The Perfect Storm ~

[Ronin]

See y'all on the other side of this badass (http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2004/images/ivan091304-2015z.jpg).

~~~

Darkwind, wicked calls
I stand to meet you again
...seawall at midnight.

[Petra]

See y'all on the other side of this badass (http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2004/images/ivan091304-2015z.jpg).

~~~

Darkwind, wicked calls
I stand to meet you again
...seawall at midnight.

Take care, babe.

Hope it passes soon, and with minimal damage...

[Sonnet]

Crap. Take care, man.

[livius drusus]

Be careful, Ronin, please. Seawall at midnight it is.

[viscousmemories]

Dammmmn. That thing is truly monstrous. Good luck, Ronin.

[godfry n. glad]

Dammmmn. That thing is truly monstrous. Good luck, Ronin.


Yup... and they just upgraded it to class 5, the most powerful and destructive of hurricanes.

You know anybody with a bomb shelter?

Just out of interest, does anyone know where they are predicting landfall now? Florida seems to have escaped a massive frontal assault with Ivan, but one never knows. If this sucker hits anywhere near N'Orleans, it just might become an underwater city.

godfry

[viscousmemories]

Hmm... well if it's a cat 5 now I don't know where that news is coming from.

Here's the latest report (http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT4+shtml/142025.shtml?) from the National Weather Service:

...HURRICANE WARNING ISSUED ALONG THE NORTHERN GULF COAST FOR
EXTREMELY DANGEROUS HURRICANE IVAN...

AT 4 PM CDT...2100Z...A HURRICANE WARNING IS ISSUED FROM GRAND ISLE
LOUISIANA TO APALACHICOLA FLORIDA...INCLUDING THE GREATER NEW
ORLEANS AREA AND LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN. A HURRICANE WARNING
MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING
AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS. PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT
LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION THROUGHOUT THE
ENTIRE WARNING AREA.

THE HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MORGAN CITY LOUISIANA TO
WEST OF GRAND ISLE.

[Ex-zombie]

Be safe and take care Ronin.

[godfry n. glad]

And the WeatherUnderground map looks like this. (http://www.wunderground.com/tropical/tracking/at200409_5day.html)

Looks like the upgrade to cat 5 is old news and it's back down to cat 4 after passing over the west end of Cuba.

Watch out Mobile!

The storm is running up on you!

godfry

[wildernesse]

Be safe, Ronin. I know we'll all be thinking of you (and your neighbors). Hunker down. :sadnana:
I just got off the phone with my mom--she's been on the phone with GEMA a lot today trying to decide whether they'll close schools on Thursday when Ivan passes thru--and they're four+ hours inland as the crow flies.

[Gawen]

Good luck to you and yours.

[Petra]

I just got off the phone with my mom--she's been on the phone with GEMA a lot today trying to decide whether they'll close schools on Thursday when Ivan passes thru--and they're four+ hours inland as the crow flies.

Crikey, it must be huge!

I've never been in a hurricane before. We don't have them here. It is easy for me to forget how incredibly destructive they are, and how deadly they can be. :(

I'm worried about you now, Ronin. That thing is coming right at you. Stay safe, and stay away from that darned seawall, my friend!

[viscousmemories]

http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/TROP/DATA/RT/FLOAT/VIS/20.jpg

[wildernesse]

Crikey, it must be huge!

I've never been in a hurricane before. We don't have them here. It is easy for me to forget how incredibly destructive they are, and how deadly they can be. :(


It won't be a hurricane necessarily when it gets there--and absolutely nothing like what the coast gets--but the preceding and resulting storms/rain/winds/etc. make things dangerous even with downgrading. The forecast weather alerts for everyone west of me are for high winds, possible flooding, isolated tornados--just from the remnants of Ivan.

[Petra]

Wow. I've been roaming around reading about it. New Orleans could be in deep shit. Literally.

I sincerely hope all of you who are in the path of Ivan are safe.

:prayer: <--- I'm even praying for ya, see.



I suppose you can't go anywhere, Ronin - you have to stay and work with emergency services, huh? Please, please, please take care. :(

[Petra]

It won't be a hurricane necessarily when it gets there--and absolutely nothing like what the coast gets--but the preceding and resulting storms/rain/winds/etc. make things dangerous even with downgrading. The forecast weather alerts for everyone west of me are for high winds, possible flooding, isolated tornados--just from the remnants of Ivan.

I've read that as the hurricane swept along western Cuba, it did not weaken because it didn't cross the mountains. Without it weakening as a hurricane would normally do crossing a land mass, and especially mountains, the extra strength it gathers in the warmer Gulf of Mexico will be killer.

If you live in the area, and you haven't evacuated already - GET THE HELL OUT NOW!!!

[Petra]

Whoa! (http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/2796077)

Residents streamed inland in bumper-to-bumper traffic in an agonizingly slow exodus amid dire warnings that Ivan could overwhelm New Orleans with up to 20 feet of filthy, chemical-polluted water. About three-quarters of a million more people along the coast in Florida, Mississippi and Alabama also were told to evacuate.

Walter Maestri, an emergency manager in New Orleans, America's most vulnerable metropolitan area, has 10,000 body bags ready in case a major hurricane hits.
If a strong Category 4 storm such as Ivan made a direct hit, he warned, 50,000 people could drown, and the city could cease to exist.

"I beg people on the coast: Do not ride this storm out,"

[Ronin]

I just wanted to share some "before" photos of my own little place in time as this dismal dervish nears.

My squad will be the last to leave the coastline (if we ever do) and I'll be offline until further notice.

Thank you all for your concern...it really is so appreciated.

Popps Ferry Bridge allowing all mariners safe passage into the Back Bay of Biloxi every thirty minutes

http://photo10.matchnet.com/beta/2004/09/14/23/68744439.jpg

another...

http://photo11.matchnet.com/alpha/2004/09/14/23/68788814.jpg

..as I pass over toward the coastline...

http://photo5.matchnet.com/beta/2004/09/14/23/68752776.jpg

the Biloxi water tower as I head toward Hwy 90 and into Gulfport...

http://photo11.matchnet.com/beta/2004/09/14/23/68752716.jpg

some of the more intelligent citizenry heading the F out of Dodge...


http://photo3.matchnet.com/alpha/2004/09/14/23/68788844.jpg

The Grand Casino and Resort (sorry for the poor quality). The Hotel is on the beachside, while the casino is acutally a barge moored in Gulfport...(yeah, I'll try to catch what I can ;))

http://photo5.matchnet.com/beta/2004/09/14/23/68647333.jpg

The Copa Casino (another moored barge) notifying everyone who has already left that they are closed...:eek:

http://photo5.matchnet.com/alpha/2004/09/14/23/68647363.jpg

Anyway, I'm off to finish up some last minute preparations and then await the call to return to my station.

It's really too bad
that I'm all out of haiku
...stupid hurricane.

:cool:

Be good.

[Ronin]

http://photo4.matchnet.com/alpha/2004/09/15/00/68726120.jpg

Sometimes too much blowing sucks.

You can quote me.

emphasis mine

[Petra]

I'm so worried about you, Ronin. You head down to the seawall to face it, and I'm gonna kick yer ass. Assuming there will still be an ass to kick.

I wish you weren't involved in emergency services - I wish you could just get the hell out of there.

[Petra]

Ugh! I'm reading about Camille, a category 5 hurricane that struck the same region back in 1969.

http://sciencepolicy.colorado.edu/homepages/roger_pielke/camille/report.html

:( :( :(

:prayer: :prayer: :prayer:


I feel so helpless.

Please, please, please be safe. Please. :(

[Petra]

GRRR! Can you believe this stupid fucking bitch at CF (http://www.christianforums.com/showthread.php?p=9294168&postcount=58)?!

"Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair."
---Kahil Gibran

"But let there be spaces in your togetherness and let the winds of the heavens dance between you. Love one another but make not a bond of love: let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls."
Kahil Gibran

( not to really sound disrespectful for those who live on the coasts where Ivan lands---but I hope for all to have a more trusting and hopeful consciousness in the Lord---not the over-emotional or reaction-driven consciousness---- the weather forecasts can be way too much emotionalism. I grew up by the ocean myself, and have always looked to trust the Lord through these hurricane winds as I have always anticipated the Lord moving through them ...I hope and pray the Lord watches over the people and these winds of Ivan for the people of the shores where Ivan lands)

Stupid, dumbass cow. :fuming: :fuming: :fuming: :fuming:

[viscousmemories]

Stupid, dumbass cow. :fuming: :fuming: :fuming: :fuming:
That quote reminds me of the Simpsons episode where, after some kind of natural disaster, the church marquee sign said, "God welcomes his victims". :D

Be safe, Ronin. :(

[livius drusus]

He's going to be fine, luna. Come Saturday, we're going probably going to find him and Ivan in the back room playing poker and trading boot flasks.

[Petra]

He's going to be fine, luna. Come Saturday, we're going probably going to find him and Ivan in the back room playing poker and trading boot flasks.

lol. I hope so. :)

Bah, I can't sleep and reading all this hurricane stuff has me so on edge - and I'm, like, 20,000kms away from it! lol.

I just hope no god-bothering dumbass needs saving when this thing is in full swing.

lol. I really do worry far too much about stuff. :blush:

[viscousmemories]

lol. I really do worry far too much about stuff. :blush:
Yeah really. I have an anxiety disorder and Ivan is a hell of a lot closer to me than it is to you, and I'm not losing it. Yet.

We did have some helly rain last night though, and a thunderclap literally shook the house. :eek: I grew up with such in Michigan, but this didn't happen in California.

Anyway I'm sure liv's right and Ronin will be back here in no time. :yup:

[wildernesse]

Bah, I can't sleep and reading all this hurricane stuff has me so on edge - and I'm, like, 20,000kms away from it! lol.

I just hope no god-bothering dumbass needs saving when this thing is in full swing.

lol. I really do worry far too much about stuff. :blush:

I understand--I try not to check up on it minute by minute and be innundated with info. My mom's call last night was along these lines too--she was all on edge because she'd had to think all day about how stormy it was going to be this week--and was wondering what preparations I had made! (And the answer is none! I'm going to the grocery store today--that's it. Our only severe weather alert is for possible flooding due to all the rain predicted--we're on the very edge of the predicted path, supposedly remnants will get here sometime this weekend. We only get to worry about how many times we're going to have to empty the bucket underneath that darn leak in the roof.) But she was pretty worried, even though she said herself that it was only because she'd had to deal with it all day.

[JoeP]

Stupid, dumbass cow. :fuming: :fuming: :fuming: :fuming:
That quote reminds me of the Simpsons episode where, after some kind of natural disaster, the church marquee sign said, "God welcomes his victims". :D

Be safe, Ronin. :(
Stupid, dumbass cow indeed.

Not to diminish in any way the concern for Ronin (and anyone else in the path of the storm), nor the total disgust at people who'll put faith in the lord above common sense, I cannot see or hear of a church marquee sign without remembering one I saw in Greensboro NC (1988), when there was a biker convention: "Harley bikers - Jesus loves you too"

[godfry n. glad]

Heh... It reminds me of the old faithful farmer story...

It was flood season and the rain had been falling for days and the river was rising. Farmer Bill was trying to take care of his livestock when the county sheriff pulled into the puddled access road and up the flooded drive in a four-wheel drive vehicle to try to convince Farmer Bill to take refuge away from the flooding. His answer: "No thanks. I have faith in the Lord. The Lord will provide."

Later, when the water had risen so that Farmer Bill had to take refuge on his second floor, the local rescue service pulled up to his second story window in their rescue jet boat and tried to convince Farmer Bill to abandon his farm. His answer: "No thanks. I still have faith in the Lord. The Lord will provide."

Still later, when the water had risen so as to force Farmer Bill to take refuge on his roof, the state police helicopter arrived and lowered a basket to him to evacuate him, he waved them off, shouting, "No thanks. I still have faith in the Lord. The Lord will provide."

Well, the flooding just got worse and Farmer Bill's farmhouse was finally swept away and battered to splinters in the forest downstream. Farmer Bill drowned in the disaster.

When Farmer Bill arrived at the Pearly Gates, he was incensed. "I had FAITH! I was sure the Lord would provide. You let me down. What happened?"

Saint Peter looked over his glasses, straight at Farmer Bill and said, "Excuse me? We sent a four-wheel drive vehicle, a jet boat and an helicopter. We did our part. What more did you want?"

godfry

[wildernesse]

godfry,

I was thinking of this very joke earlier after reading the CF link--and lunachick's fanstastic response. Just another example of people so heavenly minded they're no earthly good.

[Penni]

Whoa. Ronin your pictures and that map are so....illustrative. Very scary!

I heard on NPR this morning an interview with a woman who was escaping MObile. She said it took her 7 hours to drive 82 miles...

[Petra]

Okay, I can't help myself. Who else do we need to hear from that lives in the area the hurricane is currently decimating?

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002036547_webivan15.html

Attacking under cover of darkness and swiftly verifying its reputation as a killer storm, Hurricane Ivan crashed overnight into a well-developed, hastily abandoned coastline that stretched from Mississippi to — once again — Florida.

Even before nightfall, tornadoes spawned by the storm killed two people in Panama City Beach, in Florida's Bay County. The scene was described as resembling "a war zone." Ivan's death toll now stands at 70.

It was only the beginning. As its core neared the Gulf Coast, Ivan maintained its 130-mph winds and dreadful designation as a Category 4 hurricane.

Piers crumbled. The Gulf of Mexico covered barrier islands and coastal roads, a salt-water blanket pulled ever higher. Fifty-foot waves towered offshore.

Widespread destruction seemed assured.

"This is one of those complete storms," said Craig Fugate, Florida's emergency management director. "Storm surge — significant to catastrophic. Flooding — significant to catastrophic. Winds — significant to catastrophic. Tornadoes, depending on where they touch down — significant to catastrophic."

Ivan's muscular core was predicted to drill into the coast around Mobile, Ala., at 2 a.m. Thursday. Hurricane-force winds raged 105 miles in every direction from the center. As a Category 4 storm, it sat just one notch below the top of the scale.

Is anyone here from Mobile?

One of many indicators of the immediate future: Scores of firefighters and paramedics from the city of Miami stood ready in Jacksonville, deployed in advance for post-storm search and rescue duty.

Shelter manager Timothy Ehly said he planned to keep evacuees inside the main arena, but was told early today that the roof might give way during the storm. He considered moving more than 1,300 people into other rooms at the center.

"I'm not planning on turning anyone away," Ehly said. "But I'm not sure how close their cheeks will be."


Who else among us lives in the affected region? Is everyone accounted for - do we know if they got out of the area, or if they are in shelters, or what they did to stay safe?

http://maps.wunderground.com/data/images/at200409_sat.jpg

Livius and Blake, you are also in the affected region, but it will more likely be a tropical storm by the time it reaches you - are you two safe and well?

Has anyone heard from Jacey? What's he up to?

Who else?

[livius drusus]

It's just gusty here so far, luna. There are warnings out and lots of school closings, but they always do that when it rains hard.

It's scary as hell on the Gulf Coast, though. :(

[Petra]

It's just gusty here so far, luna. There are warnings out and lots of school closings, but they always do that when it rains hard.Well, try not to go outside with any oversized umbrellas, or you may end up in New Jersey. :D

It's scary as hell on the Gulf Coast, though. :(Yeah, really. :(

[Ymir's blood]

I live pretty far inland but we are scheduled to get pounded by Ivan this weekend. Frances hit last week and the flooding did some major damage. We are expected to get another 6-12" of rain and maybe some strong winds.

[Petra]

You make sure you keep your wellies on then, Ymir. And don't catch cold! :yup:


Jeez, I feel like everyone's mum! LOL!

:marge:

[wildernesse]

Has anyone heard from Jacey? What's he up to?

Who else?

Jacey now lives in the metro Atlanta region, so he's basically where livius and Blake are (I'm assuming both of them are in ATL). No need to worry about him.

[Petra]

Oh, good. Cheers, wildernesse. :)

[Petra]

:news:

Good news from Harrison County, which is where Ronin is.

From a blogger at South Mississippi's www.sunherald.com :

Harrison County Civil Defense Director Linda Rouse, like the rest of the county, is breathing a sigh of relief.

"We dodged the bullet," she said this morning about 7:15. "We came through real well and we're thankful. We could have been like Pensacola."

Early reports indicate damage in the county is low for the size and scope of the storm Hurricane Ivan was presenting to the area just 24 hours ago. Rouse said there are limbs and some trees down throughout the area, power outages for more than 70,000 homes, damage to traffic signals and signs and some water in areas that normally don't flood.

But the heaviest rainfall over the past 24 hours or so occured at Gulfport Harbor, where nearly 2.5 inches fell. In the northwest corner of Harrison County, less than 0.9 inches fell. On average, between 1 and 1.5 inches fell in the area -- far below levels that were expected. The National Weather Service has cancelled flood warnings for the county.

Rouse said a couple of businesses and several homes were damaged by fires. "Overall, I think we fared very well," she said.

All major roads and highways appear to be open and passable. In Gulfport, Lorraine Road at Jigg's fishing camp was still closed. The same was true of a couple roads in Pass Christian around Henderson Point, including Bayou Lane. Water was over the road in Sandy Hook and Ponce de Leon, but the roads were passable.

Damage assesment teams were still in the process of making their initial reports, but there had been no notification of problems with the water systems in the county. Gulfport Harbor, which early on appeared to be headed for some trouble because of the rising storm surge, emerged relatively unscathed. A boat in the small craft harbor was reported on top of a pier and water had come into Jones Park in areas typical for heavy weather.

Rouse said people returning to their houses and business should use extreme caution. There are power lines down throughout the area, and associated debris should be be left alone until power crews clear the area for work. There are also limbs and branches hanging from trees that could fall at any point.

Of course, post-apocalypse caution must still be exercised, but the Good Lord was looking down on Ronin. :wink: :giggle:


Suppose he won't have any time to call in for a few days: his work will definitely be cut out for him, methinks. Then there'll be the exhaustion, heavy as the ocean itself. :yawning: :faint:


Oh, and according to this Weather Underground tracking pic (http://www.wunderground.com/tropical/tracking/at200409.html), Ivan has weakened considerably, and is a high Cat 1. :)


Although, looking at this:

http://maps.wunderground.com/data/images/tropical.gif

makes me wonder why people set up house there. Especially when the New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/16/national/16storm.html?pagewanted=2&th) reports...Scientists say the Atlantic has settled into a pattern of temperatures and air patterns that is likely to sustain hyperactive hurricane seasons for a decade or two.

Oh, what fun. :eek:


Well, I think a nice cup of hot chocolate is in order, don't you? :yup: :D


...btw, Ronin, I hope your house is still standing. And your Gram's. :)

[viscousmemories]

That is good news (for those not in Pensacola anyway :eek:).

Thanks Petra. :)

[livius drusus]

I'm relieved. I was expecting much worse. It hit Alabama very hard, however. Are you out there Talulah?

[wildernesse]

makes me wonder why people set up house there.

Well, the Gulf is beautiful. The most beautiful water I've ever seen in my life. And if you like heat and humidity, well the Gulf Coast is for you! Apart from the occasional hurricane, the weather is lovely. And even though it can feel like there are hurricanes all the time--they generally aren't hitting the same places--and I think the last big hurricane for the Gulf area that Ivan is hitting was Opal--which was in 1995. So, nine years between big storms isn't too bad.

Hope your hot chocolate is yummy. And I hope Ronin and his family are safe. Can't wait to hear from him.

(RAARR the freaking weather channel people keep saying MusCEEgee Co. It's MusCOgee. What's wrong with them! On the other hand, I'm hearing about Harris Co on tv--which is where my parents are, tornado watches in effect. The most active part of the storm is now in their area, but it sounds a little to the south of them. Sounds like my brother will be busy cutting fallen trees out of the road again today and tomorrow--that's how he spent half the night when Frances came through.)

[Ronin]

The worst has passed (though the wind gusts are still enough to push you around)...and we're all good here along the Biloxi-Gulfport coastal area. We ended up on the good side (well, the better side) of Ivan as it curved east at the last minute.

I'll post more later (and maybe a few pictures) now that the power is being restored. Shifts have been reduced back from the twelves, but that puts me back at the station in about three hours...so I'm headed for a short power nap.

Thanks again for all of your concern. You're the best.

:bow:

But the heaviest rainfall over the past 24 hours or so occured at Gulfport Harbor, where nearly 2.5 inches fell. In the northwest corner of Harrison County, less than 0.9 inches fell. On average, between 1 and 1.5 inches fell in the area -- far below levels that were expected. The National Weather Service has cancelled flood warnings for the county.

Yeah...and I have an idea where most of it went ~

http://photo10.matchnet.com/alpha/2004/09/16/09/70027368.jpg

Squish...squish...squish...

PS Has anyone heard from Ladyshea and her Gulf Shores family?

[livius drusus]

Have a good power nap, Ronin; you more than deserve it. I'm so glad you're okay. Oh, and many thanks for the wet, tousled look pic. It's mine, luna! I saw it first. Heifah...

[viscousmemories]

:woohoo: Glad to hear you're alive, Ronin.

[wildernesse]

Good to hear from you, Ronin. Rest up as much as you can!

[viscousmemories]

PS Has anyone heard from Ladyshea and her Gulf Shores family?
I'm sure LadyShea is fine since she's still living in Vegas, but I haven't heard from her wrt her family yet. I wonder if their new land is swampland now, though... :eek:

[Ymir's blood]

Great to hear you're ok, Ronin.

It started raining here. I think most of NC has flood watches posted for the weekend. The latest shows the center moving to the north of just accross the Virginia line.

NOAA 5 day projection (http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ftp/graphics/AT09/refresh/AL0904W5%2BGIF/070303W5.gif)

Everything but the Outer Banks looks to get hit. That's a switch.

[JoeP]

PS Has anyone heard from Ladyshea and her Gulf Shores family?
I'm sure LadyShea is fine since she's still living in Vegas, but I haven't heard from her wrt her family yet. I wonder if their new land is swampland now, though... :eek:
Her last visit here was 09-09. Last post at HH 09-04. Last visit at II 09-09. Has she gone on holiday or something?

[viscousmemories]

PS Has anyone heard from Ladyshea and her Gulf Shores family?
I'm sure LadyShea is fine since she's still living in Vegas, but I haven't heard from her wrt her family yet. I wonder if their new land is swampland now, though... :eek:
Her last visit here was 09-09. Last post at HH 09-04. Last visit at II 09-09. Has she gone on holiday or something?
Yep. I'm not sure where all she went exactly, but I know it wasn't in Ivan's path.

[Ymir's blood]

You make sure you keep your wellies on then, Ymir. And don't catch cold! :yup:
Hmm, quite ironic that.

[wildernesse]

Well, Ivan has made it up here now. :( I hate stormy weather--even when it's not very bad. :blah: It's all windy outside and the roof is leaking again. Grrr.

[Petra]

Hey, good to see you, Ronin! Rest up, babe. :bow:


Oh, and many thanks for the wet, tousled look pic.

Yeahhh.... :drooleek:
It's mine, luna! I saw it first. Heifah...

Back off, sista - it's mine. :rollpin: Ya moose...

Ooops...

Hi, Ronin! :girl: :hiya:

[viscousmemories]

Well, Ivan has made it up here now. :( I hate stormy weather--even when it's not very bad. :blah: It's all windy outside and the roof is leaking again. Grrr.
I don't like it much anymore. I did when I was younger, but now I'm too conscious of everything that can go wrong. Good luck with the drips. :)

[Petra]

nm

[Petra]

Well, Ivan has made it up here now. :( I hate stormy weather--even when it's not very bad. :blah: It's all windy outside and the roof is leaking again. Grrr.

Yeah, it still looks like a fairly dense storm in the satelite pictures, but at least it's not such a worrying storm anymore.

:cool:


Better get that roof fixed, though. :yup:

[Ronin]

Well, Ivan has made it up here now. :( I hate stormy weather--even when it's not very bad. :blah: It's all windy outside and the roof is leaking again. Grrr.

So sorry to hear that, wildernesse. I hope there isn't much damage.

Oh...and let me know if you find a GPD ballcap with the number 50 on it when the wind settles down. I miss my hat. :(

Here are a few more photos from my journal from Ivan:

Closing in...

http://photo10.matchnet.com/alpha/2004/09/16/16/70039307.jpg

The fringe...

http://photo6.matchnet.com/alpha/2004/09/16/16/70041520.jpg

Just a matter of time...

http://photo5.matchnet.com/beta/2004/09/16/16/70041607.jpg

The will of the people...

http://photo6.matchnet.com/alpha/2004/09/16/16/70041045.jpg

No tacos...

http://photo4.matchnet.com/beta/2004/09/16/16/70039365.jpg

In the midst...

http://photo6.matchnet.com/beta/2004/09/16/16/70042290.jpg

Karma...

Yin

http://photo3.matchnet.com/beta/2004/09/16/16/70040126.jpg

Yang

http://photo5.matchnet.com/beta/2004/09/16/16/70040760.jpg

After seeing some of the reports from Alabama and Florida, we really did luck out here.

Hammer and nails time only...no bags...that is a very good thing.

[Petra]

...no bags...that is a very good thing.

Indeed. :)

Thanks for the pics, Ronin.

On TV, I had to laugh at one point - the reporter was standing near the ocean, being buffeted about by wind and rain, and telling everyone how important it is to not be anywhere near the ocean. heh.

[livius drusus]

"Go home Ivan. No tacos for you." :LMAO: That's priceless. Great pictures, Ronin.

[Petra]

Sadly, 20 people were killed along the Gulf Coast due to Ivan. :(

Hurricane Ivan thrashed the Gulf Coast from midnight to sunrise Thursday.

Along the way, it carved a path of destruction through the Southeast with winds reaching 130 miles an hour and even more powerful tornadoes, killing 20 people, inundating homes and cutting off highways, including Interstate 10 in Mobile and Pensacola.


http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/17/national/17storm.html


http://graphics7.nytimes.com/images/2004/09/16/national/17storm.1842.jpg
A bridge over Escambia Bay near Pensacola, Fla., was cut in two by Hurricane Ivan.

[viscousmemories]

Daaaaaaamn. :(

Figures there's a big rig on that bridge, too. Those crazy truckers will drive in anything!

[wildernesse]

Drip. Drop. Drip. Drop.

Other than that, no problems for us so far. It seems like Ivan may be through with us except for one more band of rain in a couple of hours--and then he's on to Virginia and North Carolina.

Our power was out for about an hour or a little more--but guess what?! We still had water--I love "city" life! Every time I turned the faucet on, I told RA "We have water!!!" (He knows I'm a nut.) When I was growing up, whenever the power was out, that meant the well pump was out too--when Opal came through, we had 3 days of no power. Waiting on water from the well (and Daddy dearest to haul it to the house) was such a pain. So, I was gloating a bit about being here with "city" water hookups, while mom and dad had to hope they filled the bathtub up enough before the lights were out. But I talked to them on the phone and. . .those freaks have bought a generator! So they had water too. Of course, they waited til I left home to get something like that. :shakefist: haha

Anyway. Thanks for the pics, Ronin--and I'll keep an eye out for your hat! :cap:Good luck with the clean-up--at least it sounds like it won't be as bad as it could be.

[wildernesse]

That bridge picture and the one of the road washed away are scary, scary! It will take a lot to get those back on track.

I've been reading through the Mobile newspaper--some people rode Ivan out on the USS Alabama (http://www.al.com/news/mobileregister/index.ssf?/base/news/1095365773295950.xml)--the battleship. Which I think is incredibly cool, even though I would have had to be sedated.

[viscousmemories]

Some people rode it out in their own home on Pensacola Beach. A dome of a home (http://www.monolithic.com/domenews/2004/ivan.html).

http://www.monolithic.com/plan_design/FEMA/stickney2-doahL.jpg

[Ronin]

Well, the Gulf is beautiful. The most beautiful water I've ever seen in my life. And if you like heat and humidity, well the Gulf Coast is for you! Apart from the occasional hurricane, the weather is lovely. And even though it can feel like there are hurricanes all the time--they generally aren't hitting the same places--and I think the last big hurricane for the Gulf area that Ivan is hitting was Opal--which was in 1995. So, nine years between big storms isn't too bad.

Actually, Wildernesse, I met the eye of Georges (http://www.rambocam.com/georgesnoaa01s.JPG) around six years ago.

Still, that's not too bad.

:eek:

:wink:

Originally Posted by lunachick
makes me wonder why people set up house there.

That's rich, volcano-lady!

:flaming:

[Ronin]

Great to hear you're ok, Ronin.

It started raining here. I think most of NC has flood watches posted for the weekend. The latest shows the center moving to the north of just accross the Virginia line.

NOAA 5 day projection (http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ftp/graphics/AT09/refresh/AL0904W5%2BGIF/070303W5.gif)

Everything but the Outer Banks looks to get hit. That's a switch.

How'd you end up, Ymir?

You didn't happen to see any caps laying around...?

[Ronin]

Yep. I'm not sure where all she went exactly, but I know it wasn't in Ivan's path.

I was just hoping she didn't take a scouting trip to her property.

[Petra]

ouch...'an shit...

[Petra]

Yep. I'm not sure where all she went exactly, but I know it wasn't in Ivan's path.

I was just hoping she didn't take a scouting trip to her property.

No. As far as I know, she is abroad.

And, no! - that is not a play on words.

:D

[Petra]

Some people rode it out in their own home on Pensacola Beach. A dome of a home (http://www.monolithic.com/domenews/2004/ivan.html).

http://www.monolithic.com/plan_design/FEMA/stickney2-doahL.jpg

That has got to be the coolest house I have ever seen...

[wildernesse]

Actually, Wildernesse, I met the eye of Georges (http://www.rambocam.com/georgesnoaa01s.JPG) around six years ago.

Still, that's not too bad.

:eek:

:wink:


Georges! Hmm, apparently I didn't do as good a search as I thought I did. Drat.

I heard that in the past, the only kinds of beach homes that you could have insured (affordably) were those dome houses because they would ride out hurricanes. Now, the law has changed somewhat and insurers will insure other homes as well, ones that aren't as hurricane safe--I think it's because taxpayers somehow foot the bill.

[Ronin]

Yep. I'm not sure where all she went exactly, but I know it wasn't in Ivan's path.

I was just hoping she didn't take a scouting trip to her property.

No. As far as I know, she is abroad.

And, no! - that is not a play on words.

:D

If you say so.

:cool:

[wildernesse]

Well, I just read that a UGA student is missing after she and 3 other people (and 2 dogs) went rafting down the Oconee in an inflatable raft. Plus one in a kayak. Nevermind that the river was under flood watch from well upstream due to Ivan dumping several inches of rain the day before. Nevermind that the raft was meant only for two people max. Emergency crews had to call off the search because it became too dangerous with the water still rising and it getting dark.

They aren't saying that there's no hope. But it sounds like she got pulled under at a strainer, and she's probably still there. Online Athens (http://onlineathens.com/stories/091804/new_20040918046.shtml) article--requires annoying registration, use BugMeNot.com.

It's incredibly sad when things happen like this--and I can barely comprehend what her family and boyfriend (who survived) are experiencing. It also makes me want to shake someone--who thought this was a good idea?

[pescifish]

How'd you end up, Ymir?

You didn't happen to see any caps laying around...?
:sadnana: He's not gonna be able to answer just yet... Lost power sometime Thursday night and is still waiting Saturday evening. :search:

[Ymir's blood]

How'd you end up, Ymir?

You didn't happen to see any caps laying around...?
:sadnana: He's not gonna be able to answer just yet... Lost power sometime Thursday night and is still waiting Saturday evening. :search:

I made it thorough ok, except for losing power for fifty-four hours. Since I'm on a well, that means no water either. :crazy2: Managed to survive on collected rainwater for the toilet and washing but argh!. :freezing:

Now I just have to wait a while for hot water... :D

I took a few pictures of the flooding. :titanic:

[livius drusus]

Oh man, that sucks, Ymir. I'm glad you're back in the 21st century now, experiencing the joys of plumbing and electricity. :bath:

[viscousmemories]

Yes, welcome back Ymir. :)

[Ronin]

:fire2: How'd you end up, Ymir?

You didn't happen to see any caps laying around...?
:sadnana: He's not gonna be able to answer just yet... Lost power sometime Thursday night and is still waiting Saturday evening. :search:

I made it thorough ok, except for losing power for fifty-four hours. Since I'm on a well, that means no water either. :crazy2: Managed to survive on collected rainwater for the toilet and washing but argh!. :freezing:

Now I just have to wait a while for hot water... :D

I took a few pictures of the flooding. :titanic:

I'm glad to hear you're otherwise alright, Ymir.

We only lost power for 13 hours here along the MS gulf coast so it wasn't too bad. Also, the way the storm came onshore here actually prevented alot of the storm surge and flooding seen elsewhere. The waves never even actually reached the seawall (much less over it as with hurricane Georges).

Post pix when you can and I hope you get hot water soon.

:fire2:

[Ymir's blood]

We only lost power for 13 hours here along the MS gulf coast so it wasn't too bad. Also, the way the storm came onshore here actually prevented alot of the storm surge and flooding seen elsewhere. The waves never even actually reached the seawall (much less over it as with hurricane Georges).
It's a lot more dangerous where you live. Here you're pretty much safe as long as you stay home (if your home isn't in a flood plain!)


Post pix when you can and I hope you get hot water soon.

:fire2:
Oh, the only reason I had to wait for the hot water was to give the water heater a chance to work. Everything is fine now, except my cable isn't working. (very minor to me)

Here is someone's backyard:

[Ronin]

Well, they won't have to mow that anytime soon.

:eek:

[Ymir's blood]

Well, they won't have to mow that anytime soon.

:eek:

Well, the waters have already receded. We get flash floods not the long term kind. Of course the ground here squishes when you walk on it now. It's going to take a long time to dry out.

This is a nearby construction project. The water level was higher several hours previous to when the picture was taken.

[pescifish]

Here is someone's backyard:
I feel sorry for the guy (presumably the homeowner) standing in the line of trees in the yellow jacket.

This is a nearby construction project. The water level was higher several hours previous to when the picture was taken.It must be odd to see an ongoing construction project get submerged while they are still working on it!

[LadyShea]

Hi all, I am back. Glad to see Ronin is okay.

My mother was with us on vacation and got the call that my dad, brother, niece, sister in law, and their pets were evacuating north. Then we got a message that the house was okay. My mother was scheduled to fly home into Pensacola Saturday, but was rerouted to Mobile and upon landing found out my dad was in the hospital, having had a heart attack trying to get the fence back up at the house. I just found all this out an hour ago.

Mom and Dad have a hotel room in Fairhope and my brother and sister in law are camping out at the house with no electricity. The neighbor down the street has a generator, so they are showering there...Bro works at Lowes which is opening daily on generator power to provide what little they have left (much had been shipped to Florida after Charlie) to the salvage efforts.

So, not over yet, no gas for cars, no electricity, but all my folk are safe and relatively healthy...though I may kick my dad's ass for not having a physical six months ago when I asked him to :fuming:

[viscousmemories]

Oh wow, that really sucks about your Dad, Brandi. :(

I'm glad your family is all alive and doing relatively well though and it's nice to have you back.

[livius drusus]

That's awful, Brandi. I'm glad he's recovering well, and I hope the rebuilding isn't too stressful. That sentence looks stupid. I'm sorry. I'm very glad your family is safe. :hug:

[viscousmemories]

Oh yeah, the hug smilie! I couldn't figure out a good way to end the second sentence of my last post; I should've chosen that one. Here Brandi: :hug:

[Beth]

Brandi, I'm sorry about your dad. I hope he is doing better.

This is the first time I looked at this thread. I must say that I am relieved That we dodged this storm, but with the current warming waters, I am thinking about leaving my most beautiful state,...that is if the hurricanes become a non-stop affliction. I just cannot think of any other state I like more than here.

I confess that I did not watch or follow much on this storm. Over the past month, I have done so much storm tracking that I am sick of it. But there are other tropical storms out there, so I am sure I'll have another storm to track soon enough.

I just feel horrible for those with storm damage. They are vulnerable to the vext hurricane that comes along.

[pescifish]

LadyShea, that's tough news all around. I hope your dad's recovery continues well and that they can get back into their house quickly and without additional stress.

[JoeP]

Hi all, I am back.Yay! Welcome back! We missed you. :smilehug:

Sorry to hear about your dad; sounds like an ass-kicking may be in order.

[Ronin]

I have been and will be out of state (offline) for awhile helping out with some volunteer clean-up missions.

Until then, keep an eye on Jeanne and have a look at this reverse godspam I've found ~

http://www.bash.org/GODvsBUSH.gif

[Petra]

Ha! Ronin, that Godspam rocks. I'm taking it to CF as soon as I've had my breakfast.


In the meantime, you take care, and we'll see you when you get back.

[Petra]

Actually, is Philosoft a member here, and has anyone seen him around since the hurricane? AFAIK, he lives in Pensacola. I saw him post somewhere before the hurricane, but have not seen him since.


Edit: I just found him. All's well that ends well. :)

[livius drusus]

Be careful, please, Ronin, and be sure to check in when you get back. :hug:

[godfry n. glad]

Hey, liv...

The pundits are intimating that Jeanne might just run right up on you....doing a coastal swipe thing.

Batten down!

godfry

[livius drusus]

Pshaw, darlin'. Worst case scenario my satellite goes out and no Simpsons. Best case scenario long weekend. Bring it on, Jeanne.

[livius drusus]

Ronin? Roooonin? How did it go? :beagle: You have to say something now because that smilie is so cute you can't help yourself.

[Petra]

:beagle: You have to say something now because that smilie is so cute you can't help yourself.

LOL! That is a majorly cute smilie. :)

But anyway...


Roooonin!
/me flashes knickers and does a little ass-wiggle dance

:naughty:

Teehee. Bend...and stretch. Bend....and stretch. Bend.... and :wink:

[godfry n. glad]

I've heard of "post slutting", but that's the best I've ever seen.

godfry

[Ronin]

I got back from Gulf Shores last night and the coastal region, up to the first bridge on 59, is a compete wreck.

On the way over, I saw that the Mobile bay area and Tillman's corner seemed to have faired well. There was quite a bit of downed pine along I-10 once we started closing in on the Loxley exit, though...tornadoes most likely

As we turned south along 59, I was happy to see that Lambert's Restaurant (home of the "throwed rolls"...great place to eat) and the Outlet Mall didn't seem damaged in the least. I also saw that the Burris Farmer's Market may have only lost some of the roof (by the look of some of the temporary repairs) and they were open for business. As we continued south to the command post there were a few signs of some sporadic wind damage to businesses and churches, but nothing catastrophic.

After meeting up with the Mayor's assistant "Ernie" at the CP, we got our equipment organized and went to a ravaged property belonging to a little old widow and spent about four hours clearing her yard of several very large trees and assorted debris. Halfway into the chainsaw hack and slash, she approached me on her way to a doctor's appointment and thanked me for doing God's work for her.

Little did she know. ;)

And, since it was very plain to me that her words were really more designed to make her happy than anything else, I could only smile at her and thank her for the ice and towels she provided.

The ten of us then ate a quick lunch and spent about three more hours clearing some city property, collecting debris and organizing it along certain pick up areas along the roadway.

We were then granted permission to travel past the checkpoint to review the coastal damage.

From the sinks, tubs and assorted debris that washed up, it looked like the storm surge brought the water as far north as my favorite Oyster House just south of the first bridge (about a half mile).

A military guard manning the outpost keeping civilians from the beach area said that there had been up to 8 ft. of water right up to the bridge until a day or two after Ivan passed. From the looks of things, I fully believed him.

Alvin's Island and any other shops along the beach area were gutted out. Nolan's was a shell, only cinder blocks remained. The larger hotels were still standing along the Gulf Shores beach area (I could not get out and look at the south side), however, the lower levels sustained erosion damage and the further you got to the Orange Beach area it got much worse. Most of the underground cables and pipes were actually sticking up out of the ground and some of the road was washed away. Surprisingly, quite a few of the condos and homes on stilts just north of the beach road made it through halfway decently.

We were not allowed entry into Orange Beach or the Floribama area at all, even with our credentials.

I'll post some of the photos I took of the area tonight or tomorrow.

PS I see that Ex-zombie has taken advantage of my absence and topped my flash poker score...well, I'll just have to find a moment and take care of that.

:fuming:

[livius drusus]

Now that's what I call checking in, Ronin. Thank you for the update. I'm very glad to hear that no throwed rolls were damaged in the making of these hurricanes, and that sweet little old ladies showed you the appreciation you deserve.

I'm looking forward to the pictures (and to your reclaiming your poker title). :popcorn:

[godfry n. glad]

And restrained, too...

If I were in his shoes, I'd be checking airline ticket prices to NZ....

godfry

[Ymir's blood]

Glad to know you're back and ok, Ronin. :yup:

[Petra]

And restrained, too...

If I were in his shoes, I'd be checking airline ticket prices to NZ....

godfry

Alas, the handsome, sexy, and very cool Ronin is happily married. I lucked out there, unfortunately, but it doesn't stop me flashing my knickers anyway. :innocent:

[godfry n. glad]

And restrained, too...

If I were in his shoes, I'd be checking airline ticket prices to NZ....

godfry

Alas, the handsome, sexy, and very cool Ronin is happily married. I lucked out there, unfortunately, but it doesn't stop me flashing my knickers anyway. :innocent:

Well, then, ignore me and carry on. :yowza:

godfry

[JoeP]

but it doesn't stop me flashing my knickers anyway. :innocent:
Does anything?
:luna:
Sorry, any excuse to use that mouthwateringly excellent smilie.

[Ronin]

Glad to know you're back and ok, Ronin. :yup:

Thanks, Ymir, that means quite a bit to me.

[Ronin]

And restrained, too...

If I were in his shoes, I'd be checking airline ticket prices to NZ....

godfry

Alas, the handsome, sexy, and very cool Ronin is happily married. I lucked out there, unfortunately, but it doesn't stop me flashing my knickers anyway. :innocent:

:cool2:

[Ronin]

but it doesn't stop me flashing my knickers anyway. :innocent:
Does anything?


...not even the Mormons, good sir.

:innocent2:

[Ronin]

Well, then, ignore me and carry on. :yowza:

godfry

:saloon:

[LadyShea]

Thanks Ronin for the update, and helping those folks out

Mom works at the Outlet mall, and you were correct, they suffered no damage, and for some reason had power almost immediately while the rest of the area was without for up to 10 days. My brother works right up the street at Lowes and they were on generators for a week I think.

My sister in law works at a resort type thing (they rent out privately owned condos), and they had to cancel all reservations due to the beach being gone, but they are housing emergency workers and FEMA personel, so are open and at work daily.

My property lost some trees, and the whole neighborhood piled their debris in front of it for FEMA to pick up, but apparently nothing is threatening my neighbors, so I don't need to send anyone in...nor is there anyone to hire anyway, so lucky.

[Ronin]

Thanks Ronin for the update, and helping those folks out

Mom works at the Outlet mall, and you were correct, they suffered no damage, and for some reason had power almost immediately while the rest of the area was without for up to 10 days. My brother works right up the street at Lowes and they were on generators for a week I think.

My sister in law works at a resort type thing (they rent out privately owned condos), and they had to cancel all reservations due to the beach being gone, but they are housing emergency workers and FEMA personel, so are open and at work daily.

My property lost some trees, and the whole neighborhood piled their debris in front of it for FEMA to pick up, but apparently nothing is threatening my neighbors, so I don't need to send anyone in...nor is there anyone to hire anyway, so lucky.


Just let me know if you need any help clearing your property, Ladyshea, and I'll get with my Chief and see if we can allocate some chainsaw time to your property. I'll go again next week if you need.

Email me and I'll try to arrange some volunteers to head over that way.

[Petra]

:cool2:


Hey, babe. Come take a walk on the wild side. :wink:

[Petra]

Just let me know if you need any help clearing your property, Ladyshea, and I'll get with my Chief and see if we can allocate some chainsaw time to your property. I'll go again next week if you need.

Email me and I'll try to arrange some volunteers to head over that way.

And this is exactly why I adore the guy.

I mean, what can a poor girl do? :shrug:

[Petra]

but it doesn't stop me flashing my knickers anyway. :innocent:
Does anything?


...not even the Mormons, good sir.

:innocent2:

No comment. :innocent: :D

[livius drusus]

And this is exactly why I adore the guy.

I mean, what can a poor girl do? :shrug:

I know! And he won back his Flash Poker title too. Is there nothing he can't do?

[LadyShea]

Just let me know if you need any help clearing your property, Ladyshea, and I'll get with my Chief and see if we can allocate some chainsaw time to your property. I'll go again next week if you need.

Email me and I'll try to arrange some volunteers to head over that way.

Oh my god, honey I can't believe you're offering to do that for me. I simply can't ask you to do that, though. Really, I am pretty sure it's fine....I told my bro I'd pay for a new chainsaw and said he'd handle it. He really thinks it's okay, though. I am waiting for some pictures....I don't know how to evaluate what needs done.

[Ronin]

Pictures have been delayed for a few days. I'll post them when I get them.

That's the last time I'll use the digital camera of a county coroner.

:madrant:

[Ymir's blood]

Pictures have been delayed for a few days. I'll post them when I get them.

That's the last time I'll use the digital camera of a county coroner.

:madrant:

All the pictures showed up as dead links?

[Petra]

LOL!

[Ronin]

Well...

...I damn sure walked myself right into that one.


:rock2:



:wink:

(he promised to have the pix copied to cd for me last Friday...I'll track him down tomorrow)

[The Lone Ranger]

Completely off-topic:

Ronin, is that Dream of the Endless as your avatar? Cool!


Cheers,

Michael

[Ronin]

Onieros casts a human shadow, when it occurs to him to do so.

I follow along after his older sister.

~~

Death is before me today:
Like the recovery of a sick man,
Like going forth into a garden after sickness

Death is before me today:
Like the odor of myrrh,
Like sitting under a sail in a good wind.

Death is before me today:
Like the course of a stream
Like the return of a man from the war-galley to his house.

Death is before me today:
Like the home that a man longs to see,
After years spent as a captive.

~~

Even the masterless are not.