The Rebel Faction

For those of us who live in the South East and Eastern U.S., it started off late this year, but it is here. Hurricane Season has arrived. Already, our first storm was a major hurricane, first threatning the Carolinas as a storm, then moving off Virginia to form into a category three monster. It was even forecast to go all the way up to Britian as a hurricane, but then meandered about and died down.

Since then, another tropical system had started forming in the Caribbean. It died down, but it's remnants are in the southern Gulf, and show signs of reorganization.

But now there is a third tropical system on the brew, having just been numbered, about 50 miles south of Grenada, near the winward islands. In about 5 days, it is forecast to be moving into the Gulf of Mexico as a Category 1 hurricane, with no land or unfavorable atmospheric conditions to interrupt it's strenghtening. Now, if this forecast proves to be accurate, I am thinking that, from the plot of the path, that inside two weeks Texas or Louisiana could be seeing a major hurricane, because, as warm as the Gulf waters are, at it being already a hurricane, there is a very definite possibility that it will strengthen a lot more.

Well, that is my up to date hurricane watch. I'm Park Kraken, your hurricane fanatic, posting now.

I guess it will be rainy again in Georgia.

Hurricane Charley is now a Category 2 Hurricane with 105 mph winds, and it is headed towards Cuba right now. It is expected to come ashore tomorrow night as a strong category 2-3 hurricane. Mass evacuations have begun along the coastline with 350,000 people ordered to leave Pasco County alone....

Grocery stores are selling out of supplies rapidly, people are packing up and leaving, seen a lot of U-haul trucks, and cars being towed. Plywood is being used to board up large windows, duck tape is going over smaller windows, and various yard items are being secured. I'm working my ass off at a rapid pace to get everything ready and prepared at my house. I live inland so I don't have to worry about storm surge, but there is a high wind advisory out for my county (polk), so were still in for it. Wish me luck.

I just don't understand people who live in hurricane-prone areas. Do they like soaking up the damage every year?

I've been spending all of today running around helping as many people as I can board up their windows, get supplies, and generally do anything that needs to be done.



Myself, I prepared for this a long time ago. Thankfully, Charley isn't nearly strong enough yet for me to have to worry about evacuating.