Kawasaki Concours Forum

Mish mash => Open Forum => Topic started by: Son of Pappy on August 25, 2011, 12:59:16 PM

Title: Irene
Post by: Son of Pappy on August 25, 2011, 12:59:16 PM
So, here's an open offer.  If anyone is displaced by Irene, I have a coupla rooms empty, no strings attached, families, pets, doesnt matter.  The distance may be great, but airplanes have a way of shortening the distance.  Kids are gone, so the proverbial nest is empty, stay as long as you need.

I'm in Washington State, and to sweeten the pot, I have 2 spare bikes, a KLR and a YZ450F, so you wont thirst for a ride.

Good luck to all,

Chet
Title: Re: Irene
Post by: Conrad on August 25, 2011, 02:48:44 PM
 :grouphug:
Title: Re: Irene
Post by: MrPepsi on August 25, 2011, 02:52:32 PM
I'm shirley displaced. I still want to take you up on riding one of your Tards.
Title: Re: Irene
Post by: Son of Pappy on August 25, 2011, 02:54:48 PM
I'm shirley displaced. I still want to take you up on riding one of your Tards.
I'll be at the property all of next weekend, I'll load up both if ya wanna little retreat!
Title: Re: Irene
Post by: MrPepsi on August 25, 2011, 02:59:53 PM
Some day. :(
Title: Re: Irene
Post by: shakespeare on August 25, 2011, 03:30:06 PM
That's a generous offer!

I live about 35 miles from Atlantic City, and I'm definitely concerned. If the forecast proves to be accurate, this will be the worst storm I'll experience thus far in my life. I was just thinking a couple hours ago that I don't have any friends/family in other parts of the country if I needed a place to go.

Two Sundays ago, I went to my buddy's house a few miles away for a haircut (his girlfriend has a home salon). It was raining hard when I got there, and had been most of the day. After 20 minutes in the barber's chair, I looked out the window and saw my Toyota Sequoia ready to get flooded out (see attached pic). That turned out to be 6 inches of rain. They are forecasting up to ten inches of rain in ten hours this Sunday. Not good at all. Luckily, I live on higher ground then he does.

For those that may be wondering, my Yoda is fine, I actually got in, started her up and drove her out of there because I was afraid the water might actually rise more.
Title: Re: Irene
Post by: Son of Pappy on August 25, 2011, 03:35:10 PM
I'm in the COG directory, for those who dont have one drop me a PM.  For those with kids, we have plenty to help keep them occupied.  Heck, we even have a flush toilet 8)
Title: Re: Irene
Post by: George R. Young on August 25, 2011, 07:25:56 PM
From what I've heard, it rains so much in WA state that you won't know if you left the hurricane behind.
Title: Re: Irene
Post by: Nosmo on August 25, 2011, 08:49:15 PM
From what I've heard, it rains so much in WA state that you won't know if you left the hurricane behind.

Yah, but it's a dry rain. ;D ;D

And we seldom get that kind of wind.
Title: Re: Irene
Post by: Conrad on August 26, 2011, 05:37:05 AM
Yah, but it's a dry rain. ;D ;D

And we seldom get that kind of wind.

 :rotflmao:
Title: Re: Irene
Post by: SteveJ. on August 26, 2011, 12:11:31 PM
Central FL, near Ocala/Orlando. Two cozy rooms and an air conditioned garage. Cold beer in fridge. RTE scheduled nearby for Sat morning.
Title: Re: Irene
Post by: JetJock on August 26, 2011, 02:18:13 PM
Heck, we even have a flush toilet 8)

I'm impressed! Ain't nothing much better than indoor plumbing.  ;D
Title: Re: Irene
Post by: ZG on August 26, 2011, 09:15:11 PM

Yah, but it's a dry rain. ;D ;D


 :hail: :thumbs:
Title: Re: Irene
Post by: VirginiaJim on August 27, 2011, 06:48:47 AM
Irene's rains are just starting here as is the wind.  Nothing major yet.
Title: Re: Irene
Post by: Outback_Jon on August 27, 2011, 06:51:38 AM
Irene's rains are just starting here as is the wind.  Nothing major yet.

Well, I see it's down to a Cat 1, with wind speed down to 85mph.  Whole lot of hype...
Title: Re: Irene
Post by: Conrad on August 27, 2011, 07:34:26 AM
Well, I see it's down to a Cat 1, with wind speed down to 85mph.  Whole lot of hype...

Better safe than sorry...
Title: Re: Irene
Post by: VirginiaJim on August 27, 2011, 08:01:10 AM
In looking at the power outages on the Dominion Power web site, they are much more numerous southeast of us.  However, the storm really hasn't gotten to us yet.

Update:  Major power outages in the Tidewater area at this time.
Title: Re: Irene
Post by: VirginiaJim on August 27, 2011, 08:39:11 AM
Well, I see it's down to a Cat 1, with wind speed down to 85mph.  Whole lot of hype...

Not to the people in the VA Beach, Norfolk, and Tidewater areas...
Title: Re: Irene
Post by: GeeBeav on August 27, 2011, 12:55:52 PM
Well, I see it's down to a Cat 1, with wind speed down to 85mph.  Whole lot of hype...

The Category only indicates the sustained wind speed. The forward speed, rainfall, wind field size, storm surge, etc are not taken into account. This is a bad storm.
Title: Re: Irene
Post by: VirginiaJim on August 27, 2011, 01:05:45 PM
319,000 plus are without power in the Tidewater area according to Dominion Power.  In looking at their outage maps, it's getting worse coming up the Northern Neck area.  More outages are springing up.  Richmond is being hit pretty hard as well.  145,00 out of power there.  I guess so much for the hype.... 

Update:  Richmond has 372,000 customers without power out of a total of 491,200 Dominion Power customers.  This is more than the Tidewater area where the storm is the strongest.
Title: Re: Irene
Post by: bbroj on August 27, 2011, 01:08:46 PM
For those that may be wondering, my Yoda is fine, I actually got in, started her up and drove her out of there because I was afraid the water might actually rise more.

 :offtopic: If you haven't already, change the oil in 'Yoda's differentials. Water most likely got in through the breather tubes, it turns to steam when it heats up and does bad things. It also basically just pollutes the gear oil.
Title: Re: Irene
Post by: DaveO on August 27, 2011, 07:25:38 PM
getting a lot of rain for last 6-7 hours here just ne of philly.
40-50 mph wind and even  heaveier rain gets here after midnight.
The rain has me a little worried about flooding.
I am ready for power outages . Picked up a nice generator about a year ago and now nice to know i can have lights and a pot of coffee if i want.
Title: Re: Irene
Post by: Outback_Jon on August 28, 2011, 08:01:50 AM
Well, lots of rain here in upstate NY.  Some wind, but no more than in a typical thunderstorm.  I'm sure all the usual spots around here that flood with every major thunderstorm are already flooded, or will be soon.  Around here (Hudson Valley/Catskills) the streams vary by 15+ feet after a storm.  But the floods don't do a lot of damage, because people don't build in the flood areas.

Lost power at around 7:30.  Got the generator up and running, so I've got lights, water, and everything.  I like this generator that I got from Harbor Freight - electric start makes things really nice!  What I don't like is that the wheel kit is sold separately, and I haven't gotten it yet.   :-\  Guess I know where I'm headed this week.

This is an old dam (Woodstock Dam) near me in normal weather:
(http://i720.photobucket.com/albums/ww207/OutbackJon/Internet%20Stuff/DSCF0004.jpg)

And this is it after a big storm last year:
(http://i720.photobucket.com/albums/ww207/OutbackJon/Internet%20Stuff/1001100947-00.jpg)

I'll swing by it today and get a pic to see what it looks like with this storm.
Title: Re: Irene
Post by: mjrfd99 on August 28, 2011, 08:07:13 AM
Jersey shore-some big branches down - got my fence but missed pool and toyhauler by a few feet.  Not bad but most around me are w/o power.
Hope everyone is safe
Title: Re: Irene
Post by: Conrad on August 28, 2011, 08:15:38 AM
All those people without power is going to mean a lot of flooded basements. Years ago after my sump pump failed I installed a back up battery powered sump pump that has more than paid for itself over the years.
Title: Re: Irene
Post by: Outback_Jon on August 28, 2011, 08:40:35 AM
All those people without power is going to mean a lot of flooded basements. Years ago after my sump pump failed I installed a back up battery powered sump pump that has more than paid for itself over the years.

Didn't know they made those.  What does it use for a battery?  And is it a 12v (or whatever) pump, or a 120v with an inverter?
Title: Re: Irene
Post by: Conrad on August 28, 2011, 08:55:55 AM
Didn't know they made those.  What does it use for a battery?  And is it a 12v (or whatever) pump, or a 120v with an inverter?

It uses a 12v deep cycle battery that is on a smart charger along with a 12v pump. The float switch gets mounted higher up in the sump than the regular pump so that it doesn't get activated normally. If the power goes out and the water in the sump gets up above the normal level it turns on and pumps.

Here's the brand that I have.

http://www.basementwatchdog.com/ (http://www.basementwatchdog.com/)

And this is the model.

http://www.basementwatchdog.com/basement_watchdog_emergency.htm (http://www.basementwatchdog.com/basement_watchdog_emergency.htm)

Like I said, it's saved me several times in the past.
Title: Re: Irene
Post by: mjrfd99 on August 28, 2011, 01:11:13 PM
In laws comming to live in the toyhauler for a couple days. They are w/o power and were told it would be days before restore over on the bay island.
Title: Re: Irene
Post by: Outback_Jon on August 28, 2011, 03:55:42 PM
Next time the weather's nice, I'm going to this spot and marking the railing with a paint marker so I can get my camera in exactly the same spot every time.

And this is the same dam after Hurricane Irene:  30 second Video Link. (http://s720.photobucket.com/albums/ww207/OutbackJon/Hurricane%20Irene/?action=view&current=DSCF0023.mp4)
(http://i720.photobucket.com/albums/ww207/OutbackJon/Hurricane%20Irene/DSCF0016.jpg)
Title: Re: Irene
Post by: Conrad on August 29, 2011, 04:46:43 AM
Whoa!
Title: Re: Irene
Post by: Outback_Jon on August 29, 2011, 07:34:10 AM
Whoa!

Yeah.  Granted, that's a spot where the creek narrows down, but it was about 20 FEET over where it usually runs.  I saw other, wider areas of that same creek, and it was still 15 feet above normal.
Title: Re: Irene
Post by: MAN OF BLUES on August 30, 2011, 08:58:30 AM
Well, I see it's down to a Cat 1, with wind speed down to 85mph.  Whole lot of hype...


Next hurricane that rolls up the coast thru Va, I'll extend an invitation for you to come visit, as will anyone here in Va....
and we'll see how fast you eat those words. ;) and make a hasty retreat back up north.
We are finally back up on power and such north of richmond.
Tree damage is severe here.

The funny part is the "hype" was the fact that some spots got hit during DAYLIGHT, so people could go out and shoot videos, and put them up.....
we got hit in the darkness, and never saw it till morn, other than opening the door, and watching 90ft trees bending completely to the ground, befor snapping like toothpicks....argggggggg
Title: Re: Irene
Post by: Son of Pappy on August 30, 2011, 09:01:39 AM
All I gotta say is I would have enjoyed the company but I'm happy no one was forced to take me up on the offer, which is still on the table BTW.  Be safe out there,

Chet
Title: Re: Irene
Post by: Outback_Jon on August 30, 2011, 01:33:56 PM
Next hurricane that rolls up the coast thru Va, I'll extend an invitation for you to come visit, as will anyone here in Va....
and we'll see how fast you eat those words. ;) and make a hasty retreat back up north.

I've been hoping to correlate vacation time with a hurricane that heads for the Outer Banks for several years.  My folks have a condo there, and I really want to ride out a storm there.  Although the storms seem to be attracted when my parents are vacationing there.  They left, mostly because my brother kept nagging them about how worried he was.  They were planning to ride it out.  They've been down there a couple of times over the years when there have been mandatory evacuations, but this one wasn't.

Power was out for two days here.  There are still a lot of areas around with none.  Flooding has gone down in almost all areas.  (The geography here makes for quick, fierce (sometimes flash) floods that are gone the next day.)  I didn't even lose any major branches off any of my trees.  (I have two dead ones that wouldn't hit anything if they fell, and even they stayed up.)

Because of the Nor'easters and winter storms we get around here, a lot of people are prepared for this kind of weather.  My generator runs my well pump, hot water, lights, computers, fish tanks, refrigerators, etc.  About the only things I avoid using are the dishwasher, washer, and dryer.  (Washer and dryer can be run if I'm careful about what else is being used) 
Title: Re: Irene
Post by: MAN OF BLUES on August 30, 2011, 02:04:10 PM
been thru 3 hurricanes, and one tropical storm, and by far I believe there were more deaths and damage during the tropical storm (here) Gaston.
i'm sure if you google you will find all the photos and such of Richmond totally under water.
I'm just glad there was only damage this storm, as I think people in Va have gotten the messege that they need to be prepared. I would never want to ride a storm out on the O/B's, it is always a gamble there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Gaston_(2004) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Gaston_(2004))

http://www.richmondcitywatch.com/forum3/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=991 (http://www.richmondcitywatch.com/forum3/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=991)

Title: Re: Irene
Post by: Outback_Jon on August 30, 2011, 04:07:47 PM
Well, a nice motorcycle ride to Harbor Freight today got me a wheel kit for my generator.  (They had two wheel kits and no generators)  I can't believe it's an add-on kit, and doesn't come standard.  One closed state highway on my return trip let me wander around and find a couple of nice roads to ride.  The wheel kit would have been a lot easier to install if the generator wasn't full of gas, so it took twice as long as it could have.  Now I've got to get my older generator fixed so I can loan it out for the next storm.  (I think it might just be a stuck low-oil-shutoff)

Of course, a Harbor Freight stop wouldn't be complete without some impulse buys...  Also came home with an automatic battery float charger (http://www.harborfreight.com/automatic-battery-float-charger-42292.html) ($4.99 with coupon - Hey, I need to be sure the battery is charged on the generator, right?), a new switch for my Conc's driving lights (Hey, I lost the knob somewhere between the National and home.), and a nifty solar battery charger (http://www.harborfreight.com/solar-panel-recharger-41427.html) ($6.97 on clearance - can charge 2 AA batteries, and has voltage settings for 3, 6, 9, and 12 volts - a whopping 50 mA at 12V!)