Look out DC and the Atlantic coast.

[Kingofalldems]

Here comes Joaquin:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2015/09/30/what-hurricane-joaquin-might-mean-for-the-washington-d-c-region/?tid=sm_tw

https://images.washingtonpost.com/?url=&op=noop

1-6 inches of rain just from the 'predecessor rain event'.

[Person 2713]

1. That is a lot of (potential) rain for the area alone plus the other possibilities

Let's hope it stays out to sea!

[Cali_Democrat]

2. Oh no! I have so many family members living from DC to NYC

I hope it's not that bad.

[Takket]

3. i'm waiting for the inevitable...

"God sent the hurricane because Obama is the anti-Christ blah blah gay marriage blah blah abortions" posts that the Fundies always post.

[SheilaT]

4. Okay, everyone. Don't freak out.

Hurricanes occur in the Atlantic Ocean this time of year, and so if you live anywhere near the coast you're subject to experiencing them. Assuming that you really like where you live, it's simply a risk you take.

Just like people who really love living in California, don't worry so much about earthquakes, although hopefully they make appropriate preparations for one.

[ReactFlux]

5. is it moving out to sea?

BTW: I think most know that hurricanes are often seasonal... but whatever the season, those in their path will take notice, and want information on it's course and strength, and even more so when it's tracking heavily populated areas.

[SheilaT]

6. What I'm trying to point out is that

if you live along the east coast, you run the risk of a hurricane. In Kansas, tornadoes. In California, fires or earthquakes. There are risks everywhere, and it's best to acknowledge them, prepare as best you can, and then just deal with it.

[kentauros]

11. I don't have a problem with people "freaking out."

Because it means that they will at least prepare (gather food, water, first aid, and other emergency supplies.) Back when Hurricane Sandy hit, there were people here complaining about having to prepare for the storm! And then later whining about buying supplies that weren't needed.

Not everyone that lives on a coast takes those risks seriously. It's not "freaking out" if you take the risk seriously. Plus, there's a major difference between being aware of hurricanes and other potentially disastrous events. Hurricanes usually give you many days to prepare, or evacuate. Not so with earthquakes, tornadoes, flash floods, avalanches, et cetera. Unless you're the kind of person that keeps 3-weeks of consumable supplies on hand at all times. Most people don't do that, myself included.

[SheilaT]

16. Bingo.

It does feel to me as if the panic is the freaking out of the unprepared.

And your point about how people complain first about needing to prepare, then complaining about what they bought, shows the short-sightedness of so many people. And yes, the good thing about hurricanes is the advance warning, especially as compared to all the other forces of nature you've named.

And I likewise don't keep any supply of food or water for an emergency. I live in a part of the country not likely to get tornadoes or earthquakes, not in any kind of a flood zone, nor near anything that can collapse in a landslide or avalanche. Although an EMP could kill my electricity forever, and my car wouldn't run, but I consider that sufficiently far-fetched that I don't consider it a potential problem.

The zombie apocalypse, on the other hand . . . .

[kentauros]

17. If you have access to several workout centers

you just gather up all of the treadmills, put them all around your house, facing in (or maybe facing out would be best), and turn them on. Best defense I've ever seen against the walking dead

[SheilaT]

18. LOL!!!

I guess I need to activate the silver slippers thing that I get through Medicare that gives me access to fitness centers here.

I am so glad to know how to be protected against the zombie apocalypse.

[kentauros]

22. I think MFM (MiddleFingerMom) gave us that image.

Don't know where he got it, and I thought it was a gif, too. Here's a visual representation at least:




Of course, that will only last so long if you don't have access to any of those government-built tunnels to your local Wal-marts

[malaise]

12. The problem is that most of these states are not hurricane ready

like those of us who get battered regularly.

[MelungeonWoman]

7. They've just upgraded Joaquin to category 3.

Due to rapid strengthening. Stay safe everyone!

[darkangel218]

8. I wouldn't be surprised if it made a sudden turn for FL

Hurricanes are funny that way.

[Ex Lurker]

9. That's further east than the track I've seen

which put it right into Chesapeake Bay.

[ohheckyeah]

10. Much of Virginia

is already dealing with flooding due to days of heavy rainfall. We are already under a state of emergency....much more rain and it's going to be disastrous.

[Nay]

13. Yeah, we've had a week of soaking rains and will see lots of trees uprooted if

the hurricane comes anywhere near here.

[Marrah_G]

14. Maybe it will go back out to sea.

[snooper2]

15. Cool we haven't had any big storms yet this year...

Bring em' on!

I want 3 inches of ice storm this winter that would be greatness!

[GreatGazoo]

19. When it gets to NYC it can say "I'm Joaquin here!" n/t

[Rex]

20. Stay safe East coasters!

[Raine1967]

21. We are gonna have a lot of flooding regardless of Joaquin or not.

I hope this sucker moves out to sea.

[meow2u3]

23. I'm in PA, outside of Bethlehem

Fortunately, I'm on higher ground, since I live just south of the Poconos. I'm afraid the power will go out, just as it did 3 years ago when Sandy hit.

I wasn't prepared when Sandy hit. Now, I have a kerosene heater in case of power outage, which comes in handy when you want coffee out of a French press, but don't have electricity to boil water.