"Frankenstorm".

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**reds8n**

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-20091117

Hurricane Sandy has swept north over the Bahamas towards the US, having reportedly killed 21 people as it tore through Cuba, Haiti and Jamaica.

Schools, offices, airports and bridges had closed across the Bahamas as residents stocked up on supplies.

Sandy has weakened back to a category one hurricane, now with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 kph), said the US National Hurricane Center.

But forecasters warn it could still pose a threat to east cost of the US.

At 09:00 GMT, Sandy was moving north at about 13 mph, about 15 miles east off Great Abaco Island in the Bahamas.

Florida is already being lashed by heavy rain and high winds, and the coastal state has a tropical storm warning in place.

"We're looking for tropical-storm force winds along the coast and then some very dangerous surf conditions over the next couple of days," said James Franklin, the NHC's chief hurricane forecaster.

"So we can't really emphasise enough to keep people out of the water, the winds are going to be very strong."

Some US broadcasters were already referring to Sandy as The Halloween Hurricane - or even Frankenstorm, due to the possibility of it blending with a winter storm over the United States - as it was expected to bring coastal flooding and power outages around All Hallow's Eve - on 31 October.

The storm was expected to head north-west at a slower pace on Friday, getting gradually larger all the while.

Although it is forecast to weaken, the NHC said it would likely remain a hurricane during the next 48 hours.

Guantanamo battered
On Thursday, Sandy caused a storm surge leading to severe flooding along Cuba's south-eastern coastline.

Civil emergency authorities said 11 people had died as the storm lashed the island - nine of those in Santiago province and two in Guantanamo province. Most victims were killed by falling trees or collapsing buildings.

"The hurricane was very big. I have never seen anything like it in my 54 years," said Santiago resident Reinaldo Rivas.

"It was terrible, roofs flew off everywhere."

More than 50,000 people had been moved from their homes in the city, as part of Cuba's well-rehearsed hurricane preparations.

Strong winds and rain also battered the US naval base and detention facility at Cuba's Guantanamo Bay, confining some workers to their quarters, delaying a hearing and prompting a number of prisoners to be moved to safer accommodation.

Elsewhere, nine deaths were reported in Haiti - where much of the infrastructure remains in a very poor condition following a massive earthquake in 2010.

In Jamaica earlier in the week, an elderly man was killed when a boulder fell on his house.

More than 1,000 people sought refuge in shelters there, as Sandy caused widespread power outages, flooded streets and damaged buildings.

Other reports have speculated on up to $1billion in damage, with maybe up to 50 million people being affected !

best wishes and hopes for all Dakkanauts and their friends and families, hope you ride this one out safely

**AustonT**

Man if you live in the North East run inland. This could be the one that sinks Manhattan.

**Seaward**

Eh. Having lived in various parts of coastal-to-semi-coastal Virginia for the better part of my life, I take hurricane warnings seriously only when the hurricane's actually in the immediate process of hitting us. For every ten or so they predict that are going to be the next apocalypse, one actually hits hard enough to cause the power to go out for a few days.

Florida's a different story.

**Necros**

Apparently the end of the world will be this weekend, not in december as the Mayans predicted.

I'm just pissy that sunday is when I do my grocery shopping and the place is gonna be a madhouse full of panicky people buying up all the milk, bread, eggs and toilet paper.

**Piston Honda**

Learned my lesson from last year's Hurricane that rolled through new york. Though tiny, it cause a lot of damage and I was basically stranded on a 2 mile radius island and had no access to food.

When out and stocked up on food.

Spoiler:

**Jihadin**

Nice shot of Blackhawk.

**infinite_array**

Man, I'm in Philly on the first floor of an apartment building.

The good thing? We got the Master key to the place from our Landlord to get to our mailbox. So if there's any flooding, our upstairs neighbors will be getting a couple knew tenants for a while.

**Piston Honda**

Jihadin wrote:
Nice shot of Blackhawk.

is that what they were?

we had a ton of helicopters that flying around that day.

also a lot of old people and their tiny dogs in boats.

**helgrenze**

If you are in the path, try to get a decent topographical map of your area.... it will tell you the most likely flood plains, as well as where the "high ground" in your area is.

Also, forget anything that requires refrigeration as food stocks. No Power = no fridge.
If you try to ride it out... Canned goods and bottled water, and a good hand powered can opener. Enough water for everyone to get roughly a gallon per day, minimum of 3 days. Store in an upper floor area that is convienent but out of the way. Extra blankets and warm clothes in waterproof containers are also a good idea.

Just a few suggestions from one that has survived a few "Big Ones".

**KalashnikovMarine**

and they told me I was insane to live well, well inland...

**Jihadin**

Hurricane...tornado alley....earthquake.....is it safer in Canada?

**Necros**

I'm in a 3rd floor condo along the Skulkil (not even gonna try and spell it right) river, but I'm way up a hill so no way the water will even come near the parking lot.. it would have to rise 100 feet or more. I have seen it wash out the houses along the river at the bottom of the hill though. I'm good with food now, but I'm pretty certain my power will go out. And everything is electric here, no gas or anything.

Biggest problem.. my day job, monday is the busiest day and my boss is too much of a cheapskate to close, ever. We've been open for the worst snowstorms ever. Monday is when we do all the ads that I have to build, and I'm the only one that can do it, so I gotta work no matter what. I'm gonna pray that I don't lose power so I can work from home. If I do lose power, I gotta drive 20 miles in the middle of a storm, to an area thats gonna be totally flooded. Actually, the flooding will probably be ok Monday, but Tuesday will be the bad day when everything flows into the area and turns it into a big muddy lake.

**helgrenze**

You should also place all your important documents in a water proof package and keep it in a safe place on an upper floor.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Necros wrote:
I'm in a 3rd floor condo along the Skulkil (not even gonna try and spell it right) river, but I'm way up a hill so no way the water will even come near the parking lot.. it would have to rise 100 feet or more. I have seen it wash out the houses along the river at the bottom of the hill though. I'm good with food now, but I'm pretty certain my power will go out. And everything is electric here, no gas or anything.

Biggest problem.. my day job, monday is the busiest day and my boss is too much of a cheapskate to close, ever. We've been open for the worst snowstorms ever. Monday is when we do all the ads that I have to build, and I'm the only one that can do it, so I gotta work no matter what. I'm gonna pray that I don't lose power so I can work from home. If I do lose power, I gotta drive 20 miles in the middle of a storm, to an area thats gonna be totally flooded. Actually, the flooding will probably be ok Monday, but Tuesday will be the bad day when everything flows into the area and turns it into a big muddy lake.

Manyunk?
Check with local police, they may put travel limits out, possibly even roadblocks. And yeah, CC will be a mess especially if the Big D and the Skulkyll flood. Happened back in the 70s.

**Piston Honda**

helgrenze wrote:
If you are in the path, try to get a decent topographical map of your area.... it will tell you the most likely flood plains, as well as where the "high ground" in your area is.

Also, forget anything that requires refrigeration as food stocks. No Power = no fridge.
If you try to ride it out... Canned goods and bottled water, and a good hand powered can opener. Enough water for everyone to get roughly a gallon per day, minimum of 3 days. Store in an upper floor area that is convienent but out of the way. Extra blankets and warm clothes in waterproof containers are also a good idea.

Just a few suggestions from one that has survived a few "Big Ones".

Almost half the houses that were flooded last year were not considered to be part of the flood plain.

They are now.

Guy at my FLGS was in charge of making the flood maps a couple of years ago and had to sign off on it. When all the houses were lost he was the most hated man in the area. Not his fault though, he just drew it up how he was told.

In short, don't trust a map. Head for the fahkin hills!

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Jihadin wrote:
Hurricane...tornado alley....earthquake.....is it safer in Canada?

Yes

Unless you encounter the man eating moose.

**Samus_aran115**

Yeah, I'm a little nervous. I live on top of a hill, so I don't have to worry so much about flooding, but in general, DC is a very swampy, low area, and things will be shaken up a bit all around us.

I hope the power goes off for halloween. That would be really spooky and cool, aside from the whole "no porn" thing.

**timetowaste85**

I live in NY and I'm supposed to head to NYC Monday, driving a big vehicle. Problem?? Oh yeah...let's see how this plays out. If I'm not on Dakka for a few days after Monday, assume I passed on.

**Mr Nobody**

Jihadin wrote:
Hurricane...tornado alley....earthquake.....is it safer in Canada?

The worst we have are snowstorms.

**Necros**

I'm farther up the river, outside Norristown. Only real worry here is the power going out so I guess I'm lucky, and driving in to work on monday since my boss is a scrooge

**Mr Nobody**

Necros wrote:
I'm farther up the river, outside Norristown. Only real worry here is the power going out so I guess I'm lucky, and driving in to work on monday since my boss is a scrooge

Know anyone with a canoe?

**Jihadin**

don't forget the paddles fer gawdsake....and if you do use the canoe...paddle faster when you hear banjo music

**ChiliPowderKeg**

Ever since moving down here my family back home keeps on getting the good storms barring isaac

**Ensis Ferrae**

helgrenze wrote:

Also, forget anything that requires refrigeration as food stocks. No Power = no fridge.

According to the weather channel, you should fill as many gallon baggies full of water, and freeze them in the freezer. When you lose power, move baggies that are now solid ice into fridge. This will keep your fridge cooler, longer, as well as give you clean drinking water once the ice is gone, if you still have no power.

My parents live on the west coast, and the local news there, is showing national radar that is suggesting a massive cold front moving down to where the 'cane will hit, creating a "perfect" storm.

If you have to ride it out, I hope you are prepared as you can be, and best of luck to ya.

**helgrenze**

Not a bad idea if all you are facing is a power outage... but if flooding is the issue, then best either put up stores on a second floor.. or not be there.

**Experiment 626**

Mr Nobody wrote:
Jihadin wrote:
Hurricane...tornado alley....earthquake.....is it safer in Canada?

The worst we have are snowstorms.

Sure... And ice storms, and tornadoes and earthquakes and hurricanes on the east coast... We're really not that much better off than our southern friends.

Toronto area's going to get it, hope the Humber doesn't flood again.
Burlington which is my city, (west of the land 'o pro sports losers), is looking at getting upwards of 60mm of rain between Tues through Wed night, and the winds getting upto about 40-50km/hr sustained.
Oh, and everyone on my street took advantage of last week's awsome weather to rake all their leaves onto the curb for the city's pick-up! So all the sewer grates are now covered, and I predict that only my one nieghbour who's a firefighter will have the sense enough to unblock their grate!

Thank god our house is built up on a small hill!
Our nieghbours behing us who we hate though, well, I predict another flooded basement for them!

**MeanGreenStompa**

We move from central Pa to the Mass Coast, north of Boston, in 4 days, hopefully this will be cleared up by then.

**Samus_aran115**

I've been hearing all kinds of different stuff, and some of it sounds like bullocks, but the general consensus is that it's going to make contact right around DC, and it's going to be heavier than 50 MPH winds.

I'm worried. Not about dying or losing property, but that I'm going to be really bored and miss all of my shows

**timetowaste85**

Good news, everyone! I'm a horse's butt. Wait, that's not it, damn Q'Bert messing with the voice modulator again....
Good news is that I don't have to go to NYC and risk death and drowning on the Tappen Zee Bridge on Monday during the storm. Huzzah!

Instead I have to work in a town right near one of the great lakes in upstate NY...

**Do_I_Not_Like_That**

Well, best wishes to any Dakka member caught up in this. Stay safe.

**Experiment 626**

For us Ontarians, the worst place to be for this looks like the Niagra Region gets the full brunt of it. They could likely see upwards of 100mm of rain within a 24-36 hour period. (probably at least get a new record out of it!

)

Burlington is about the half-way point between Niagra & Toronto, but luckily we're a bit higher ground than Hamiliton. (especially the downtown & eastside of the city)
Toronto already has flood warnings out - they could see about 75mm of rain all told.

Here in Burlington we're being told to expect anywher between 75-100mm of rain... Really great timing for everyone to have raked their leaves onto the curb for curb-side city pick-up!

We'll be spending today clearing all our leaves away from our sewer grates, so hopefully we don't get flooded out.

Should make for a memorable Hallowe'en though!

**helgrenze**

timetowaste85 wrote:
Good news, everyone! I'm a horse's butt. Wait, that's not it, damn Q'Bert messing with the voice modulator again....
Good news is that I don't have to go to NYC and risk death and drowning on the Tappen Zee Bridge on Monday during the storm. Huzzah!

Instead I have to work in a town right near one of the great lakes in upstate NY...

So which town you heading for.... Got family up that way, maybe can get you some dining suggestions.