Watch out for Irma
Hopefully all the pipe smoking members in Florida have taken the proper precautions and are getting out of the way of Irma. There are too few pipe smokers in the country and we can't afford to lose any more.
Here are some things I've learned in the 64 years I've been on this planet.
1. There is no such think as a "Hurricane Proof" building. You may think it was built to withstand a hurricane but don't bet your life on it.
2. A piece of straw can pierce a telephone pole when propelled by hurricane force wind.
3. The safest place to be in a hurricane is 300 miles away from it.
4. It's not always the wind speed that can get you. The rain can be just as deadly.
5. When the Coast Guard and other military start evacuating out of the path of a hurricane, it should tell all the civilians it's time to move out of the way.
Hope you pipe smokers in Florida take the precautions necessary to be pipe smokers next week.
Comments
People usually have no clue as to the fickle "nature" of the mother of the same name.
The largest category of casualties in these giant storms is from water. Water kills, period. Whether it be from the tidal surge for those close enough to the shore, or from flooding during and for some time after the storm.
For those at the shore areas, tidal surge rolls in like a Tsunami. If a tidal surge is forecast at say "only" ten feet, and it arrives at high tide, and at the time of an "astronomical" tide (full moon), that ten feet is increased substantially.
For those folks "inland", they hear "rainfall 10 inches" forecasted or something like that. The average person says 'big deal, 10 inches, that is just a bit over my ankles". Remember our blessed earth is not flat (except to some folks). If you live in a flood plain, and you are "downstream" in a tributary area to a lake, reservoir, stream, or hilly country that 10" of rainfall equates to potential multiple feet of water as the runoff from a 10" rainfall over the tributary area builds as it races your way. The potential volumes of water is almost incalculable.
And because you "survived" the outer bands of some past storm that just grazed your location, do not be complacent and consider yourself a veteran hurricane survivor......you are not. Your decision to be complacent has only put you and your family in potential life threatening danger. And you have put first responders in danger who despite the dangers will often disregard their orders "not to" and try to save you anyway.
Take advantage of the warnings issued. Your Emergency Management folks have been trained and know what to do in terms of warnings and evacuation orders. Head the advice and get the hell out of Dodge. We always had problems getting people to leave their homes for a shelter. We found out (no surprise to me) that the majority did not leave because the folks in charge did not consider people with pets. I am happy to say we have solved that issue with "pet friendly shelters'.
PLEASE listen........and act accordingly.
C'mon over to the Haiku folder and try your hand.
Trivia: Godzilla was based on, or influenced by, a short story by Ray Bradbury. "The Creature From 20,000 Leagues", later renamed "The Foghorn", is about a sea creature that comes out of the deep and destroys a lighthouse. Great read.
"Happy wife, Happy life."
Come to think of it, I'd shave just to jerk her around a little, if I didn't I hate the time and expense of shaving so much.
I had this beard for more than 25 years.
This is my cousin's home near Sonoma CA. He and his wife lost everything they couldn't run with.
Those poor folks, they lost everything they owned except the clothes on their backs. The speed at which those fires moved was incredible, some people interviewed said they had less than 10 minutes to grab whatever and head out.