they destroy. Katrina is an example of that.
Yes, hurricanes are exciting, but it is an uneasy excitement. In reality, I hope the storm, for some inexplicable reason does not turn inland to New Jersey and New York City. I have loved ones up that way. I feel for the people who live in that area, who go to jobs each day, who won't be able to tomorrow because a monster is coming.
We have had so many natural disasters in the past seven years. Doomsday predictors come out of the woodwork when these natural occurrences happen. I don't believe in any of that "End of the world" predictions. These kinds of natural disasters have been going on for millions of years.
It's just that all the areas that will be and are already being affected by this storm were, at one time, not nearly so populated with human life. At one time Manhattan was simply an island with trees and wild life. The Jersey Shore was just that. Atlantic City wasn't there for the boardwalk to be destroyed as it looks to be now. Underground trains were unheard of. Human beings lived simply. They did not live along the shore where the ocean could come in and sweep them away. The did not build high buildings that could topple. They used fire and oil for light.
I hope the people in the path of Sandy heed the warnings. They are dire. I hope they don't try to "ride it out" and have hurricane parties. I think Sandy just might not appreciate it.
Take care everyone. It might be a good idea to say a few prayers. It can't hurt.
This wind, almost howling up in the trees is a direct result of a major hurricane churning up the eastern seaboard. "I can taste salt on my lips," my sister announced. And she was right. I could, too. The wind and clouds carried air from the sea although the taste was faint.
This hurricane...Sandy is its name...is scary. It's like nothing anyone in my lifetime has seen. And, strange as it seems, there is something exciting about it. Hurricanes are exciting. Tornadoes don't hold the same excitement . They come out of the clouds, destroy everything in their paths and are gone as quickly as they came.
Hurricanes are different. Some form as innocent batches of clouds, and if the conditions are just right, begin to grow and feed on whatever it is that causes them to start a slow spinning dance. Sandy is a gargantuan storm that started as innocently as any other hurricane. But it is different. It is late in the season. It doesn't necessarily have excessively high winds. It's what is known as a Category I storm, winds only...yes, only 75 mph. But it is huge, over 900 miles across.
The problem with this storm is that it is heading into a highly populated area, a highly congested area. It has been predicted that as many as 50 million people will be affected by this monster storm with a rather sweet innocent name. I've been following it ever since it began forming in the Caribbean over a week ago. At that time, it wasn't promising to turn into what possibly could become the Storm of the Century and beyond.
One of the biggest problems with hurricanes is the storm surge, the ocean waters that move ashore and inland. This surge floods and wreaks havoc as it moves upon the land. The surge from Sandy could flood subways in New York City. It could send water into the Battery. Hurricanes aren't picky at what they destroy. Katrina is an example of that.
Yes, hurricanes are exciting, but it is an uneasy excitement. In reality, I hope the storm, for some inexplicable reason does not turn inland to New Jersey and New York City. I have loved ones up that way. I feel for the people who live in that area, who go to jobs each day, who won't be able to tomorrow because a monster is coming.
We have had so many natural disasters in the past seven years. Doomsday predictors come out of the woodwork when these natural occurrences happen. I don't believe in any of that "End of the world" predictions. These kinds of natural disasters have been going on for millions of years.
It's just that all the areas that will be and are already being affected by this storm were, at one time, not nearly so populated with human life. At one time Manhattan was simply an island with trees and wild life. The Jersey Shore was just that. Atlantic City wasn't there for the boardwalk to be destroyed as it looks to be now. Underground trains were unheard of. Human beings lived simply. They did not live along the shore where the ocean could come in and sweep them away. The did not build high buildings that could topple. They used fire and oil for light.
I hope the people in the path of Sandy heed the warnings. They are dire. I hope they don't try to "ride it out" and have hurricane parties. I think Sandy just might not appreciate it.
Take care everyone. It might be a good idea to say a few prayers. It can't hurt.
4 comments:
Yeah, this one looks like a real doozy of a storm that we will likely, and hopefully, not see again in our lifetimes. It looks to be basically centering New York. I think I saw a Weather Channel show about this same kind of thing happening in the show "What's the Worst that Could Happen?" That show also talked about monster Tsunamis, Tornadoes hitting Dallas, and a Cat five hurricane hitting Houston, among other nice weather events. I sure hope, like you, that the folks along our coast run because I don't think waiting this thing out is a very good idea at all.
I expected to see the beginnings of Sandy last night (as we were told), but woke up this morning at 5 and saw not a leaf blowing on a tree. At 8 am, things started moving. now they are beginning to blow somewhat harder. They are telling us it will soon be 75mph with gusts to 90 mph. With the expected rainfall, this will bring down many trees and power poles.
The state of Pennsylvania is in a sort of lockdown and only essential personnel are allowed to be on the roads. Everybody is taking precautions.
I wish it was Wednesday and all this was over.
I've never experience a tornado or a hurricane. We have pretty mild weather here in North Idaho. I guess some people would have trouble handling the cold.
Oh yes the forest fires haven't had a big one for ages around here.
Well I hope you all stay safe and don't take take any unnecessary chances...Coffee is on.
I've never experience a tornado or a hurricane. We have pretty mild weather here in North Idaho. I guess some people would have trouble handling the cold.
Oh yes the forest fires haven't had a big one for ages around here.
Well I hope you all stay safe and don't take take any unnecessary chances...Coffee is on.
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