Natural disasters???
C.E. Grundler
Aftermath of the 2011 New York City Earthquake
Here in the New York Metro area, people seem to feel that aside from some winter snow, we're immune from most natural disasters. This week's earthquake shook that belief and rattled people a little. I know over on the west coast they were amused by people in DC and New York racing from buildings in panic; Californians joked that they have earthquakes like that for breakfast. But in all fairness, in New York City and DC experience has taught us when the ground does shake and buildings sway, we have a genuine cause for concern. It was just an earthquake? Oh, okay. That we can laugh off, but don't blame us for being a bit jumpy when we've been a bull's eye on the globe for years.
As I write this it is Thursday morning, and it looks as though Irene's path may have spared many of you the brunt of the storm's impact. Currently, they're bracing for the worst over in the northwest Bahamas, and from there North Carolina's outer banks and the eastern US will be facing howling winds and driving rains, as well as the storm surge intensified by a new moon, as the storm heads up the east coast. And by the predicted storm tracks, it looks as though New York City will get hit, and hit hard.
Forecasters are warning this could be one for the record books, and with already saturated soil from a summer of repeated floods, officials are urging people to prepare. I still recall the storm surge and aftermath of the 'Perfect Storm' of October 1991, which lifted docks, clear off their pilings and sent them down-river, boats and all. Boats that had already been hauled and blocked up high on shore were floated down the center of town and through restaurant and store-fronts, along with dumpsters, cars and anything else buoyant. Masts poked from the silty river at random angles, boats were found miles away. Our boat was home, safely blocked in our driveway, well above sea-level, but trees came down throughout the area, taking out power, and as I listened to the news over AM radio I heard reports of major arteries in Manhattan, the boroughs and Long Island being shut down as the rivers and ocean submerged them. Subways and rail lines flooded, cutting off those routes as well. The city and outlying areas are, after all, a collection of islands. Long Island and much of New Jersey's coastline are very low-lying and highly vulnerable to storm surge.
Flooding in the Hoboken PATH station during a 1992 nor'easter, which shut down the entire NYC subway system
Even though my boat is still high and dry, blocked up in a steel shed at the highest corner of the boatyard, I'll be anxious all the same. I think it would take epically high waters to reach my boat; I'm more concerned with that old shed. A friend had a shed collapse on his boat. He was able to restore her, but it wasn't pretty and it's something I'd rather avoid. My house, as well, is set high atop a high hill. Flooding would have to reach biblical levels to be an issue. My greatest concern is that the massive oaks surrounding my house all remain upright and well-rooted, and if any branches come down they don't do any damage. So to everyone anywhere along Irene's path, take care and be safe. In the end, the most we can do is prepare for the worst, hope for the best, and if we're all lucky this storm loses its punch, quietly fizzles out, and the worst we see is some knocked over lawn furniture.
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