Monday June 4, 2007
Get ready for hurricane season 2007
Hurricane season began Friday, and goes through the end of November. No worries, though — this chart has things staying at a low simmer until around August, and peak of the season is in early September. But the beginning of June is important conceptually, because it’s a good time to at least start thinking about the storms. This survey found that more then half the people living in hurricane strike-zones don’t feel vulnerable, and haven’t done anything to prepare.
Well, as someone who lived through Andrew, I can safely (har!) tell you that you are vulnerable. And on the other hand: relax, people. It’s not the end of the world. Your chances of dying are vanishingly small, especially if you’re not a knucklehead who decided to go for a drive during a storm. Your property damage is covered by insurance. For the most part, hurricane season consists of watching storms whiz through the Atlantic, betting on who they’ll hit and when. When one comes close it generates a lot more in exited preparation, days off from work, and hurricane-party intoxication then it does in actual violence. Chill out, people — hurricane season is fun.
Having said that, I do recommend getting into the hurricane frame of mind. Here’s a hurricane crib-sheet to catch you up on the physics of a storm. Here’s the Red Cross hurricane preparedness style guide. Here’s NOAA’s think-piece about harvesting the energy of hurricanes. Oh, and click the retro-chic hurricane tracking map above for NOAA’s home page, with your daily official predictions. But don’t sweat it. If you want, get yourself some plywood or shutters if you don’t have them already (you don’t want to be one of those fools on TV standing in a Home Depot line for three hours and then going home empty-handed, now do you?). Pick up some basic supplies. And keep a stray eye on the news. For your convenience, I added live satellite imagery to the sidebar. Now hurry up and relax.
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Live storm satellite imagery on the sidebar? I think I’m in love!
Latinbombshell, I agree wholeheartedly.
Best Miami Blog, indeed!
Can we keep it even after hurricane season ends? Please can we?
Agree on the weather map.
Hurricane season “fun?” I don’t know, Alesh. Perhaps if I was living in an apartment with nothing to worry about except losing power and a couple of my material possessions. But, man, shuttering a house, losing and having to replace a screened enclosure or having to reroof your house when everyone is reroofing and prices have doubled? No. Fun is golfing. Fun is having a great meal in a fine restaurant. Fun is hiking a great mountain trail.
Hurricanes are a pain in the ass.
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I see your point, Rick. If you’re an old single guy living in a big empty house in west broward, and all you want to do is hit the links, then a hurricane must be a real pain in the ass. I’d be up nights too, worried about my precious “screened enclosure.”
Good think you can always make fun of the Cubans to cheer yourself up!
Dude, why do you want to start with me? What did I say this time that bent you the wrong way, Alesh?
Guess you want to continue this BS back and forth we got going? Fine with me.
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Which reminds me. I may be old but at least I still have a full head of hair.
Putz.
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I note with some amusement that almost 20 minutes elapsed between those two comments, and you came up with “at least I still have a full head of hair” and “Putz.”
Seriously, though, no offense intended. Sincere apologies for playing fast and loose with your emotions for my selfish amusement.
I never thought I would say this but where’s Manny’s left testicle when you need it?