posted September 18, 2003 08:25 AM           

Damn. Wow.
My southerly relatives have already evacuated.

My Uni's closed (so no school, work for me today...prolly tomorrow, too); metro's closing at 11 AM, and the Fed Gov't shut down shop as well.

The news is saying that we should expect power outages lasting a couple-few days.

posted September 18, 2003 08:42 AM           

*slap*

posted September 18, 2003 08:55 AM         

She's making a direct path here, too, and probably for the first time in history there is a 'tropical storm watch' in PA! So I gathered up things from my porch, put them aside, out of harm's way...unplugged my new TV (last month's storms fried my previous one), unplugged the 'puter at home, stocked up on some water, and now that I've made all these preparations, we'll probably have nothing to worry about! At least I hope...

...'cause I hate not being able to shower and blow-dry in the morning!

posted September 18, 2003 08:57 AM         

Andy, I can make ya a tin foil cap if ya think it would help.

posted September 18, 2003 09:00 AM         

Edgar Cayce felt Virginia Beach would endure to the end. My prayers to all in the path

posted September 18, 2003 10:14 AM         

Really, I am using sick humor to cover up my fear of this stuff. I live right off the Chesapeake near City Dock in Annapolis. What I am worried about most are the falling trees and wind. We are right in Isabels path. Hmmmm, wasn't it tropical storm Isadore that caused problems this time last year. In fact, that was when I got into a car accident (again the moon was in Gemini).

So, I have my box of Cheez its, plenty of beer and 9 lives for the cats.

Not to mention my Virgo buddy with a Cancer moon will be hanging out with me. He has all the necessities.

posted September 18, 2003 11:07 AM         

...here in PA, we expect the rain to begin late this afternoon, full force tonight, with the damaging winds, etc.
So..we'll see.

Thanks for your concern, and thanks for yours as well juniperb.

We'll keep you posted, so long as we have power.

pidaua, proxie...stay safe all.

posted September 18, 2003 12:04 PM         

I think some of my anxiety is coming from feeling the natural disaster approach. Does anyone else get like that. Like you can almost feel the full force or strength like it's inside of you and you can also feel the fear of the people around you?

posted September 18, 2003 01:14 PM         

pidaua, I think you are hyper-sensitive to some things, which is awesome, but I'm sorry it's manifesting as anxiety for you in this instance...

Be well all...

posted September 19, 2003 09:38 AM         

A meteorologist explained to me that as hurricane travels, the area to its west gets the rain, to the right gets the wind. And though it was predicted Isabella would pass right through our area, she went west instead. Some parts of this area received damage and power outages, but mostly, we were very very fortunate.

I know some friends in the D.C. area do have power today, hope pidaua and proxie doing well...

posted September 19, 2003 10:28 AM         

I am using my laptop which might die soon. Luckily I had recharged it by accident earlier in the week.

posted September 19, 2003 12:27 PM         

The power just came back on here after going out around 4:15 A.M. Yaaay! (I'm in SE Pa.). A 2 hour delay for school, and my daughter was mad she had to go, lol. I went out looking for a cup of coffee and a hot breakfast only to find nearby restuarants closed, several road blocks due to large trees down and congested main roads due to traffic lights not working. Came back home and used a candle to heat 1/2 cup water so I could make some instant coffee...

But everything's humming away now, so I'm gonna clean and launder and cook with a renewed appreciation for the wonders of electricity! Had to check the forums here first though, lol. Hmmmm...can you say addicted?

posted September 19, 2003 04:47 PM           

Scatbug won't be checking in for some time, though. He doesn't have power (and probably won't any time soon), and I think that his satellite internet is toast for the time being. He's currently (as far as I know) helping his dad to remove debris and right those smaller trees that can stand it. He might be on over tonight. BTW, funny note: if he had stayed at that house last night, his '73 Superbeetle would've been crushed; a gigantic limb fell right where he usually parks it.
The only reason I have power right now is b/c I'm in Fairfax City, and they've been really focusing on this area. Most of the lights are still out, but in major intersections they've set-up generators, gaurded zealously by bored public works employees.

We spent the night with my Grandmother (who lives a bit closer to Rt. 1 and 95) to help ease her nerves. She lost power around 3 PM yesterday as we sat down to watch a movie. It was great - a tree hitting a power cord nearly half a mile away sounded like an explosion. Her power's still off...and will be for a while. BUT she's better off than my Mom down in Stafford. She got hit head-on by the grouchy ole' storm, loosing her phone lines, too.

Trees are EVERYWHERE - split and/or uprooted -, as are the powerlines they've taken down with them. It took us 3 different routes just to try and get from my Gma's to Jason's (usually a 10-minute drive, tops). The first way was blocked by a tree that had been leaning with the support of lines all day, but finally gave up the ghost and lay splayed across the roadway; the second had a live wire hanging across its expanse.
Much of the earlier problem-spots have been taken care of, though. It's completely wild to drive and see a sawed-off half of a gigantic, overturned tree stop where the road starts and pick up again where it ends. Hey, firewood.
My little house got lucky, but one right up the street had a mature oak crash through its roof, and my step-Grandmother's whole yard is flooded (she lives right off of the Occoquan).
The biggest problem right now is that there's no potable water in Fairfax. Three of the processing plants got flooded (or something like that), and they've warned that the tap water's too nasty to even use for showers until it's been boiled.

All in all, however, we're not that bad off. Whole areas are flooded, and whole communities downed. I pity the people around VA Beach and leading up to the Shennandoah.

posted September 20, 2003 01:18 PM         

The cats hid for a good long time, wondering what the heck was up. Fletcher, my male, is just Mr. Lovey-bottom right now. I can hardly type with him sitting on me, purring, nuzzling...lol he was pretty scared. Yesterday they came by with chainsaws and tree-eaters to get rid of the debris, the cats were scared out of their minds.

Good to hear that everyone is okay, my thoughts are totally with the people that are still flooded out and others that may be hurt.