Here Comes The Rain Again...

Well, as expected, it's raining. We had a sudden downpour and now it's gone from a light shower to an increasingly steady rain. The weather watches and warnings currently in effect for our county are more concerned with the wind that we'll see in a few hours from what is now Tropical Storm Irene, it having been downgraded since making landfall in New Jersey. However, current reports say that about 4.5 million people are without power, 11 people are confirmed dead and extensive flooding throughout coastal areas is occuring as the storm surge coincided with the high tide. The storm surge, reported to be as high as 10 feet in the Carolinas has decreased to about 5 feet which can still cause severe damage and disruption when you consider that much of Manhattan and New York City are low lying and that New York City's mass transit, the subway, is underground. Along with the power distribution system, water pipes and other utilities are located in vaults and a network of tunnels below most major cities making them prone to flooding. One of the other things to consider is that once the flooding has happened there's still prolonged wind that can damage already weakened infrastructure and trees. It's not a quick sort of storm, it'll be a 24 hour experience.

We're ready with our supplies at hand and back-up plans in place. There seems to be more air traffic from the base so obviously the military is getting ready too. The boys have to do a quick check of the exterior of the house before we go out for dinner and then tonight will be our first storm in our new house. It's warm and humid right now which is miles better from freezing and snowy. Winter storms can be very dangerous, I don't think this will be the case with a little tropical storm once it gets to Nova Scotia tonight.

Oh, I see it's stopped raining and the sun is trying to come out...more details later.