28 August 2011: Here we go. Hurricane Irene has all but arrived in my neck o' the woods. At 5 AM EDT the northern edge of the eye-wall is just 20 miles to the south. It appears looking at detailed radar returns that the eye-wall is just beginning to collapse on its southwestern edge. Wind speed here are in the constant tropical storm to 50 MPH range with gusts to 60 MPH range. I am thrilled since waking at 4:30 AM that we still have electrical power and TV coverage from Philadelphia and The Weather Channel. The New York City stations are utterly useless for any information south of Monmouth County; ditto for the corporate news (CNN, Fox, etc). So far, so good. Assuming electric stays online I'll post one final update in about three hours.
It's 8 AM on Sunday 28 August and we're in what's left of the 'eye' of Hurricane Irene. No major damage and power is still online - Praise God! Lots of minor debris all around. I have two very large branches which come off a 40 ft Pear tree (my side of the property line) between my neighbor's and my house. Still attached minimally to the tree trunk and the bulk resting on each of our roofs and common stockade fencing. Time to fire up the chain saw and get to work removing this debris before Irene's backside arrives in an hour or so.
26 August 2011: Irene's forecast hurricane wind threat has been down-graded to a category 1 (+74 MPH) for the Jersey shore and near hurricane force winds (+58 MPH) inland across the rest of the state to the Delaware River. This means the meteorologists expect some weaking as Irene's center crosses North Carolina's Outer Banks and enters Pamlico Sound west of Cape Hatteras. A wind speed down-grade is the good news. The bad news is that the ground here in NJ is already saturated from recent heavy rains which makes a considerable number of felled trees a strong probability across the state. That could spell major power outages that will take some time to restore. Overall, the storm track remains unchanged from yesterday.
25 August 2011: This week pretty much began with an a very rare earthquake that was felt from North Carolina to New York City and northwards. I experienced the earthquake here in New Jersey while at the Tuesday practice round for the PGA Tour event (The Barclays) of the FedEx Cup playoffs. It now appears certain that this week will conclude with a hurricane named Irene that has the potential to equal or exceed the so-called Norfolk and Long Island Hurricane of 1821.
If this forecast turns out to be correct, that would make Hurricane Irene out to be a virtual 200-year hurricane that will be devastating to upwards of 60 to 100 million people. Here in southern New Jersey my home will be fully prepared by Sunday morning for 100-120 MPH winds and enough provisions to overcome any eventuality and to assist others in need. This entry will be updated as Irene makes her approach and thereafter as long as internet access allows. Pray for everyone in the northeastern United States; the Lord may well be sending us a wake-up call.
7 comments:
Praying for you and the People on the East Coast, Sean. May God protect you!
Amen Kevneto!
Sean,
Started prayiing that this storm fall apart when I first saw the pictures on NASA. Keeping all of you in my prayers until this whole season is finished.
Shalom
First an earthquakes,then a hurricane. I'm glad it was downgraded. there is talk about the earthquake and hurricane as being a "judgement from God" for sodomizing the military and pressuring isreal to give more land. that just doesn't sound right to me. many "scholars" are saying that. may be a wake up call but don't think it's a judgement. that comes AFTER the rapture. am i correct? my prayers to all you. i have relatives in pennyslvania.
I agree with Hartdawg - this weeks events are not anything close to being judgment from God. The Tuesday earthquake and today's arrival of Cat. 1 Hurricane Irene are atypical geologic and weather phenomena.
It is rare that these events occur within the same 7 day period, but neither has caused the type of effects that constitute judgment from the LORD God. We are enduring the normal conditions of a fallen world with the power of the Holy Spirit and our Lord Jesus Christ sustaining us.
Amen Sean!
Good hearing from you and knowing that the storm is weakening.
No one will have any trouble knowing when God's Judgment arrives.
Grany
Sean, I'm gald your OK. It has been my experience that more damage is done by these things with their rain and tidal surge than by winds, though they can be nasty too!
I knew that you would be prepared to take care of your family, and help your neighbors to the extent you could, but did you get any strange comments on that big boat you were building in the backyard?!!!
Now if we can just get some rain here in Texas! Over 60 days with temperatures over 100 degrees, and my rain gage says we have had .37 inches of rain since the last of May. You wouldn't believe how brown and dry things are here. Have had wildfires over the last couple of weeks right up to my property. Man those things move fast!
Anyway, hang in there and keep up the great work. I think the Messiah is right on the doorstep!
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