Hurricane Izzy is about to get up in Wilmington's hizzy. This'll be the first hurricane for me...it's been kinda a whirlwind the last few weeks here. Listening to all the news stories, getting supplies in case of power outtages...been quite the experience. I've always enjoyed stormy weather, fascinates me for some reason...so this should be quite a treat. I've always wanted to see what one was like, it's the ultimate basically when it comes to weather. If I can somehow get some pics, I'll post them up. I don't exactly wanna be driving around though when it's raining debris and...well, rain. ;) I also hope power doesn't go out too long! Pakled, you guys gonna be in the clear much up there in the Triangle? Anyhoo, talk to you all again soon! :) MD

Hope you battened down the hatches sufficiently well Ian! I will cross my fingers that "Izzy" spares the Eastern Seaboard from the intense damage that previous hurricanes have inflicted. Best of luck!

Luckily she isn't a category 5 storm any more! A hurricane is first and foremost WET. :) Good luck to you. Stay safe!

Good Luck Ian and be safe. Too many people underestimate what a storm can do. I've only experienced one that I remember well. It was Hurricane Gloria back in 1985, and I remember it because my daughter had just been born. I had her in the center of the apartment in her bassenette(sp?). But Gloria had fizzled out by the time she got to my area and it was just windy and wet, no real damage. Which pleased me. Being without power can really suck, hope that yours stays on or at least comes back on quickly. Take care, Ang

Duck, you Suckers!!!!!!!! Good luck with the hurricane! I hope you all come out of it unscathed..... I actually sailed THROUGH a hurricance back in 1974, Jeez that was something else!!!!! The Bryster

Yes, you take care, they say we will have a tropical storm from Isabel hit us on Friday in the afternoon about. Sharen

The worst storms to hit Southern UK that I can remember were those in 1987, they shut the office so a couple of us went windsurfing at the local lake :-)

LOL....well that is something to think about doing....Sharen

Graham do you mean that mini hurricane we got where the news weather was saying we weren't getting a storm and the next day roofs and debis was flying all over the place? Be safe Ian and I hope it isn't too destructive when it hits. The same goes to all of you who are in the storm range..........batten down the hatches. 8) Catlin

That's exactly what I mean (when the town sevenoaks should have become fouroaks lol) I spent a few hours in the morning chopping up trees around our neighbourhood, helping free up roads etc, then a mate called and said lets go windsurfing down at Leighbourn Lakes, the wind actually had dropped massively by the time we started windsurfing at lunch time, but it was still strong enough for me to do water starts and head dips etc (not very common - I'm 18 stone)

Well I hope it is not as bad as that, although this morning our weather reporter actually said he is very nervous, he actually said that...nothing like freaking out everyone, but he went on to say he can almost guarantee our area where my house is, is going to get 70 mph wind, sometime Friday. But a couple of years ago, we had 50 mph wind and Mike and I went for a drive that night in my little yellow bumble bee Suzuki....that was hair raising experience...:-)

hehehe...I was thinking of getting some pictures outside but they're saying gusts well over 115 MPH in some areas here on the coast so we'll see. Probably it'll average 75 MPH though on the wind...this should be interesting. MD

70 mph is more then enough to pick a person up off their feet, I wouldn't recommend going out :-) The night Catlin and I were talking about was gusting in the 70s, the following day it was high 30s, low 40s, but fairly constant rather then gusty. Keep safe all of you who are in the path of Izzy.

Isabel is to nice of a name to be horrible, they should give these huge hurricanes names like Mad Woman, or Charging Bull, not Isabel. I would be more incline to hold on if I heard Charging Bull has just made land and is coming up towards the North East. Sharen

Good Luck Mad Dog - Be safe! Stash

Madog, I have never been thru a hurricaine but being in Minnesota I have been thru some pretty good snow storms. Back in "65" the snow was up past the door and that spring the Core of Engineers were at the local dam blowing up the Ice jams. Just run or hunker down whichever you choose. I've heard of alot of people who stayed out a storm and lost. Make a wise desision and be safe.

Thanks for the support everyone...man this is why I like this community so much. I wasn't even looking for the good messages and everyone's shouted out some really nice messages! :) Everything will go just fine. MD

Been through both Fran and Floyd (Fran went right over me, literally, and litterally..;)..the main thing is getting money, gas, and food. When the power goes out, everything comes out of the freezer, and it's emergency barbecue time..;) If you see a flood, no..you can't drive through it, unless you like to take big chances. Mainly you find out how hot it can get in NC, especially at night..you can barely read by kerosene lamp , candles are a bit too dim. Check out the night sky once the power's out..you'll see a lot more stars..also, tornados can be bread by hurricanes, so stay away from trailer parks (ok, I'm kidding about the trailers, but have ya ever noticed?). Good luck Maddog31, you're 200 miles closer to it than I care to be..

that's bred..dang 'no edit'..;)

I agree with Sharen Isabel is a very sweet name and it's my moms name too, and she's in hospital just now poor thing. When I told her she was a hurricane heading for the US she thought it was hilarious and said that she was too quiet to be a hurricane. Although my brother and I think differently. 8) Catlin

How about hurricane Zhann then? She's blown away the competition in 2 of the last 3 challenges, lol

Hope your mum gets to feeling better catlin.

Yes, Cat, you tell your mom we are thinking of her, still Isabel is a wonderful name and I am sure your mom is too, raising you to be such a kind person. Sharen

Catlin, I hope your mom is ok. Kids always see mom's differently and isn't it funny how your grandmother is a totally different person from your mom or dad's mother. Good luck Ian and remember to be careful, not only can the winds be dangerous, with debris flying around and all but even after the storm downed powerlines can be deadly. Hopefully the worst will be short term power outages. I hate when the power goes out and you can't flush the toilet! Just something to think about. Wish I had a propane stove, when we lost our power we couldn't cook and I still don't have a grill. Luckily, our power came back on within 10 hrs. And make sure you have a hand type can opener, nothing worse than wanting some Tuna and the electric can opener don't work. Ummm guess that's all I can think of. Angela

SAm: Yup! Hurricanes' should have names to reflect their personality.....like 'Hurricane Right-Bas*d' 'Hurricane Evil-St'............

Hurricane Biatch...right Bryster...hehe :) Thanks for the tips Pakled and Ang. We have all the extreme necessities such as duct tape, propane stove, canned goods, batteries for the AM/FM shortwave radio, scanner, weatherband radio, etc...also a handheld TV...love that thing. I got a few pics at the beach tonight I can post up...I'm gonna try to do before, during and after shots...prob just from the apartment here but anyhoo. :) MD

I've worked behind some of the worst storms in the last 2 decades. ( I'm a communication Tech ) Andrew, Iniki, Hugo to name a few. I've been through a few hurricanes and many tropical storms. They are not any fun, they devastate peoples lives. Your lucky to get through one with your house and belonging intact. The closer to the coast you are the more dangerous it is. If your on an island your SOL, nowhere to run nowhere to hide. Good Luck.

Well after a hurricane you only need two things. Duct tape and WD40. If it moves and it shouldn't - use the duct tape. If doesn't move and it should - use the WD40

Great advice Bryster and of use in any situation. 8)