The Weather Channel is saying this storm could go down in history like Katrina. Janice, Brian Damage and others who live in Boston, New York, or the Carolinas please consider staying with a relative. This storm looks like the real deal.

I've been following it pretty closely. It's raining pretty good out here today. I wonder if that has anything to do with Irene.

Thanks for thinking of me (and us), Dan. It's not going to bother me anyway, just a lot of wind. The last big hurricane I remember happened the weekend that I got married in, 1985. Hurricane Gloria. I remember everyone dancing up a storm (pun intended) to the song, Gloria.

Thanks for your thoughts Dr. John

(Me personally - I was planning to go out to a party on LI, in a coastal town, on Saturday. I'm re-thinking it depending on what the meteorologists say.)

I hope everyone in it's path will be ok.

Thanks for thinking of me (and us), Dan. It's not going to bother me anyway, just a lot of wind. The last big hurricane I remember happened the weekend that I got married in, 1985. Hurricane Gloria. I remember everyone dancing up a storm (pun intended) to the song, Gloria.

That's good that it won't be bad there. I remember you telling me about that hurricane. The added stress of that with getting married at the time, wow.

link (http://www.click2houston.com/weather/28948743/detail.html)

FEMA: Entire East Coast Should Prepare For Hurricane Irene
By the CNN Wire Staff
Posted: Tuesday, August 23, 2011 Updated: 9:24 pm CDT August 23, 2011

(CNN) -- The entire eastern coast of the United States should prepare for Irene, a large and dangerous hurricane churning northwestward over the tropical waters of the Caribbean, the nation's emergency chief warned Tuesday. At 8 p.m. ET, the National Hurricane Center said the winds in Irene remained unchanged from its previous update, at 90 mph, making the storm a Category 1 hurricane. However, the reduction is expected to be only temporary, and Irene is still forecast to become a Category 3 event, a major hurricane, by Wednesday night or Thursday, the center said. Irene was moving through the southern Bahamas and will pass very near or over the Turks and Caicos islands later Tuesday night, CNN Senior Meteorologist Dave Hennen said early Tuesday evening.

The storm could threaten the North Carolina coast on Saturday and is likely to continue to be a hurricane all the way into New England as it moves along or over the northeast coast, Hennen said. Widespread damage is possible from coastal Carolina all the way up to the Canadian Maritimes, including the major cities of the Northeast, Hennen said. Conditions continue to be favorable for Irene to intensify to a major hurricane, a Category 3 or higher, with 110 mph winds or stronger, as it moves through the Bahamas on Thursday and passes just east of Nassau and Freeport, Hennen said. But Craig Fugate, the Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator, noted that Irene's exact path cannot be predicted this far out. The storm, he said, will affect a large area.

"People think hurricanes are a Southern thing but people in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast need to take Irene seriously," Fugate said. "We have a lot of time for people to get ready but we don't have forever." Hennen said Irene is expected to pass well east of Florida so only minimal effects are expected Thursday and Friday as the storm moves northward toward the Carolinas. A landfall is possible on Saturday as the storm approaches North Carolina. As of Tuesday, the most likely place for landfall appears to be on the Outer Banks of North Carolina as the computer models have continued to shift the track of the storm eastward, Hennen said.

He added it's possible, if this trend continues, that the dangerous core of Irene may miss North Carolina altogether and stay just offshore. Beyond Saturday, most of the computer models continue to show the storm very close or over coastal sections of the Northeast, Hennen said. Many models and the official forecast show a hurricane landfall in the Northeast anywhere from Delaware to New Jersey, Long Island, into Cape Cod and the islands. Widespread damage from wind, rain, and heavy surf appears likely as the storm moves through, he said. Even if the storm does not make a direct hit on the Northeast, the impact could be the same as a very intense winter nor'easter, Hennen said. Hurricane-force winds may occur in major cities like Philadelphia, New York and Boston along with widespread power outages and severe flooding affecting possibly millions of people, Hennen said.

While the effects of a Category 3 or higher hurricane hitting the Outer Banks is potentially devastating, the bigger impact with Irene may be on the Northeast, which could take a direct hit from a hurricane for the first time in decades or experience a very intense storm that stays just off the coast, Hennen said. Emergency officials in southeastern states have already stepped up operations in preparation for the first significant storm to threaten the United States in three years. North Carolina's coastal Ocracoke Island on the Outer Banks and surrounding Hyde County have declared a state of emergency starting at 5 a.m. Wednesday. Officials declared a mandatory evacuation for all visitors and residents starting at 5 a.m. Thursday.

"We will be ready if Hurricane Irene reaches North Carolina," Gov. Beverly Perdue said. "Our teams are already lining up supplies, trucks and resources to reach anywhere the storm might touch." Perdue said at a news conference Tuesday that "in North Carolina, we're prepared." "Quite frankly (the state's) emergency center has done this over and over and over, and we have the best system in America, we know that ... and that system is very, very robust and strong." But she advised coastal residents especially to make plans and to prepare hurricane evacuation kits: "food supplies, medicine, water -- begin to think about your pets, begin to think about those things all around your home or business that can cause damage if there are high winds."

In South Carolina, emergency officials in Beaufort County, which includes Hilton Head Island, worked to make certain that construction sites on major highways could be cleared quickly in case evacuations of coastal areas became necessary. "We're contacting (construction crews) every day now to make sure if we should have to do something, that they could remove their barrels and construction equipment, etc. to clear the road so we don't have impediment in the roadways," county Emergency Management Director Todd Ferguson said Tuesday evening. "We ... will continue to do that until this threat is passed." Irene became a Category 2 hurricane Monday evening, with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph.

The storm, moving at 10 miles per hour, is expected to strengthen to a Category 3 by Wednesday, which would make it a major hurricane, forecasters said, and then approach Category 4 status as it gathers steam and organizes over the warm ocean. "We see no reason for it not to be a major hurricane," said Bill Read, director of the Miami-based National Hurricane Center. Read said Irene could potentially affect the unveiling of the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial in Washington and cause problems with flooding in northeastern states that have already experienced high levels of rainfall this summer. He said the Atlantic up to Cape Hatteras in North Carolina is warm enough to sustain a major hurricane. Tuesday, Irene took aim at the Turks and Caicos islands after lashing the Dominican Republic with 100 mph winds and heavy rain.

It is expected to reach the southeastern and central Bahamas by early Wednesday. Forecasters said Irene could bring another 4 to 8 inches of rain to the Dominican Republic and Haiti, with as much as 15 inches in higher elevations. Potentially dangerous flooding and mudslides were a threat, the center said. Rainfall accumulations of 5 to 10 inches are expected in the southeastern and central Bahamas and in the Turks and Caicos islands, it said. On Grand Turk Island, the skies grew dark Tuesday morning. Janet Williams, the office manager at the Osprey Beach Hotel, said many guests had evacuated but 11 remained and were planning to ride out the storm in the hotel.

With memories still fresh of Ike, a monster 2008 hurricane, residents were taking no chances, Williams said. The streets were empty and windows boarded up. In Puerto Rico, the storm left widespread damage and about 600,000 of the island's 1 million electricity customers were without power, Gov. Luis Fortuno said Monday. Nearly 800 people were in shelters, but no injuries had been reported. President Barack Obama signed an emergency declaration for Puerto Rico, which will allow for federal disaster assistance to the U.S. commonwealth. CNN iReporter John Hall captured images of dark clouds in San Juan as strong winds whipped against his microphone. "I have been prepared since the start of the hurricane season with plenty of water, food, flashlights, candles and of course all my camera and video equipment," he wrote to CNN.

CNN's Moni Basu, Ed Payne, Joe Sutton, Thomas Andres and Michael Martinez contributed to this report. Copyright CNN 2011

Mary (aka Crimson & Clover) and Charles (aka Zoneboy) also live in North Carolina. God bless all of our SO friends in the storm's path - I hope everyone will be OK!!! :bighug:

If this storm is anything like Gloria, then we'll probably be alright in the NYC area.

But don't quote me on that. :eek:

Im kind of nervous about this hurricane. I live in Connecticut and I think Im going to be in the eye of it. I really hope it moves out to sea or if we do get anything, it wont be as bad as they are expecting.

60-80-mph winds predicted for northern New Jersey inland, well, that's no worse than many nor'easters we've had. At least five inches of rain? We've had two to four. Corss your fingers.

I'm on Long Island and we're supposed to be in the eye of the storm :eek: I hope everyone stays safe.

Lonnie Quinn's latest map from WCBS-TV in New York:

I think we will only get lots of rain in philly on saturday night and sunday

I'm about 45 minutes outside of Philadelphia, and from what they wre saying on the news, we're just going to have a lot of rain.

I'm about 45 minutes outside of Philadelphia, and from what they wre saying on the news, we're just going to have a lot of rain.


And I live in downtown philly so I will be fine

I'm crossing my fingers for everybody on the east coast that Irene ends up being downgraded. I'm going to be in NYC in two weeks... I hope there will be no more dramatic weather then!

It's funny... a hurricane is going to lash its fury in a place that has plenty of water... yet mother nature can't spare any water at all for the poor folks down south?? That's just wrong. :crazy: She has her priorities seriously ****ed up.

I'm crossing my fingers for everybody on the east coast that Irene ends up being downgraded. I'm going to be in NYC in two weeks... I hope there will be no more dramatic weather then!

There may be no more NYC then! :eek2:

If this storm is anything like Gloria, then we'll probably be alright in the NYC area.

But don't quote me on that. :eek:


I live here in the NYC area as well. For some reason, I think we'll be okay too. I live on the 17th floor in a studio apartment. I went shopping and live alone. I'm good. I'm going to smuggle my car off the street and put it into the lot here on site. They can't exactly tow it if the hurricane comes, right? LOL. My sister in Florida wants me to get on the road and drive down there. I thought about it immensely but I think I'll be fine. When I lived in Orlando in 2004, we had four hurricanes come through during the summer. The first one was the worst which was Hurricane Charlie. I watched from my window. I opened my front to peek outside and look at my car. The force of the wind made it hard for me to close the door to the apt quickly. :lol:

I'm hearing now that Hurricane Irene is weakening

I live here in the NYC area as well. For some reason, I think we'll be okay too. I live on the 17th floor in a studio apartment. I went shopping and live alone. I'm good. I'm going to smuggle my car off the street and put it into the lot here on site. They can't exactly tow it if the hurricane comes, right? LOL. My sister in Florida wants me to get on the road and drive down there. I thought about it immensely but I think I'll be fine. When I lived in Orlando in 2004, we had four hurricanes come through during the summer. The first one was the worst which was Hurricane Charlie. I watched from my window. I opened my front to peek outside and look at my car. The force of the wind made it hard for me to close the door to the apt quickly. :lol:


I live in middle of downtown philly so I'm COOL!!!-lol

I live in middle of downtown philly so I'm COOL!!!-lol

I know where you live, dude. Small world. If im not mistaken, you can't be too far from the Hilton downtown near city hall? When I worked on a BET show in Philly, our production office was inside the Hilton Hotel. I won't give away the addess, though. LOL.

And much like the Evans Family from "Good Times", I'm on the 17th floor. And like the Jeffersons, I'm on penthouse level. I will just stay from the windows due to heavy winds. ;)

Thomas, being on the 17th floor, arent you afraid just because your so high? I mean 17 floors is a way up, isnt it? Well, I hope your safe. I'm here in CT. and going to be riding out the storm too.

Stay safe everyone, :)

I know where you live, dude. Small world. If im not mistaken, you can't be too far from the Hilton downtown near city hall? When I worked on a BET show in Philly, our production office was inside the Hilton Hotel. I won't give away the addess, though. LOL.

And much like the Evans Family from "Good Times", I'm on the 17th floor. And like the Jeffersons, I'm on penthouse level. I will just stay from the windows due to heavy winds. ;)


Yeah I'm 5 mins from City Hall. In my 11 years of living here, I lost power three times and none of it had anything to do with a storm-lol

I just heard it could weaken to tropical storm status (center winds of less than 74 mph) by the time it hits Long Island, and it might hit Suffolk County rather than Queens, which would technically be a direct hit on New York City. Too bad this is actually considered a best-case scenario!

Yeah I'm 5 mins from City Hall. In my 11 years of living here, I lost power three times and none of it had anything to do with a storm-lol

Oops! I meant to say "Ritz-Carlton" near City Hall.

Yeah I'm 5 mins from [Ritz-Carlton] City Hall. In my 11 years of living here, I lost power three times and none of it had anything to do with a storm-lol

My house lost power sixteen times in 2010, but only three or four of those outages were weather-related.

Thomas, being on the 17th floor, arent you afraid just because your so high? I mean 17 floors is a way up, isnt it? Well, I hope your safe. I'm here in CT. and going to be riding out the storm too.

I'm fine. My building walls are made of concrete. The only thing I need to be cautious of is the winds. What part of Connecticut are you in?
I was in Hurricane Charley and the winds were beyond 100 mph. Do we know what the mph Irene is now?

You continue to be safe, too. ;)

Thomas, I live in North Haven CT. I live near a lot of trees but Im keeping my fingers crossed. I hope it becomes a Tropical Storm. I will be on the site for as long as I have power. Hopefully, I wont lose power.
Also, I dont know the exact wind speed because it could change. Ive been hearing in Conn. that it will be a Category 1 Hurricane. Also, the northern part of Conn. has a Tropical Storm warning, the other part, or southern part, where I live, has a Hurricane warning.

Even tropical storms can be dangerous. Be careful. I've been through many of them when I lived in N.C. I think Irene's winds are at 100 MPH right now,

thoughts and prayers for everyone in irene;s path stay safe everybody

Here comes Irene. Be safe everyone. NYC For the first time in history, the city of New York has ordered a mandatory evacuation of all residents in low lying areas of the city... also known as "Zone A". All people in this area have been ordered to be out of this area by 5pm on Saturday.

I hope everyone is out of the path of this storm.

Stay safe, everyone! I'm thinking of all of you on the East Coast. Please keep us updated if you can.

Estimated 300,000 without power in NC but we've only gotten some moderate wind and rain, no damage or power outage.

It's getting pretty dark outside now.

The forecast for tomorrow for my part of New Jersey is three to five inches of rain with 40 to 60 mph winds, but the weatherman at the local CBS affiliate TV station says that such mild-sounding numbers won't matter much. :eek:

I'm located in Brick, NJ and it's been raining pretty heavily on and off since about noon. The winds are also starting to pick up. Only the barrier island in my town has a mandatory evacaution, everything else is voluntary. It's going to be a long night here and I'm quite concerned about the heavy rains and wind damage. I'm hoping and praying that it won't be as bad as they say. :(

I knew my mom and I should have high-tailed it to Cleveland.

Death toll is at five, including an 11 year old boy:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2011/08/hurricane-irene-boy-killed-by-fallen-tree-in-virginia.html

Sorry to hear that five people have already died as a result of the hurricane.

I'm in Brooklyn, NY and it's been raining off and on throughout the day. The rain wasn't bad for now, pretty much what we usually get here during a "regular storm".

It started coming down a little heavy a few minutes ago, but it didn't last long.

Tornado Watch in effect for the following counties in NJ until 5AM:
BERGEN, ESSEX, HUDSON, MIDDLESEX, MONMOUTH, OCEAN, PASSAIC and UNION county

Tornado Watch in effect for the following counties in NJ until 5AM:
BERGEN, ESSEX, HUDSON, MIDDLESEX, MONMOUTH, OCEAN, PASSAIC and UNION county

I'm in Essex, thanks.

My local PBS station is running "How I Won the War" as its Saturday night movie. I saw it once before, I would have liked to see it again, I didn't know it was on, I was expecting a phone call anyway, but how could I have enjoyed the movie when the power could go off at any minute??????????

There may be no more NYC then! :eek2:
Do you mean like in (the original) Planet of the Apes?

I knew my mom and I should have high-tailed it to Cleveland.
Probably too late to evacuate now. I am following the hurricane.

I was up all night with this hurricane. I actually fell asleep at a quarter to 9 this morning and when that happened the power went out. My power came back on at 11:15 which is when I woke up.

My question(s) are:

Did Connecticut even get hit with the eye of the storm?
Was the storm as bad as it was supposed to be?
What the hell did I actually sleep through?

Luckily NYC has managed to escape the worst of the storm.

We didn't have to evacuate to Cleveland. Our power stayed on and we didn't get flooded. But damn those pesky wind gusts!

Some of our neighbors weren't so lucky. A tree fell on a front yard on the next avenue over, taking down the house's wires connectiing them to the power lines. Another wire went down on the same avenue the next block down. The avenue itself is closed in both directions.

Do you mean like in (the original) Planet of the Apes?

Something like that. But that didn't come to pass, thank goodness. I was expecting Katrina Mark Two.

I'm about 45 min. outside of Philadelphia in an apt. complex, and we made out fine, no problems at all. Some people in our area weren't so lucky, though. Some homes and buisnesses near the river were flooded.

My sister, her husband and their 2 kids though, live in new york outside of Manhatten. I wonder how they made out, because she also has my condition (H.S.P.-Heriditary Spastic Parapaligia a rare muscular condition)

I'm glad that my friends in the storm's path are all OK. There's flooding and no power, but it could've been so much worse. Thank God!!!!

I hope everyone made it through the hurricane and bad weather okay!

I made out just fine. The storm wasn't as bad as I had anticipated which is a good thing. The tornado warnings every couple of minutes, scared the heck out of me though.

Haven't had a chance to post until now. I was in Central Manhattan so I was fine. But I feel so sorry for those who were really in the path (low lying areas, boroughs, LI NJ, SE-NE US coasts) some of them got really clobbered -wishing them all the best and Godspeed

The next storm to form will be Katia (pronounced Kotch-ya), which will likely form out of a tropical depression out in the ocean off the coast of Africa right now. It could theoretically affect the East Coast. Then you'll see the New York Post run headlines like, KATIA GOTCHA!

"Katia" replaced "Katrina," with only two letters' difference.

You guys have to remember, though, Irene may have been a cat 1 hurricane that eventually got downgraded to TS... But she was one mother****in' HUUUUUUUUUUUGE hurricane/TS. About 10% or more of the entire US population was affected in some way. Keep in mind that NYC itself has 8+ million people and the metro area has 14 million more people, putting the total at 22 million people. It's a mighty good thing NYC came out of this one pretty much unscathed.

I'm glad that all who were involved are OK, and that not too many people have died as a result of Irene. One thing I was concerned about was the rebuilding that is going on at the WTC complex in lower Manhattan - they are trying to get 400 total trees planted, plus they have buildings in various stages of construction... Biggest one being 1 WTC, 1/2 of the way done in construction. I heard the Battery Park City (mere blocks away from the construction site) neighborhood was in Zone A, the area most likely to be heavily affected by flooding, etc., as a result of Irene. Fortunately, the site is OK and they actually didn't lose any trees! I did hear about this gigantic tree that got uprooted over in Central Park. :crazy:

Again... Glad that everyone is OK! But boo to power outages. :(

http://i53.tinypic.com/359da1g.jpg

Glad to hear no damage or fatalities from my SO friends! :wave:

The flood waters have turned Fairfield, NJ into a lake.

Hurricanes do not blow....






:( ticked: :mad: :angryfire THEY SUCK!!! :angryfire :mad: ticked: :(

Hurricanes do not blow....






:( ticked: :mad: :angryfire THEY SUCK!!! :angryfire :mad: ticked: :(

I :clap: for you! :D