Hurricane Watch 2008

[HPF Bob]

I lived in Texas City during Hurricane Alicia. I went across the street and spent the night at Danforth Hospital, thinking it was the safest spot to be. It was safe for me but not for my brand new car which had two windows kicked in by flying gravel.

My sister in Alabama had the eye of Hurricane Ivan (a Cat 4) pass right over her house, toppling her chimney and poking a few holes in the roof.

As to the names of the storms, the pilots who flew into storms began naming them after their wives and girlfriends and the practice stuck. Then the feminists demanded that the hurricanes have male names too so we have alternating hurricanes and himmacanes (and this year a johnmacane too).

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Houston) even expressed displeasure that not enough hurricanes had black-sounding names. I, for one, would love to see a Hurricane LaShaniqua someday - in the interest of equality, of course.

In my experience, the girl hurricanes like to dawdle offshore like they can't make up their minds where to make landfall while the boy hurricanes just stampede right on through like a carjacker running through a spike strip. If you don't think hurricanes have personalities, consider that one of the first male-named hurricanes was Hurricane David. And where did David go? Miami Beach! So obviously, David was our country's first Jewish hurricane!

Frankly, I'm glad hurricanes were given female names. It's wonderful imagery to see headlines like "Dolly Gives Texas A Blow".

[Keith]

Gustav might be one to check out here in the next day or so. This could be a strong one heading into the Gulf.

http://www.wunderground.com/tropical.../at200807.html

It's almost a Cat 1 now as it moves around Haiti, Cuba.

[KJ3]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

(and this year a johnmacane too).

not many remarks off a message board actually make me laugh. this is one of those!!!

black people want hurricanes now? we already gave up february... it would be funny (to me anyway) to see names of hurricanes reflecting ethnical stereotypes...not just blacks but get 'em all in. hurricane goldstein, hurricane mohammed, hurricane billy bob, hurricane jackie chan....

[Arky]

I was in an apartment in Clear Lake during Alicia. Don't ask me how, but we never lost power. Very lucky. I watched the local weather guys on TV the whole time. Alicia came right up the Gulf Freeway from Galveston. Roofers had a field day with repairs in the aftermath. Lots of peeled up shingles.

I'm up here in New Caney now, so I stayed for Rita. Lost power for 38 hours - hot & muggy with no AC. Couldn't find a loaf of bread for a week. I now have a little Honda generator to run necessities like a fan and my computer. Looking back, Rita was a bit of an overreaction from city officials (the mass exodus) but it probably opened some eyes about the whole evacuation process... Hopefully, they learned something...

Gustav doesn't look good.....

[HPF Bob]

During Alicia, my home lost electricity but not telephone. My friends lost telephone but not electricity. We struck a deal where they could come over and use our phone as much as they wanted if we could bring some sleeping bags and sleep over at their place until we got our power back on. That lasted 3-4 days if I recall.

[KJ3]

looks like they expect gustav to be a cat 3 out over the gulf, settling as a cat 2 when it's makes it to land on the west side of louisiana.

my sister goes to tulane, they evacuated until wednesday. pretty crazy first week of going back to school.

[Nconroe]

this is one active hurricane season. sure hope Ike stays away.

[Mike]

Originally Posted by Nconroe

this is one active hurricane season. sure hope Ike stays away.

No kidding. I'll be looking forward to the opener next week. Especially after this weeks mess of a game.