my house in brooklyn is about 1 mile from that purple line

is that bad?...

It's hard to imagine what being without power for several days is like because it can't really be captured in a photograph, like storm surges and damaged trees and houses can. That's probably why people are taking that threat so lightly.

We get snow storms and ice storms and stuff phb, we're well aware of what it can be like be without power for a few days. It isn't the end of world, unlike, say, death.

What Prohorn is getting at is if you lose power, you can lose power for weeks depending on how bad it is. So if you are going to evacuate, you might as well go somewhere that isn't expected to be affected by the storm.

Also, keep in mind, the NE has had a ****load of rain this summer. The ground is already satruated and anything over 40 mph can knock trees down.

And if the NYC subway system gets flooded, (which is a serious legit concern), NYC is ****ed. The salt water will damage everything and it could take years to fix it.

The NE hasn't had a true hurricane in decades. Storms like Gloria and Floyd were basically tropical storms associated w/ a front. This is a completely different animal and people are going to be in shock at how bad things are going to get if the models are correct. This isn't going to be a 12 hour deal where the storm is racing up the coast. Also, the water is a lot warmer than usual so the storm is not going to weaken as much as it normally would.

I think mine is under the purple line....

Here's a good weather blog for hurricane news:

http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/show.html

So... your advice is "go far enough away not to die, but not far enough away to stay somewhere likely to have power for a few weeks until stuff gets restored back home"?

Why? That seems.... stupid.

And you keep saying a "few days". Substitute "weeks" for "days", please.

And I don't know what the temperature is like up there right now but I assume it's hovering around 90?

This storm is really no JOKE at all. If it keeps up the path it's on now damages will reach well over hurrican andrew's damages. When this passes through the NYC area it will still be a category 1 hurricane. Add to that the wettest august in some areas ever..and rain today, the ground is already soaked. It wont take much for trees to fall down easily. If it hits NYC hard, the subway system will be underwater and therefore transportation will be at a stand still..but hey..if you guys don't think this is a big deal maybe the guy on the weather channel saying "this is likely to be the worst weather this area has ever seen" will change your mind

Pretty sure everyone in New England has lost power for days at a time in a snowstorm at some point. Sort of worse in the winter when its zero degrees out. We're more worried about getting flooded out or impaled with debris. Losing power for a few days sucks, but its not really the primary concern.

EDIT: Slow pony is slow

What about a few weeks without power? You won't be able to get gas, travel anywhere, drink regular water, go to the bathroom in a clean enviornment, shower, etc. Hurricanes are strong enough to change a country's economy so it's not wise to dismiss it as "a few days w/o power."

This you can plow 2 feet of snow gradually, but there's nothing you can do if there's a deadly storm surge and everything is under water. The path it's set to take now is literally the worst possible scenario for NYC/LI area

You arent going to lose power for a few weeks in Albany.

Im sure if he had somewhere to stay in Buffalo he'd go there.

Correct, but the poster was getting out of dodge to escape the flooding and the storm surge.

People need to stop saying "lose power for a few days".

It's "lose power for a few weeks."

No but he may lose it for a few weeks back home. So he'll want to pick a place where hopefully no power is lost. Not "only a few days". He can stay with his mom in Albany if he wants to save money on a hotel room further west. That's his call.

True..on the storm2k site..there has been many people saying that the worst case scenario for a hurricane to hit in the US heads on is NO, tampa bay, and NYC........take that fwiw

Not at all discounting this but you can hover around a fireplace to help. When it's 90F outside and you are without power for several days tell me how comfortable you will feel?

Whatever works. Just be careful where you put the duct tape.

Also, since apparently this storm is going to submerge NYC and turn us into the next Atlantis, you should probably get a canoe.

Worst case for NYC is it makes landfall in NJ and NYC gets the brunt of the bad side. All that water would pile into the city. You never want to be on the right side of landfall.

***BREAKING*** Ocean City Initiates Phase Three of Emergency Plan - Mandatory Evacuations Beginning at Midnight Tonight

by Ocean City, MD - The Official Page on Thursday, August 25, 2011 at 3:18pm

Ocean City Initiates Phase Three of Emergency Plan



Ocean City Emergency Management officials will initiate phase three of the hurricane action plan in preparation for Hurricane Irene. Phase three will go into effect at midnight tonight.



Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan has signed a proclamation declaring a local State of Emergency.



All persons other than identified emergency personnel are ordered to evacuate. Visitors are asked to return to their principle residences. Ocean City residents are asked to seek shelter elsewhere.



Utilizing the authority under a local State of Emergency, the Mayor is banning the sale of all alcohol in Ocean City and requests that all businesses close beginning at midnight.



All incoming traffic to Ocean City, Maryland, will be limited to emergency personnel. No other vehicles will be permitted entry to the island, except by approved authority (Mayor, City Manager and Emergency Services Director).



Ocean City Municipal Transportation System is providing transportation for special needs individuals. For special needs transportation, please call Ocean City Transportation at 410-723-1606. International student workforce evacuation continues and will be completed by tomorrow morning.



The Ocean City Government Cable Access Channel 4, the Ocean City website www.ocmdemergency.com, recorded emergency management line, 410-723-6666 and Ocean City advisory radio station 1670 AM will remain operational for further advisories.



Ocean City is expected to receive a significant impact from Hurricane Irene.



Easterly gale force winds should start affecting the area on Saturday, August 27 at 5 p.m. with hurricane-force winds arriving around 4 a.m. and lasting for a period of eight hours. The highest wind speeds from Hurricane Irene should occur near 9 a.m. when top sustained winds, from the north, could reach 90 mph with gusts near 120 mph. Winds should decrease below hurricane force shortly thereafter.



Sustained winds will fall below gale force after 3 p.m. and generally be from the north during this period of decreasing winds. Expect gusts above gale force level for several more hours thereafter.



The total rainfall for the Ocean City area over the next three days is forecast to be 9.5 inches. This can vary significantly as tropical storm and hurricane rainfall is very difficult to predict.



Storm surge is expected to be six-feet above normal high tide cycles resulting in significant flooding in low-lying areas.

That would suck. Fortunately the high for Sunday is 73 and Monday is 80.

That helps a lot obviously. I know it can get hot in NYC and I also know fall is just around the corner so I have no idea what highs are like there right now. If it were above 85 or 90 it would be way worse in terms of comfort level.

It's not suppose to hit the Carolina's til 8AM on Sat. once it starts moving out of there I think people in NY, NJ, etc. will have a better idea of what to prepare for and the future track will be a lot clearer.

Everyone can speak for themselves on this, but personally being without power for a few days would be a pretty big deal. But I imagine its different for someone with a family and a home to care for in suburbia than it is for someone who lives in an apartment in Manhattan and who doesn't have to worry about kids.