I’d GTFO. Especially if you’re in the Norfolk, VA Beach area. Once those tunnels and bridges get closed, you’ve got nowhere to go in case things start getting dicey.

Weather is still warm, so grab a tent and some gear and just go camping in the mountains to the west for a few days. No need to act like a New Orleans knucklehead and end up floating down the street on a Rubbermaid container.

But that’s just me. I’m not too keen on hanging out in my house, and I’m in Richmond. But that has more to do with the dozens of very large, very heavy trees that could come crashing down on my house at some point this weekend.

Category 3+ is nothing you want to mess with.

If it actually somehow does become a Cat 4 or Cat 5, I might recommend bailing and fleeing for the hills (but do it early, as the last minute rush is always chaos). If you feel comfortable in the stability of your house, board it up and hunker down. Gather some clean drinking water, some food that doesn’t need to be cooked and flashlights/candles.

Really, really fun. Given, I’ve never done it

Looks like storm surge is going to be a major issue, even more than the wind and rain. Not only coastline but apparently freshwater flooding is going to be a big problem too. Flooding is something you can’t ride out. I’m not an expert, but better safe than sorry are words to live by.

I only know this because I was supposed to go down to the outer banks this weekend for a week. Irene is fucking up my week.

http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=1899
http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/article.html

My area in NJ is under a mandatory evacuation starting at 8am Friday morning. And almost no one I know is leaving. We plan to hurricane party our butts off before it gets here then sleep through the worst of it. Or we may just keep partying.

And Gloria of 85 was the worst thing that hit. It tore down the 17th St pier, but I think that was the worst of the damage. We just went to a local HS for the night. There wasn’t a mandatory evacuation, though.

My sister was there for Isabel (I think) and she was stuck without power and transportation for at least a week, it seems. Her apartment and car were flooded and she had to rely on my parents bringing up supplies from Raleigh and FEMA. I know a lot of refugees from Katrina, as well.

I’d GTFO and go to somewhere in the Blue Ridge part of the state if I were you. Living without power sucks no matter how prepared you are. I wouldn’t stay anywhere in the Tidewater region if I were you.

I’d be more than happy to open up my home for you. We’re gonna get hit w/ rain still, but it shouldn’t be as bad as the coasts are getting it.

if we get hit with even a Category 1 storm.

Like you, I’m a bit skeptical, but everyone I know here is leaving, so I’m headed back to my parents’ house inland in Jersey to ride it out. What really weirded me out was the City’s decision to close down mass transportation. It they’re concerned, then I think it’s reasonable to be concerned. I’d leave.

 Good luck and stay safe to all those who might be affected by the storm.

looks like Norfolk is going to get a direct hit. I still want to go all Lieutenant Dan on a hurricane one of these days. maybe another time.