While Isabel wreaked destruction along the mid-Atlantic coast, it was pretty much a washout here in Western NY. The center of rotation - no longer an eye - moved just west of here, but nearly the entire eastern side of the storm was dry. We had some pretty stiff breezes, but no rain. Earlier in the week the weather forecasters were predicting 5" - 15" of rain here. Then it went to 1" - 4". Last night they predicted maybe 1/4".
I was really hoping to have my weekend extended, but given the damage and loss of life so far, I'm glad it fizzled out.
However. It's time for my now habitual - although newly public - after-the-storm rant.
1) Hurricanes, tropical storms, nor'easters perennially affect certain areas. Most of these areas are beautiful, coastal locations where people love to have everything from multi-million dollar mansions to weekend cottages and fishing shacks. A big storm comes along, washes away the houses (of all sizes and values), the government declares a disaster area, insurance companies pay out huge amounts of money, people re-build and the cycle starts over again. Ad nauseum. You'd think that either a) people would learn not to rebuild in storm damage prone areas or b) insurance companies would stop insuring properties in these areas or c) the government would close these areas to development to prevent loss of life, property and tax monies. Never happens.
2) Mandatory evacuations. The majority of people are smart enough to get out of the danger area when the local government - probably already being overly conservative about making it mandatory - issues the evacuation order. But there are always those few morons who will stay. And then call for help when the storm starts to get rough. It was a good start that some local authorities this time told people who ignore the evacuation order to make sure police had their next-of-kin information and to write their names and SSN on their arms in indelible ink. That was to make sure they could be identified when their bodies washed up after the storm. Unfortunately, as there always is, there was footage on ABC news this morning about police and fire rescue crews out in the worst of the storm trying to get to a couple who stayed despite the "mandatory evacuation" and needed help. These people should be left to be swept out to sea and have their bodies eaten by sharks.
3) Power outages happen with every storm - rain, snow, ice. And the utility companies keep stringing up powerlines on poles, near trees, tall signs and other things that could be blown or iced down into the lines or where the lines themselves can be damaged. I've lived in areas where all utilities must be buried. Yes, it's initially more expensive to bury lines. Unless it is well planned it can be more difficult and more expensive to maintain buries lines. But in those areas I've lived with buried lines, I've never had a power outage. Not once. The eventual cost in maintenance and restringing wires, year after year ends up being much more than the cost of installing buried cables. It's amazing. You'll see on TV, after Isabel has passed, utility crews from all over the nation coming in to help re-string the eastern seaboard and other areas hard-hit. Imagine the money that costs...
Okay, enough ranting. Back to your regularly scheduled programming.
Move along, there's nothing to see here...
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