Oh Irene!

[Heather & Brinkley]

Anyone else on the East Coast about to get smacked by Hurricane Irene?  I live in Portsmouth/Virginia Beach, Va and it's coming for us!  My husband is currently in Boston for is Physician Assistant interview so I'm home alone.  Thankfully my parents are in the area but I hate this time where I constantly check the weather updates trying to make an educated decision on what to do. Prior to Irene threatening to make an appearance, my husband was supposed to drive into town on Friday evening; sleep and rest from the drive on Saturday and then he and Brinkley were going to take a road trip to to TN to visit his parents.  I was originally supposed to go until DH's interview got schedule right in the middle of when we had originally planned to drive to TN.  Now I think DH is going to swing into town Friday night and leave in the middle of the night Friday/Saturday early morning.  

 

I really wish Irene would go out to sea!  Anyone else making preparations for this beast?

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I can empathize too Heather as I was ALWAYS left home alone with the house and the kids, or later alone at work at the hospital without family, as he was a fire fighter in Boca Raton Fla and all men were called in at the Hurricane Warning Issuance. Sometimes for days, before , during and after the storm. Many times we were unable to contact each other during hurricanes as house lines would be out and cell service interrupted. Very hard for both of us, as he was out protecting and recuing strangers, and didn't even know how his own family was doing unless he saw or heard something on the news.

During Francis he had heard on the news that the hospital I was on duty at had been hit hard and that the evevator towers on the outside walls of the building was being blown away and windows were breaking on most of the 9 floors. It was all true and we did get patients and staff to safety, but he had no way of knowing that. He demanded he take a rescue vehicle and drive the 60 miles to my hospital to see for himself if I was okay. He has always been "My Hero", so he was a sight for sore eyes after 18 hours of being scared and having to stay in control and not show it so we didn't scare the patients.

I certainly pray that you and your parents are safe and that all this is is a big inconvenience and nothing more. Good luck and keep us posted as I know I will be watching the news too.

 

 

[Leslie, Dexter & Kirby]

We're in Central/East NJ about 5-10 miles from the coast.  I can't lie, I'm nervous.  We have stocked up on water, we have tons of food, we started bringing things into the garage today from outside.  I just have to pack our emergency bag in case we have to leave.  My parents said they'd take in all 4 of us if we have to evacuate :)

[Donna K & Quincy]

Every time I hear about Hurricane Irene it reminds me of this song. It will be great when we can all say Good bye Irene instead of Good night.

The hurricane is no longer tracking directly at us and looks like it might even miss us totally. Keep your head down and stay safe.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

So perfect for tonight, Donna!

[Heather & Brinkley]

We still have power!  But the worst isn't upon us in VA Beach yet.  It's starting to get bad! Ready for this to be over!

[Barbie]

Heather, if I were you, I'd go to mom's now. I just looked on weather.com, and the wind range is 50-70 mph. That's not good. I'm worried about you.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I agree....go be with your Mom.

[Heather & Brinkley]

Oh, I've been at my Mom's since 5am this morning! lol!  I wasn't chancing it because I have to go through a tunnel to get to their house.  All those tunnels closed later this morning.

[shelly]

Hi Heather!  How did you guys make out?  right now I see that Irene is in Maryland.. heading straight for us on Long lsand. I hope 'she' passed you by without much damage!  we're supposed to get the worst of it between 5 and 8 AM sunday... right now it's just raining a bit.  Guess that's what is meant by 'calm before the storm'.

[Barbie]

Here's a video of "Irene slams into Virginia Beach": http://www.weather.com/weather/videos/news-41/top-stories-169/live-... (That was from this morning).

However, the current report is: Winds now gusting to Tropical Storm force. I pray that Heather is okay!

[Heather & Brinkley]

Hey!  This is the storm that never ends!  We are still getting pretty big gusts.  It's pulling out of Va Beach now but we still have some winds.  Should be out of here by 7 tomorrow morning.  I'm at my parents and we only lost power for a moment (so far!).  There is flooding all over the area but so far so good at my parents.  I don't have any word on my house in the next town over... other than that they lost power in my neighborhood at 10:30 this morning and are still without it.  I'm a little worried about the 70 year old trees in my yard, but I won't know for a couple days how my house made out because you have to use a tunnel to get from my parents to my house and all the tunnels are closed due to flooding.  I will let you know when I know how my house made it. Praying for you guys that are waiting for Irene's arrival!! Let us know how you guys are doing.

[Barbie]

Oh gosh, I'm so happy you're okay and at your parents! Whew!