My husband called last night to say goodnight... we're at the beach, he's home (in Richmond, hello earthquake!), and he was supposed to be coming Wednesday evening. I was having trouble hearing him on the phone, I could hear my son (who's with me) in the background, I was like 'what the...'... ROB CAME A DAY EARLY!! TOTALLY surprised me, I'm so happy, I almost cried :)
So now we're all together again, at the beach... and they're talking about evacuation possibly on Saturday since we're on an island.
Is anyone else seriously worried about this hurricane? We're taking it seriously, but not as worried as most of the other tourists here! We were joking around with some locals, that Emerald Isle is to hurricane's and Richmond is to blizzards ;)
BTW, any word of an aftershock from that earthquake in Richmond? I miss everything!!
I would have the best time possible then high tail it! You don't need to risk it! Im in texas and I didn't even know there was one!
Please listen to the warnings and evacuation orders. They know what they're talking about. Staying on an island that is in the path of Category 3 hurricane winds is not smart, and could cost lives.
I live in Delaware now, grew up in NJ and have been right by the coast (within a 10 minute drive) since I was 4 years old. When they say to evacuate, just do it. Evacuation & panic are not synonomous however most people don't seem to understand that. You know from living somewhat near the coast that it can get ugly, but generally it's not as bad as predicted.
Lucky me I have a formal wedding to attend on Saturday evening. Guess I'll skip getting my hair done beforehand, eh?
R.,
I have been in that area during a huge hurricane.
This thing is expected to hit just south of where you are.
please get off the island. I'm sure Carteret High School is open as a shelter as will Swansboro, White Oak (go Vikings) and Jacksonville High.
You have no protection, the ocean is on one side and the intercoastal is on the other.
The South bridge is stable but once it hits you will not be able to cross it.
Also, Emerald Isle is the end of the line for many grocers. THey are the last places to get relief when a disaster hits. We had to go as far south as Wilmington to get milk and bread after Floyd.
You probably have until Friday night, but the roads will be clogged.
You do NOT want to be on Emerald Isle. Please seek higher ground.
Beware if riptides now.
Beware of Portuguese Man of War after the hurricane hits.
Get out early after the hurricane (if you stay) with your baggies and collect the shark's teeth. You will have to wait until they open the beaches.
Good luck, I would not chance it and I was a local down there for 7 years.
If you're on the coast you NEED to be taking this seriously. There is always the chance that it will blow out to see, but if it doesn't' and your at the beach you could be putting your family in danger. Believe me evacuations do not happen without serious consideration. And having seen damage from hurricanes, I can tell you an island is the LAST place I'd want to be when this hits. People die in hurricanes.
I didn't feel any of the aftershocks and they say there were several.
I read the National Cathedral was damaged and the Washington Monument might have a crack in it.
The hurricane worries me.
We weren't living here when Isabel came through and the neighbors said power was out about 10 days.
Being without power that long would bother me a lot, but we'd survive.
Where you are right now - I'd leave sooner than Saturday - maybe Thursday night or Friday morning.
You do not want to get hung up in traffic with everyone else who'll be evacuating and you definitely want to get out before the storm gets there.
I'm hoping it veers a bit more east but dumps enough rain on us to put out the swamp fire.
My eyes are glued to the National Hurricane Center site.
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov
Let's put it this way, my parents in South FL are no longer in the "cone of destruction", but suddenly we are in Upstate NY! My husband went out last night to get our emergency kit updated, cash, gas in the cars and fill the propane tank.
So I missed it in Manassas. I was driving. I missed the aftershock around 8:10p, I was outside walking. Felt the aftershock at 12:46a while watching Bravo reruns instead of sleeping....
As for the hurricane. If they say to evacuate, please go. Its headed North so you'll be driving in the rain all the way home. There will be flooding. There will be power outages.
I'm supposed to HEAD to Outer Banks on Sunday. That is most probably on hold and/or cancelled.
Yeah what a nice surprise ;-) enjoy it for a couple days then get the heck out of dodge!
If they are evacuating - get out.
Do not mess with hurricanes. I've gone through my share - being a New Englander... Do what they tell you.
We felt the earthquake yesterday and fortunately, we had no damage.
We felt a few aftershocks later in the evening, but again, no damage.
Enjoy your vacation, but when they tell you it's time to go -- get out.
LBC
Hey R.!!!
No, we didn't get any aftershocks here in DC (that I felt). But the earthquake was fun!!! I know - I'm twisted!! But I was VERY happy to see how my kids did NOT panic - run out of the house - or anything like that - they maintained calm and mind! YAHOO!!
This is SOOOO great about Rob coming a day early!!! I LOVE THAT!!! Extra points for Rob!!!
I'm watching the news out of the corner of my eye and it says that it should be strongest at Cape Hatteras at 12MIDNIGHT on Saturday - they have labeled it a Category 3 Hurricane - which is strong but at least not a 5...
If they do evacuate - just stay calm....be ready to go at a moments notice - best thing about being on vacation - you ARE ready to go!! :)
I would enjoy a fabulous day with your entire family today (beware the dangerous water and currents however) and then pack up tonight and leave in the morning. You don't live there, so no need to worry about getting "prepared" for it. Just leave. And do not wait until they TELL you to evacuate. The roads will be packed then. If they say that it will hit on Saturday, you should be gone on Friday morning.
Or heck, enjoy the day Thursday, pack up and head out Thursday night. You can enjoy sleeping in on Friday morning at home (unless you need to do some hurricane prep at home-- water/batteries/etc for possible power outages?).
Friend of mine that used to live in Florida stayed there once thru a Cat 0 or maybe a Cat 1 storm. She said NEVER again! Her being quite a tom-boy kind, that surprised me! Even more surprised when she said she'd take a tornado over a hurricane -- because the tornado is over with quickly whereas you have to deal with the first side of the hurricane, then calm while the eye passes, then it all breaks loose again in the opposite direction on the backside of the hurricane! Said her nerves were shot waiting for part 2!
Just keep an eye on it all and you'll be fine - you have a good head on your shoulders! (and WOOHOO on him coming out early!)
ps - we don't really want anymore hurricanes here - we had to deal with all the wind from Ike and it was still making a mess that far up the Ohio Valley after it got done on the Gulf!
