Hurricane Irene Blog - Sunday 22.00

There’s an odd feeling around a town that’s been through a long night. It’s like that really chilled out feeling you get the day after a good late party. The dark frightening, windswept and sodden night gave way to a grey, gusty morning and finally a beautiful, bright, breezy afternoon. Wndering around the Inner Harbour there was a feeling of tolerance or relief. Visiting Navy ships moored around the edges and above, unfettered by clouds, the sun was able to make its warmth known. Up the hill Camden Yards was full of enthusiastic baseball fans and along the way workers checked the integrity of the temporary stands erected for next week's Grand Prix. Back in the harbour the only signs of damage were the little electric boats, floating, but filled with water like a line of baths. By and large we dodged a bullet.

The totals were I was staying would up being 4.6 inches of rain and a gusts of up to 55mph. Doesn’t sound like much but I don’t need to live it through it again.

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Bazza

Hurricane Irene Blog - Sunday 09.30

All that's left is some light rain, a breeze and a cleanup. Will make some tea and head out but overall cannot see any obvious damage

Hurricane Irene Blog - Sunday 04.15

It's all about the wind now. Less rain but the wind is gusting very strongly. Half of the mall across the road seems to be in the dark. We still have power. This is about the time the eye passes to the east. At around midnight the estimation was that we,d had just over 4 inches of rain and gusts at 50 mph both these numbers are bound to increased.

Re: Hurricane Irene - Saturday 11.30

In bed now. It has gotten really really loud out there. The rain has gotten as heavy as at any point in the day. It has now been raining really heavily for 12 hours. The wind is now gusting really powerfully.
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Hurricane Irene Blog - Saturday 22.15

Wind is stronger yet and has also swung around a bit so that it is slapping the non stop rain against my windows. Those windows, in my hotel room, face North West and up until now I have been on the sheltereds side. The seriously worrying development is tornadoes within some of the spiraling rain bands. We have totally lost all local channels from satelitte but still have power right now. The Governor of Maryland announced that there will be no attempt to fix any power outages until after the storm is finished (makes sense really).



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Bazza

Hurricane Irene Blog - Saturday 20.30

Good news! The rain has stopped falling. Now it's just going sideways. We are still about 7 or 8 hours 'til the eye passes by about 30 miles to the east. Wind is steady but not tree bending yet. Still expecting the total rainfall to be around 7 inches and once the stronger winds do come the soaked ground will let the trees go. The trees are bound to take out power lines so I'd be surprised if I have power all night. Also having watch the traffic signals swaying in the moderate breeze this morning I would expect many of those to ocme down.



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Bazza

Hurricane Irene Blog - Saturday 16.30

16.30
Moved the car to a hotel nearby. This hotel seems to be at a nadir so if we are to get a lot rain it might not be so smart to be parked here. From there I stepped into a bar for lunch and might, just might, have had a beer or two. The bar was much emptier than usual and staff were all quite edgy. Instead of Football, baseball and other sports on the myriad TV screens there was just Irene coverage. It has now been raining solidly and heavily for 5 hours. The hotel TV is having trouble with some of the satellite channels.


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Bazza

Hurricane Irene Blog - Saturday

Saturday August 27
10:30
Irene made landfall early this morning, though I have no idea what that means since the clouds and winds from seemed to smashing across North Carolina when I went to bed. I'm still in my room listening to the Chelsea game (1-0. Go Blues). Through the hotel room window it looks pretty gloomy out there. Latest view of the tracker seems to suggest the path is still to the east but worrying the storm does seem to have drifted slightly west. Will head out once the game is over.

14.00
Drove a ways South East. The rain got heavier. The wind raised a little. AsI looked around at the power lines and traffic lights it began to dawn on me how ugly this could get. One small deviation in the storm's track and this area could be out of action for a week.
Back where the hotel is and the rain was lighter (but still heavy). Time to act on the car and lunch




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Bazza

Hurricane Irene Blog - Friday - Early Saturday

Working on a project just South East of Baltimore, very near BWI. This weekend is our handover to the customer and so I have stayed here. Even in the light of Hurricane Irene.

Friday 8/26

20.30
Looking at the latest tracker for where I am it seems we will have up to 60mph winds and about 6 -7 inches of rain. It'll start tomorrow around lunchtime and ending Sunday lunchtime. We're getting off easy I think. Went out to get my tea and no one at the chick-fil-a seemed too bothered still. When I got back to the hotel there was a note under the door saying pretty much 'hang tough and draw the heavy curtains to stop the breaking glass". Good luck to North Carolina tonight.

14.00
A lot of the customer's employees have left as their homes are under an evacuation order. In the project war room things are tense. Not sure if it is the stage of the project or that those leaving today are definitely very worried about being stuck here. Me? I'm planning to buy some beer, more chocolate and junk food. I'll only start worrying when JIm Cantore shows up.

10.30
Popped out to get some water and snacks. No sign of anyone being even vaguely concerned. Was in a 7 - 11 and a gas station; no-one topping up their gas or buying pallets of bottled water. Found a flashlight in the car which i'll keep with me. Latest tracker has the storm coming up Chesapeake Bay. That's way too close

8.00
The contractors working on the project are very worried. Some are flying out tonight. A friend in Florida called to give me tips and make sure I was aware of what might happen. I have been thinking of where to park the car. It needs to be safe in case I have to leave due to protracted power outages. The hotel i'm in is at the low point of the suurrounding land with a lot of trees nearby not good for a rainy and windy outlook.


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Bazza