Hurricane Harvey

[LocoYokel]

Hi all! I am sitting up here safe in Idaho, burning to a crisp, and watching Harvey approach Texas on the TV. We get storms up here but not the likes of a hurricane. It has always made me feel bad for the folk who have to deal with the aftermath of any major storm but now I KNOW folk, have friends here at BYH, that are in the path of Harvey.
My thoughts and prayers are with you all and may all your family, friends and farms be safe.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Thanks @LocoYokel. I've spent my entire life pretty darn close to the coast and it can be a booger to deal with, but I don't think this one is going to be too horrendous. (Hope I'm not being overly optimistic!)

I spent nearly two weeks without power after Hurricane Ike - and ya know - it wasn't so bad! It was so peaceful and quiet when the generator wasn't running, lol. I think most folks who have experienced a couple of these have acquired the basics to survive.

We have a generator, a camp stove, a bbq/smoker pit w/charcoal, a big propane burner, a French press for coffee, and a well stocked pantry. I do store extra water, even though I can pump water with the generator. I'd hate to get too cocky and think that my generator would never break down or that the water pump will run forever. With all the rain that's forecast I'm sure there will be no shortage of water!

It does make for a lot of extra work for those of us with critters. I'll be re-arranging critters soon enough. Have to work late tonight, so I'll probably be doing that in the rain tomorrow. Goats will NOT like that, lol!

Thank you for the well wishes!

 

[Latestarter]

Thanks Loco Luckily I'm far enough north in TX that I shouldn't have to deal with much at all. Some rain, some T-storms, maybe localized flooding in low lying areas. It's the folks down living on that near flat coastal plain that are gonna be dealing with big troubles.

 

[Goat Whisperer]

Will @animalmom be effected by the hurricane?

I know @Baymule & @Devonviolet aren't too far from Latestarter- how's the forecast looking for you two?

 

[Devonviolet]

So far, it looks like we are far enough North, that we shouldn't be affected by it.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

So far, it looks like we are far enough North, that we shouldn't be affected by it.

Wish I could say that! At least we're not taking a direct hit...

 

[greybeard]

I am over 100 miles from the coast.
After Hurricane Ike, when we learned it may be 2-3 weeks before power was restored, we left here and went North toward Tyler. First town we came to with electricity was Jacksonville Tx, which is 131.2 miles from my home. We then decided NE to go to Arkansas. There were pine trees down on I 30 as far East as Hope Arkansas.

But I agree..there is cause for optimism in regards to wind in East Texas with Harvey if it's projected path stays true, which will keep the system itself mostly contained to the mid to southern gulf coastal area.

But, hurricanes are notoriously unpredictable even after landfall. Just a few degrees change in course can bring it in much farther up the coast than currently predicted.
And, something to keep in mind. Even far from the coast, the wind as the system passes over is not just for a short period of time as in a thunderstorm. It can last 6-8 hrs, depending how fast the system is moving and you are likely to see the wind coming from 2-3 different directions.
Can your 'stuff' withstand 7 hrs of sustained 35 mph wind? Time exposed to any wind makes a huge difference.
Projected wind velocity 120 hrs from this morning:

Aug 29/1200Z 28.5N 96.5W 30 KT 35 MPH...INLAND

And, according to NHC, it is going to make a loop and tuesday afternoon, will be back in the warm waters of the gulf looks like right off Galveston Bay. Intensification from there is very possible, and no one knows which direction it will be headed then.

(I have added blue dots and arrows so it is easier to see the projected path)

https://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/atlantic/2017/hurricane-harvey?map=5day&MR=1

 

[OneFineAcre]

I am over 100 miles from the coast.
After Hurricane Ike, when we learned it may be 2-3 weeks before power was restored, we left here and went North toward Tyler. First town we came to with electricity was Jacksonville Tx, which is 131.2 miles from my home. We then decided NE to go to Arkansas. There were pine trees down on I 30 as far East as Hope Arkansas.

But I agree..there is cause for optimism in regards to wind in East Texas with Harvey if it's projected path stays true, which will keep the system itself mostly contained to the mid to southern gulf coastal area.

But, hurricanes are notoriously unpredictable even after landfall. Just a few degrees change in course can bring it in much farther up the coast than currently predicted.
And, something to keep in mind. Even far from the coast, the wind as the system passes over is not just for a short period of time as in a thunderstorm. It can last 6-8 hrs, depending how fast the system is moving and you are likely to see the wind coming from 2-3 different directions.
Can your 'stuff' withstand 7 hrs of sustained 35 mph wind? Time exposed to any wind makes a huge difference.
Projected wind velocity 120 hrs from this morning:


And, according to NHC, it is going to make a loop and tuesday afternoon, will be back in the warm waters of the gulf looks like right off Galveston Bay. Intensification from there is very possible, and no one knows which direction it will be headed then.

(I have added blue dots and arrows so it is easier to see the projected path)

View attachment 37961

https://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/atlantic/2017/hurricane-harvey?map=5day&MR=1

X2
Everyone needs to be watching it very closely.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I'm about 18 miles from the coast. If you see the number 35 that has the circle around it - between Alvin and Angleton - is right about where I am. My house sits a whopping 22 feet above sea level. Sooooo glad we're not getting a direct hit - this time!

 

[Baymule]

We used to live in Livingston, just above where Greybeard lives. In hurricane Ike, it brought down a massive old oak tree on our house, crushing one end of the house. Of course it rained in the house. My answer to THAT was to pour a glass of wine and get a brownie that I had the good sense to bake before the power went off. After a couple glasses of wine, I no longer cared that it was raining in the dining room and kitchen. I am basically a non drinker, but I know when to hit the wine box for a little comfort. LOL

We were with out power for almost 4 weeks. We didn't have a generator, but borrowed one from a friend, so were able to have a fan, light and keep the freezer frozen-mostly. My place of work had a 1947 locomotive engine for a generator and it kept everything running, I lost no work days. The boss sent out a driver every day with everyone's gas cans, he had to drive for 4-5 hours to find a gas station with working pumps.

Now we are just north of Tyler, Texas and while we will get wind and rain, it isn't like being as close to the coast as we were. I will be out there in the morning picking up buckets, lawn chairs, anything that can get blown around. Old habits die hard. We are stocked up on feed, hay, food in the house and we'll be ready for days of rain and possible wind. @Latestarter and @Devonviolet, please batten down the hatches and leave nothing loose laying around that you do not want to become a flying projectile. Even though we are well inland and are not in the projected path, we could get a LOT of rain and wind.

@frustratedearthmother hang in there and hunker down!