Hurricane Florence

Yes, you guys are in our prayers. It is relieving to see the hurricane being downgraded, but regardless it is still going to be a major storm.

Praying for the best.

Following is a snapshot of Weather Underground's map just now. The good is that the storm has dropped in intensity, but winds are in Hurricane Category 1 (74 - 95 MPH) in much of the southeast.

In Raleigh, North Carolina there are tornado and flood warnings. I turned down the intensities for the severe and for the radar overlays, so the wind data in MPH would not be obscured.


Center of the storm made landfall near the borders of South and North Carolina.

There's a good possibility we may not hear communication from those within the storm's region as infrastructure may be affected by the heavy rains, flooding and disabled power and communication lines. My brother's family and my mother live further inland in the Charlotte NC area, west of Raleigh. They have flood warnings there.

Hope it continues to lose strength.

Kim wrote:Hope it continues to lose strength.

. Greenie cuz you quoted John Prine

akjgardner wrote:

Kim wrote:Hope it continues to lose strength.

.                                    Greenie cuz you quoted John Prine

Three Prine fans on one page, who'da thunk.
I was just writing to say we were okay in Columbia so far when the poser blipped. Now I'm rewriting it. It's a strange storm, just sitting almost still and grinding away at the coast. I'm most worried that it'll last for days of rain. I'll try to keep in touch, but my cellular signal is pretty poor here. Thanks for thinking of us.
Rusty

Yahoo News - Live Updates Hurricane Florence 141024455

Yahoo News wrote:10 hours ago
The latest on Hurricane Florence:
• The massive storm made landfall in Wrightsville Beach, N.C.
• The Cat. 1 storm, with winds of 75 mph, is moving west at 5 mph
• 2 people were killed and another critically injured after a tree fell on a home.
• Florence is expected to dump as much as 40 in. of rain in some areas
• More than 20 inches of rain has already fallen in Oriental, N.C.
• "Catastrophic" flooding is expected over portions of the Carolinas
• Forecasters predict a storm surge of 9 to 13 feet
• At least 150 people were awaiting rescue in New Bern, N.C., early Friday
• More than 600,000 people are without power
• Trump thanked FEMA and first responders on the "incredible job being done"

Latest:
ABC News Hurricane Florence Pummels North Carolina Coast Flooded

ABC News wrote:Hurricane Florence: At least 3 dead as storm brings '1,000-year' rain, catastrophic flooding to North Carolina
Sep 14, 2018, 3:46 PM ET

Hurricane Florence pummeled North Carolina, making landfall Friday morning with storm surges and wind gusts before contributing to at least three deaths.

Authorities have confirmed those storm-related deaths, including a mother and her infant who died after a tree fell on their home in Wilmington, where the storm hit Friday morning with a 105 mph wind gust, the strongest wind in the city since 1958.

Even though the storm intensity has reduced, it's power is still formidable. May we pray that the emergency responders, government agencies, civic and religious benevolent organizations, and private corporations are fully supplied and adequately staff, are properly coordinated and not hindered in providing all forms of necessary relief, and the law enforcement officials are not hindered in keeping order, where justice needs to prevail it may, and where mercy need prevail it may, and people's immediate needs are met.

Rusty saw Stephen Keith "Steve" Benjamin on Fox Business news this AM with Varley grilling him about evacuation orders and how many complied.... I do like my Fox Businesses news.... but in reality they all are not very bright on a lot of subjects

I was proud of the mayor schooling the talking head....
Steve polity said..."no sir no evacuations ...locally....WE are a donor community and we have opened all our schools and civic disaster relief shelters and areas to intake as rapidly as possible and take care of all our coastal brothers and sisters that are displace by this storm

Again...because I have experience with this non sense I was very impress that Mayor Benjamin was so polite with the STUPID question

So Rusty ...just from a power outage POV and YOUR need for dialysis fairly frequently...what is the program and plan ...I seem to think from your exploits over the years here on CEF...you need medical attention fairly frequently...or do I miss read the need and you are good to go for 7 to 14 days

Just for perspective...I have 2 family members in Rural WVA that need ...basically... weekly "treatments"...since I have been married to Renie for last 35 years... more than once some unique weather event forced one of these distant family to be life flighted to another part of the state with the capability to provide the treatment....

NOTE I am shooting blind...neither of these were kidney dialysis needs....

while on the subject......as stated in other threads... I have worked either as a soldier or civilian for several of the significant disasters inside the USA and a few in foreign countries.....

Very significantly under reported are the medical needs....OK some-news agencies eventual do an old folks home story.......I am not sure how many folks realize that hundreds or thousand of citizens TAKE medications that CAN NOT be discontinued

So eventually a call comes in to the call center from Boise Idaho abut a 85 year old aunt in woodlands Texas...I inside the Harvey bad mo jo zone... lost cell contact 2 days ago but last msg was high and dry but out of all medications ( meds usually dispatched by mail)

So Now local FEMA/HL/Sherrif/POPO...some one ...must find this old lady and determine the exact prescription, find a source, go get the meds, then deliver to this other wise safe citizen......

Point is in all of these disasters are a LOT of different and very dynamic situations...and every one MUST be dealt with by some person or team

I would like to think that my musing for the last several years on these extreme weather events would lead the person reading my pontificates....IF YOU ARE TOLD TO EVACUATE....do so IMMEDIATELY....

Why am I so passionate on this....just google first responders loss of life ...I am personally tired of attending a funeral for some hero who died because the one they saved DID NOT do every thing in their power to save their own life

fredvon4 wrote:I would like to think that my musing for the last several years on these extreme weather events would lead the person reading my pontificates....IF YOU ARE TOLD TO EVACUATE....do so IMMEDIATELY....

Why am I so passionate on this....just google first responders loss of life ...I am personally tired of attending a funeral for some hero who died because the one they saved DID NOT do every thing in their power to save their own life

This is along the same lines you mention of, Fred, and it was preventable. A high school teacher in Thailand took kids into a remote cave on a treacherous trail, then they got trapped. An emergency responder diver died during the rescue.

EDM Digest: Diver Victim Thai Cave Rescue

Some people don't properly manage risk until the mistake is paid for in blood. Even after that, some still don't get it.

So Rusty ...just from a power outage POV and YOUR need for dialysis fairly frequently...what is the program and plan ...I seem to think from your exploits over the years here on CEF...you need medical attention fairly frequently...or do I miss read the need and you are good to go for 7 to 14 days
 

Fred, I just recently heard that a dialysis patient with zero kidney function(like me), who ceases their 3 weekly treatments(Mine are normally M, W, and F) usually die within a week or two, getting sicker and sicker every day after day-4 or so(in my estimation). If I am very careful to limit potassium and fluid intake, maybe a few more days. I dialyzed Wednesday, and had a precautionary short topoff treatment again on Thursday, because I'm going all the way till Monday before my next one. By then, I could be getting uncomfortable if I ingest too much water from food and drink, but okay if I keep it under 3 liters/kilos. Remember I only weigh 56.5 kg(126.5 lb). Food contains a lot of water, so I have to be aware. By uncomfortable, I mean short of breath since my lungs would be beginning to get wet and BP rising. Potassium and other electrolytes are muscle and heart stoppers too, so no foods high in that stuff. Our clinic has a Diesel Kohler generator, so if the water supply is not contaminated and they're not flooded they will be in business, but we've been well briefed on contingency plans. We have good medical resources in Columbia. But I still am a little on edge about it. I do have enough meds, or paper Rx scrips in hand to go the distance.

That got longer than I expected. It's actually the first time I've been asked.

The wind is picking up. The sun is going down. If we have power and cable, I will do a show tonight. So if you want to kill some time, check out the Stunt Hangar Youtube channel starting at 9:40 ET, when I usually sign on. Y'all take care, and I'll check in as often as I can. Some of my other eastern buddies are in more trouble with the storm than I am. Eric for one.
Rusty

Rusty thanks for that description of your personal situation....over the years that is about how I figured it

So Now we all need to hope and pray this Flo Bit... moves the hell on inland, north, and dissipates as fast as possible....

Brother Rusty...sound like you know the deal and have a plan...only thing I can send are prayers....on the way

Fortunately Columbia and Fort Jackson...are far enough inland odd are good...you just get soaked real good...and we all know YOU been there done that several times since we have know you....

Thanks, guys. Okay, let's see, in the past 29 hours, I've gained a half a kilo, doing pretty good, eh... I've had lots of practice and it comes naturally to me now. It's tough for the new patients, restricting drinking when you "feel" thirsty. In May I will have been doing it for 33 years. It's nice not to have to stop the car to take a leak on road trips. My passengers may not agree, Lol.

From my perspective in central NC the big deal is that the ground is already hyper-saturated from an unusually wet August and September independent of Florence. That means lots of flooding and lots of trees (and we've got ass loads of trees here) just coming up by the roots in just 25 to 40 MPH winds and knocking down power lines left and right.

Rusty, glad to see you are doing okay even with your limitations. Regarding comments on evacuation, you're in a little different situation in that you are an ambulatory patient almost every other day. Logistics aren't quite as simple as for others. But am glad to see you are still doing fine through this bit of weather.

Hope all you in the path of Florence are safe. Looks like the MD Eastern Shore is going to dodge another bullet. I lived and grew up on the upper shore since I was about 1 year old (1959), and have never been seriously affected by a hurricane, although Hazel did a number on the lower shore. Be safe and be smart.

fredvon4 wrote:Rusty thanks for that description of your personal situation....over the years that is about how I figured it

So Now we all need to hope and pray this Flo Bit...    moves the hell on inland, north, and dissipates as fast as possible....

Brother Rusty...sound like you know the deal and have a plan...only thing I can send are prayers....on the way

Fortunately Columbia and Fort Jackson...are far enough inland odd are good...you just get soaked real good...and we all know YOU been there done that several times since we have know you....

AMEN! Rusty and Eric, you guys are in my prayers! Be safe! I am looking forward to hearing from you two soon!

It's rained 7 days straight practically here. I've pretty much had enough. Downpours only took place later in the evening but the constant steady drizzle is most miserable. The ground is saturated making my old stone foundation home leak a bit. Probably good if your growing mushrooms . Today, is our first glimpse of steady sun in a week and it's refreshing. I hope it dries things up a bit. After a very hard downpour the other afternoon the sun broke out in full strength immediately after it poured. It felt as though the sun was magnified 10x's. Horribly humid and just outright crappy, the sun went back in, it would rain again, and the whole cycle would start over. Glad that's over with. Today looks like a day of flying for me.

It looks like we dodged a bullet here.  Still a bit breezy with on and off rain.  We never lost power, only a few seconds-long power flickers last night.  No downed trees but I'll be busy with a rake for a few hours once the rain stops.  They tell us we're not completely out of the woods yet, as we're in the Flash Flood Warning Zone and the ground is saturated.  Standing water in the yard.  

I hope everyone fares as well as we did.

Broken hearts and dirty windows
Make life difficult to see
That's why last night and this morning
Always look the same to me

Another John Prine fan here

Ya all, have my thoughts and prayers. Keep a positive attitude.

Is it too early for a little humor?

Haha, now that's funny!

You can either laugh or cry. Easy choice for me.
Rusty