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IRL (In Real Life) => Current Events => Topic started by: JasonPratt on September 01, 2019, 12:18:27 PM

Title: Super-hurricane Dorian
Post by: JasonPratt on September 01, 2019, 12:18:27 PM
Now up to 185mph sustained winds at the core (with a huge eye wall, the largest I can personally recall), Dorian now ties for the strongest Atlantic hurricane on modern record. It's basically an EF-4 tornado now, except ridiculously huge, and continuing all the time. Gusts are expected to exceed 220mph.

Made landfall at one of the northwestern Bahama islands earlier today (Sept 1). Original expectations were that it would grind across Florida and out into the Gulf, where it might have strengthened again and hit the NO/Biloxi/Mobile area. Current projections suggest it's going to grind northward up the coast of Florida, with the eye standing off to reduce power slowly, and work its way up the coast of the southeastern states. It might still be a hurricane by the time it reaches Virginia or even DC! The only good news in this projection is that, so far as the eye stands off the coast, winds on the coast will be reduced somewhat (only a constant EF-2 tornado hundreds of miles across, not EF-4.  <:-) :hide: ) The bad news is that this means the storm surge could be very bad and ongoing.

Disaster relief teams have been gearing up for a while, but they're going to be spread awfully thin if Dorian takes its projected path; and who knows what will be left of the outer Bahamas or how soon help will arrive there.

(Ironically, "Dorian" comes from the Greek term {dorean}, which means freely-given. That's usually a good thing, but not in this case!)

I figured we should have a thread for anyone wanting to discuss conditions and relief efforts, maybe also for Grogs in the path of the storm.
Title: Re: Super-hurricane Dorian
Post by: Gusington on September 01, 2019, 12:25:27 PM
This storm's growth is amazing. It went from tropical storm to Category 5 in just a few days! Last week Accuweather was running stories on how quiet this hurricane season has been...mostly.
Title: Re: Super-hurricane Dorian
Post by: JasonPratt on September 01, 2019, 01:11:19 PM
I was thinking the same thing: with relatively few storms out there sucking up the energy, the first serious storm to come along would be just awful.
Title: Re: Super-hurricane Dorian
Post by: 88mmkwk on September 01, 2019, 02:07:23 PM
My son is in med school in West Palm Beach, and he had planned on riding it out initially.  But with the recent course change and gaining strength to Cat 5, common sense prevailed and he drove this morning to Fort Meyers to stay with some other classmates...

Dorian is not something to be taken lightly - this storm is a beast!   :o
Title: Re: Super-hurricane Dorian
Post by: Gusington on September 01, 2019, 02:56:40 PM
Ordinarily med school in West Palm Beach sounds quite choice 😎
Title: Re: Super-hurricane Dorian
Post by: steve58 on September 01, 2019, 02:57:19 PM
Quote
With its maximum sustained winds of 185 mph (295 kph), it tied the record for the most powerful Atlantic hurricane ever to come ashore, equaling the Labor Day hurricane of 1935, before the storms were named.

https://apnews.com/aa6329cd86a64189a66e275db0885e49

Interesting almost coincidence. ???


Stay safe all.  I've got a sister in the Charleston, SC area.  I'm hoping Dorian goes east.
Title: Re: Super-hurricane Dorian
Post by: Staggerwing on September 01, 2019, 03:04:13 PM
Good luck all of you who may be in the path. Stay safe!
Title: Re: Super-hurricane Dorian
Post by: solops on September 01, 2019, 03:55:04 PM
I want to go on record as being AGAINST hurricane Dorian. I plan to demand that Congress officially censure Dorian and pass a law banning it from our shores. Let the Democrats call this racism, I shall remain firm. As a Texan I am no stranger to these vile, foreign storms and it is long past time that the government took firm action to secure our borders against them. Everyone, prepare and be safe.
Title: Re: Super-hurricane Dorian
Post by: MrsWargamer on September 01, 2019, 05:05:39 PM
Dorian is going to be nasty.

But keep this in mind. This is Sept 01 and it is NOT the end of hurricane season. That happens in November.

Dorian likely won't be the last of it.
Title: Re: Super-hurricane Dorian
Post by: Staggerwing on September 01, 2019, 05:09:51 PM
Quote from: MrsWargamer on September 01, 2019, 05:05:39 PM
Dorian is going to be nasty.

But keep this in mind. This is Sept 01 and it is NOT the end of hurricane season. That happens in November.

Dorian likely won't be the last of it.

Too true.  :(
Title: Re: Super-hurricane Dorian
Post by: em2nought on September 03, 2019, 12:52:29 PM
Quote from: solops on September 01, 2019, 03:55:04 PM
I want to go on record as being AGAINST hurricane Dorian. I plan to demand that Congress officially censure Dorian and pass a law banning it from our shores. Let the Democrats call this racism, I shall remain firm. As a Texan I am no stranger to these vile, foreign storms and it is long past time that the government took firm action to secure our borders against them. Everyone, prepare and be safe.

This is what open borders will get you.  ;)
Title: Re: Super-hurricane Dorian
Post by: Sir Slash on September 04, 2019, 06:32:01 PM
Looks like Florida's new strategy to turn away hurricanes has worked. When the storm got close, everybody in the whole state went outside and played Polka music at Dorian real loud. Now the storm has gone north but, all the yankees in Wisconsin and Michigan heard the music too and are headed south. So... about 50/50 I'd say.  :hide:
Title: Re: Super-hurricane Dorian
Post by: Staggerwing on September 04, 2019, 07:35:18 PM
^ "Shmenge! Shmenge!"


Title: Re: Super-hurricane Dorian
Post by: Sir Slash on September 04, 2019, 10:11:59 PM
That would do it for me.  :buck2:
Title: Re: Super-hurricane Dorian
Post by: JasonPratt on September 05, 2019, 08:10:25 AM
Strengthened back up to a Category 3 this morning! -- hanging off the coast whapping South and now North Carolina with its arms, while it slowly dawdles along.
Title: Re: Super-hurricane Dorian
Post by: Sir Slash on September 05, 2019, 09:22:28 AM
Must be a 'guy' hurricane because it won't stop for directions.  ???
Title: Re: Super-hurricane Dorian
Post by: Gusington on September 05, 2019, 09:51:29 AM
Only losers do that.
Title: Re: Super-hurricane Dorian
Post by: JasonPratt on September 07, 2019, 02:35:46 PM
I'm not sure I understand what I just read, but the Weather Channel was reporting that the Bahamaian government was considering evacuating survivors from Grand Bahama and one of the other islands.

That sounds like they're planning to basically leave the islands, uninhabited, until and unless they can be rebuilt.  :o

(I've visited Grand Bahama twice, both times as a boy; my Dad's father and step-mom lived there for many years.)
Title: Re: Super-hurricane Dorian
Post by: Staggerwing on September 07, 2019, 04:13:23 PM
My understanding is that those particular islands were basically scoured down to complete rubble. There is probably no infrastructure left at all. If folks wanted to live there they would basically be long term wilderness camping until some form of public services are rebuilt, which could be years.

Unless the US offered quite substantial aid very quickly the Chinese will probably get there first, offering to rebuild all of it good as new in exchange for "just the teensiest little PLAN naval yard there as well, really, it won't get in anyones way, no fuss... nothing, no bother at all".
Title: Re: Super-hurricane Dorian
Post by: Gusington on September 07, 2019, 05:27:40 PM
Wow :o
Title: Re: Super-hurricane Dorian
Post by: Staggerwing on September 07, 2019, 05:43:09 PM
Yeah. The People's Liberation Army Navy will have a branch location 50 miles from Miami. Maybe they will have Red Tag Day sales?
Title: Re: Super-hurricane Dorian
Post by: JasonPratt on September 07, 2019, 07:52:51 PM
Quote from: Staggerwing on September 07, 2019, 05:43:09 PM
Yeah. The People's Liberation Army Navy will have a branch location 50 miles from Miami. Maybe they will have Red Tag Day sales?

Like Cuba but different!

...hey, maybe they'll have spats with each other over who has the most progressive socialist paradise comrade.  >:D


Back on topic, I'm not sure I've ever heard of a total population evacuation of an island the size of GB -- and I think some other island (but not the one Dorian hit first), maybe the capital island? (Bahama isn't actually the capital island of the Bahamas.)