Hurricane Sandy

[tzor]

We get hit by stronger storms every year.

This year alone we were close to being hit by a Cat 2 Hurricane.

I guess the problem was that you guys are not used to it and were not prepared?

The biggest problem is the timing. The combination of the hurricane along with the high tide of the full moon resulted in a major tidal surge far stronger than one would normally get, directed at a generally low area of the coast. This also impacted New York city especially Staten Island where tidal waves of 20' hit the communities on the ocean side of the island.

But that wasn't the problem. Many areas in New York just aren't built to be flooded. Power lines and transformers are all underground; significant flooding can result in cold water hitting hot electrical equipment resulting in explosions and fires. Whole sections of the city were burned to the ground. Ain't that a kick in the head? You would think that underground power would be a good thing in a hurricane because the lines aren't knocked down by the wind, but it made the whole thing worse.

Technically speaking, Long Island wasn't even hit by a hurricane; all we got were tropical storm winds. And technically, apart from downed trees and power lines the only problem we had was a gas shortage.

Note to self, consider getting a solar powered emergency generator. (Even though I didn't need it this year.) Having to go refill the generator every eight hours isn't always possible after a major disaster.

[Metsfanmax]

But that wasn't the problem. Many areas in New York just aren't built to be flooded. Power lines and transformers are all underground; significant flooding can result in cold water hitting hot electrical equipment resulting in explosions and fires. Whole sections of the city were burned to the ground. Ain't that a kick in the head? You would think that underground power would be a good thing in a hurricane because the lines aren't knocked down by the wind, but it made the whole thing worse.

It is interesting that you point this out, because this is unique to large metro areas. In most areas there is not any underground development, so putting the power lines underground should make sense in places like Long Island (and would have prevented much of our current situation). Putting all the power lines underground would be quite costly, but then again, so are hurricanes.

[tzor]

First of all, so our non Long Island readers understand, with the exception of the south shore, a lot of Long Island is well above water (over 100'). It's a very interesting "island" indeed. I was spoiled as a child because under the notion that Long Island was an island, I based my notion of "flat" based on Long Island, which isn't really flat at all. (No mountains, but no way does it resemble Florida.)

I know of many tourists from Europe who were always astonished at how Long Island still had power lines above ground. They consisered it "primitive." I tend to agree. But no one thought the infraastructure investment was worth the cost. When I was a child, growing up in East hampton, every little ice storm resulted in a loss of power. Today, only major storms give us outages. I didnt' have any outage (other than brief moments when things tripped) this time.

[Metsfanmax]

First of all, so our non Long Island readers understand, with the exception of the south shore, a lot of Long Island is well above water (over 100'). It's a very interesting "island" indeed. I was spoiled as a child because under the notion that Long Island was an island, I based my notion of "flat" based on Long Island, which isn't really flat at all. (No mountains, but no way does it resemble Florida.)

Indeed. Some of the northern areas also got slightly flooded as well (Port Jefferson is the one closest to me that got hit this way), but most of the central region of the island was never in danger from the storm surge like Manhattan was.

I know of many tourists from Europe who were always astonished at how Long Island still had power lines above ground. They consisered it "primitive." I tend to agree. But no one thought the infraastructure investment was worth the cost. When I was a child, growing up in East hampton, every little ice storm resulted in a loss of power. Today, only major storms give us outages. I didnt' have any outage (other than brief moments when things tripped) this time.

It is primitive, and it is generally agreed today that you build power lines underground if you have the opportunity and the funding to do so. But it requires a significant amount of collective foresight to pay for such a thing ahead of time, and the question is whether it is really worth it. I bet if you asked someone who hasn't had power since Monday whether it is, they'd say yes, but if you ask six months later whether they'd rather double their electricity bill to fund the project, they'd be a little more hesitant.

[SirSebstar]

http://bostinno.com/2012/10/30/brown-un ... 1608_0__ss
also lolled
The government wants you to think there is a Daniel, but I'm not so sure.

[Symmetry]

http://bostinno.com/2012/10/30/brown-university-student-on-hurricane-sandy/#ss__252069_251608_0__ss
also lolled
The government wants you to think there is a Daniel, but I'm not so sure.

Hah- a Daniel come to judgement.

[BigBallinStalin]

http://bostinno.com/2012/10/30/brown-university-student-on-hurricane-sandy/#ss__252069_251608_0__ss
also lolled
The government wants you to think there is a Daniel, but I'm not so sure.

Sounds like Lauren Landry and Alison Bologna got trolled.

[patches70]

New York. A tale of two cities.

[notyou2]

I think cancelling was the correct decision.

[Army of GOD]

New York. A tale of two cities.

That's pretty cool.

Also, 6+ days without power. Thinking about eating my own legs.

[Metsfanmax]

New York. A tale of two cities.

That's pretty cool.

Also, 6+ days without power. Thinking about eating my own legs.

Want to come chill at my place? I have power.

[nietzsche]

Also, 6+ days without power. Thinking about eating my own legs.

That'll be enough as a snack before lunch.

[notyou2]

Also, 6+ days without power. Thinking about eating my own legs.

That'll be enough as a snack before lunch.

That happened here too (ice storm people were out of power for up to 8 days, and it was a huge percentage of the region) but it was minus 10C during the day and around minus 20C at night and many homes had electric power only. Some had fireplaces.

[john9blue]

this reminds me of that meme the democrats were spreading a while ago about how the republicans were stupid for having their convention in a hurricane-prone area during hurricane season

hope some of those wonderful people are freezing their asses off in manhattan

[notyou2]

this reminds me of that meme the democrats were spreading a while ago about how the republicans were stupid for having their convention in a hurricane-prone area during hurricane season

hope some of those wonderful people are freezing their asses off in manhattan

Really? Do you really hope for this?

[john9blue]

this reminds me of that meme the democrats were spreading a while ago about how the republicans were stupid for having their convention in a hurricane-prone area during hurricane season

hope some of those wonderful people are freezing their asses off in manhattan

Really? Do you really hope for this?

ask yourself if it would ultimately benefit our species.

c'mon, you clearly love darwin, this shouldn't be hard.

[saxitoxin]

Is anyone else tired of STORIES OF RESILIENCE?

For once I'd like there to be a disaster where the human spirit doesn't overcome tragedy, for every tale of heartache there aren't two tales of resilience and where the clouds of disaster don't carry with them the promise of a new beginning.

I'd like there to be a disaster where people conduct themselves shamefully and in panicked hysteria like little girls or cannibals.

[patches70]

Is anyone else tired of STORIES OF RESILIENCE?

For once I'd like there to be a disaster where the human spirit doesn't overcome tragedy, for every tale of heartache there aren't two tales of resilience and where the clouds of disaster don't carry with them the promise of a new beginning.

I'd like there to be a disaster where people conduct themselves shamefully and in panicked hysteria like little girls or cannibals.

April 26, 1992




The cops not getting jailed (for the moment) over Rodney King wasn't a disaster, but the riots and aftermath were.....

[john9blue]

that's what always happens

you just don't see it on tv

[BigBallinStalin]

Is anyone else tired of STORIES OF RESILIENCE?

For once I'd like there to be a disaster where the human spirit doesn't overcome tragedy, for every tale of heartache there aren't two tales of resilience and where the clouds of disaster don't carry with them the promise of a new beginning.

I'd like there to be a disaster where people conduct themselves shamefully and in panicked hysteria like little girls or cannibals.

Haiti is a good one. That earthquake a few years ago set them back decades, and they're not going to recover any time soon.

1. Big disaster, >300,000 dead
2. The damage has yet to be overcome (Unemployment: ~40%, GDP shows positive growth because GDP never records the destruction of goods or human capital, $1000 per-capita GDP)
3. Incompetent politics
4. No hope on the horizon

Heyyyy, are you satisfied?

[saxitoxin]

Is anyone else tired of STORIES OF RESILIENCE?

For once I'd like there to be a disaster where the human spirit doesn't overcome tragedy, for every tale of heartache there aren't two tales of resilience and where the clouds of disaster don't carry with them the promise of a new beginning.

I'd like there to be a disaster where people conduct themselves shamefully and in panicked hysteria like little girls or cannibals.

Haiti is a good one. That earthquake a few years ago set them back decades, and they're not going to recover any time soon.

1. Big disaster, >300,000 dead
2. The damage has yet to be overcome (Unemployment: ~40%, GDP shows positive growth because GDP never records the destruction of goods or human capital, $1000 per-capita GDP)
3. Incompetent politics
4. No hope on the horizon

Heyyyy, are you satisfied?

check ...

Haiti One Year Later: Stories Of Resilience In The Aftermath
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/1 ... 07730.html

... and mate

[Metsfanmax]

I think Chernobyl qualifies. After all, how much worse can it get when the government artificially inflates the number of their own people dead by orders of magnitude? That's not the way it usually goes.

[BigBallinStalin]

Is anyone else tired of STORIES OF RESILIENCE?

For once I'd like there to be a disaster where the human spirit doesn't overcome tragedy, for every tale of heartache there aren't two tales of resilience and where the clouds of disaster don't carry with them the promise of a new beginning.

I'd like there to be a disaster where people conduct themselves shamefully and in panicked hysteria like little girls or cannibals.

Haiti is a good one. That earthquake a few years ago set them back decades, and they're not going to recover any time soon.

1. Big disaster, >300,000 dead
2. The damage has yet to be overcome (Unemployment: ~40%, GDP shows positive growth because GDP never records the destruction of goods or human capital, $1000 per-capita GDP)
3. Incompetent politics
4. No hope on the horizon

Heyyyy, are you satisfied?

check ...

Haiti One Year Later: Stories Of Resilience In The Aftermath
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/1 ... 07730.html

... and mate

Imagine all that foreign aid going to local politicians, who spend that money on training a brigade of soldiers who go town to town and beat up all the puppies and kittens.

Now how do you feel?

[muy_thaiguy]

I think Chernobyl qualifies. After all, how much worse can it get when the government artificially inflates the number of their own people dead by orders of magnitude? That's not the way it usually goes.

I think only a handful actually died (maybe more more overtime with radiation sickness), but the place is still deserted, and will be for centuries to come.

[Symmetry]

I think Chernobyl qualifies. After all, how much worse can it get when the government artificially inflates the number of their own people dead by orders of magnitude? That's not the way it usually goes.

I think only a handful actually died (maybe more more overtime with radiation sickness), but the place is still deserted, and will be for centuries to come.

How many people can you hold in your hand?