I, of the Storm

Posted By: Peter DavidPosted On:

I’m going to be live blogging the storm. I figure it can’t be worse than the Oscars.

When the “mandatory evacuation” alert came through for our area, I was somewhat taken aback. It was unprecedented. Also, in decades of hurricanes and tropical storms, no water had ever come near our house. Not even close.

Yet authorities were saying in no uncertain terms to get the hëll out of Dodge.

I decided to confer with the local constabulary. I went to the nearest precinct house and asked the desk sergeant just how mandatory WAS mandatory? He said, “If what you’re asking is, are we going to physically force you out of your home, no. If you decide to stay, that’s your call.” Examining all sides of the question, he went on, “You could wind up staying and having to deal with flooding. On the other hand you could leave, there’s no flooding, but people come through looting. It’s a coin flip.” What would he do in my situation? “Me, I’d stay put,” he said with a shrug. “Man’s home is his castle, y’know?”

I’m not saying that’s what ultimately persuaded me to stay. But I was already 95% sure that I could weather it. This way if there’s any damage inflicted, such as flooding in the basement office or a busted window (I only have a limited amount of lumber and not enough for everything) I can attend to it immediately.

On the other hand, the 5% of me that was unsure of the wisdom of this course of action prompted me to convince Kathleen to take Caroline up to relatives in Connecticut, which is also going to get hit but is inland. That leaves me alone in a very empty house, me and four cats who seem to sense that something’s up because they’ve been awfully quiet. Outside at the moment it’s almost hushed, like a calm before…something. I forget.

I have a back-up generator, tons of potable water, plus my heart is pure. I figure that as matters progress, assuming I’m awake (which I suspect I will be) I’ll keep a running journal from ground zero.

Of course, if this turns out to be a fatal miscalculation, well…that should help sales on “The Camelot Papers” since that’ll be my last book. Granted, it’s an extreme tactic of guerrilla marketing, and as the great sage Daffy Duck has pointed out, you can only do it once. But you look for your positives where you can. Plus it means that I’d be checking out before the 2012 election, and I wouldn’t have to deal with the media going into full Bachmann-Perry Overdrive, so that’s a plus.

Furthermore I’ve spent my entire existence howling against the wind anyway. There’s something to be said for living a life of thematic consistency.

Still, that’s all worst case scenario. I’m sure it’ll be fine. At least 95% sure.

Okay, Irene: Bring it on, bìŧçh. For my home is my castle, and I am the King of Rage.

PAD

43 comments on “I, of the Storm”

  1. Here in the Dominican Republic, Irene mostly missed us. We were worried for awhile, but all we got in my are was mild rains.
    .
    Then I get an e-mail from my Mom in North Carolina telling me how Irene was picking up speed and heading their way. Ack. I hope everybody comes out okay.

    1. I’m in the middle of the state. Occasional gusts of wind, a few tree branches down, all pretty minor. Obviously, the coast is getting it worse. Where is your mom located?

  2. Stay safe, sir. I would have done exactly the same thing in your circumstances, and given the relative weakness of the storm. Of course I also have a neighbor who is supposed to be armed to the teeth, a nice supplement to my Bat’leth, machete and other zombie repellents. What’s your strategy should a looter show up? (On second thought, maybe you should keep that on the down low).

      2. I thought you learned your lesson about swords after that incident at a DragonCon years back.
        Young Barbarian lady with huge claymore and the wither the will to spin it about her person. Well, up to that point when she nearly skewered you with it. Great times, yup.

        and because no one else has said it yet: THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE!

  3. ‘I figure it can’t be worse than the Oscars.’ But maybe fewer song and dance numbers.

  5. With you on the 95% sure. In fact being on nicely high-grounded hill on Statem Island worst wife & I are expecting is the chance of a power cut or some bit of thrown-about smashing thing thru a window. Hope that’s the worst for those who did have to/choose to evacuate as well.

    Stay safe, stay dry – look forward to checking in for your perspective on the precipitation.

    m”s”g

  6. I had lived in southeast georgia through 16 hurricane seasons (Hugo, Andrew, etc) and all I ever had to deal with was a ton of rain. I’m sure everything will be fine. I wish you the best and that you won’t lose electricity. Besides this could make for a great story to tell at a future Con 🙂

  7. I’m in Brooklyn. The biggest thing I’m worried about it boredom. I’ve reached my limits of tolerance for the local news coverage, but I’ll probably switch it back on as the oncoming storm draws nearer.

    I suppose it’s a good time to catch up on some reading, and some tv watching. I only hope I don’t lose power before I get a chance to watch Doctor Who tonight.

  8. It looks like Irene will miss WNY entirely. I don’t think we’ll even get a drop from her here in Buffalo. Stay safe.

  9. Also, I’m wishing that the boyfriend wasn’t guesting at ComicConn today. Being stuck during a storm would be better with company.

  10. I am sure you have taken all the necessary precautions in regards to Irene. Tasty cool beverage of choice, tasty snacks on hand, decent meal planned for tonight, windows taped up, sandbags around the outside doors, electronics moved away from the windows, kitty litter boxes in a bathroom with the furfriends and plenty of food for them.
    Steady on, good sir. HUNKER DOWN! IT’S COMING RIGHT FOR YA!!!

    Stay safe.

  11. Peter, best of luck with your decision. I know both Agnes and I are disappointed as our flight to Aruba (Sunday, August 28th, 9:00 AM) from Newark airport has been cancelled.
    Some advice though, if it gets really bad, get the hëll out.
    Be safe!

  12. One of my formative experiences was Hurricane Andrew in Miami, and after what I saw then, flooding scares me a lot more than wind. The storm, especially, is what got us. I don’t really know what I can tell you that isn’t common sense, except the common sense stuff we’ve forgotten to do. Move anything precious (important documents, family photos, backup computer drives) to high shelves or upper floors (preferably, windowless rooms). And try to keep the pets contained if you can. If they’re considerate enough to hunker down under a bed or something, great, but I’ve had cats run outside before a storm and refuse to come in until the last minute, and I don’t even want to imagine if I had a basement that could flood they where they could squeeze in behind things and possibly trap themselves.

    Good luck.

    1. “The storm *surge* is what got us,” that is to say. I’ve been really bad with editing the past few days. The actual rain didn’t flood the house more than a couple inches, if that, but the surge came in three feet, then washed right back out again. That’s where the weird stuff came from, too, like the dead fish in the refrigerator, and the live fish in the backyard pool.

  13. I’m glad I life in the Netherlands right now. We simply don’t do tornado’s here. (Flooding, that is a wee problem, but that’s a story for another time.) Just be careful, Oncoming Storms can be dangerous. (Ask the Daleks if you don’t believe me.) Which reminds me, the Doctor is back, weehoo !

  15. Stay safe – I can’t wait to see you at Shore Leave fronting the new politicalfilk band Bachmann Perry Overdrive!

  16. .
    House is doing good, yard is a total wreck. I’ll have lots of firewood this year.
    .
    Just rolled into work. It’s pretty bad in the city. Not gonna be a fun night.

  17. pad – have a lot swords huh? remind me to stay out of your neck of the woods in case a tornado hits your house…

  18. pad –
    have a lot swords huh? remind me to stay out of your neck of the woods in case a tornado hits your house…

  20. Hang in there… It’s strong, but it’s short, unlike a blizzard, which can last 3 days. I’m counting on the wind finishing ripping up the playhouse roof, which it started last winter, and saving me the trouble.

  21. I’m 95% sure you’ll be fine, too 😉

    Jim Cantore on the Weather Channel said to hunker down, so that’s the offical word. We in the midwest will be thinking about you!

  22. still pretty quiet ’round here. Bit of on and off rain. How are you all doing?

  23. Unfortunately, I’m the only driver in our household, and Lindenhurst is just too close to the water to take chances. So I took Megan and the cat down to the Reading, PA area where we’re staying with some relatives till this blows over, so to speak.

  24. I live in Ocean Isle Beach, NC (really fun to be in the state that every news report says will be the first place hit), about 5 miles from the ocean. Fortunately, my house was pretty unscathed (though I had moved a lot of books, board games, and comics from next to the window into the closet) and no damage; the rest of the state wasn’t so lucky, as it was reported 200,000 NCians lost power, there were at least 5 deaths from the storm so far, and the lower areas will have a lot of flooding to deal with.

    It sounds like PAD has prepared well: food, security (yay swords!), even a water pump. I look forward to your final blog report stating that all is well.

  25. Here’s hoping you stay safe and dry, Pete. And not just because I want to see those new Hidden Earth and Sir Apropos novels.

  26. Good luck, PAD — and to all of us in the storm’s path. Here in NJ I think we’re due for a helluva lot of rain (10 inches at least) and some wind, but nothing like what VA and NC have been getting. (And our house is on relatively high ground — so if WE get significant flooding, there are going to be bigger problems to deal with.)
    .
    A peaceful weekend to all.

  27. Take care.

    On the possibility of a Bachmann/Perry ticket (and the whole Overdrive campaign) I think you have something there. But I don’t think you’d have to filk the songs. Just steal them whole.

    We have perfect campaign music. Including ‘Taking Care of Business’… and ‘Gimme Your Money’.

  30. Dee and I will be praying for your safety, dear sir. Meanwhile, I hope you got to at least check out last night’s Doctor Who before the lights went out. Madness… utter brilliant madness.

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