Comments for sursumcorda.salemsattic.com/post/irene

Comment #2532

2011-08-31T21:25:58Z

Nice touch, Barbara. :)

Comment #2531

2011-08-31T20:01:03Z

We lost power for 24 hours, but since a lot of people in New Hampshire are still without power, I made cookies and brought them down to Public Service today to thank them.

Comment #2530

2011-08-31T14:49:31Z

Our friends are all right, as far as I know, but my old home town of Schenectady/Scotia, New York was hard hit when the Mohawk River overflowed its banks. Collins Lake, on which I used to skate in the winter, took over Collins Park, where I used to play. The nearby restaurant, Jumpin' Jacks—fast food before fast food became popular—was founded and owned by our (then) neighbors, though I believe they are no longer involved. There's a lot of work ahead to restore damage done by the water and mud. Other areas were much worse off. Overall, though, I'm told the damage was more to property than to lives, and people are picking up and moving on—a spirit I remember from my days there. Here's one news report about the area.

Comment #2529

2011-08-30T12:04:31Z

Power has returned to the Flounder.

Comment #2528

2011-08-30T01:29:05Z

Hooray! Still no power in Salem and Saybrook, though. We're hoping for pictures of the beach, which we hear has changed quite a bit. School's out for at least another two days. Guess who is happy about that? :) More beachcombing!

Brrr. Cold showers for the first day of school—that's dedication.

Comment #2527

2011-08-30T01:23:20Z

Power (and phone) finally back on around 8:35 PM. First day of school was held - thanks to Alan for txting me that info this morning. Tomorrow Brian can have a hot shower to start his school day!

Comment #2526

2011-08-29T21:11:29Z

Glad to hear all are well and the cottage weathered the storm SO WELL!!

Only affect it had on son, Joe, in NYC was that he was ordered to spend an overnight at his work precinct. NBD With love to you all, in HIM, Pami

Comment #2525

2011-08-29T19:27:06Z

Further impact from the storm. The first day of school has been canceled. Some roads are still closed and traffic lights not working, plus I think there is an issue with food preparation.

So, we start the school year already one day in the hole. I guess we shouldn't complain too much because the weather is supposed to be absolutely beautiful tomorrow.

Comment #2524

2011-08-29T16:58:30Z

The Hillsboro folks were without power for 25 hours, but otherwise had only some rain and very little wind.

Comment #2523

2011-08-29T12:27:24Z

As listed in a previous comment, we lost power around 8 Sunday Morning. Church had already been canceled the night before in anticipation of the storm.

We passed most of the day reading and playing games. I played Ticket to Ride and then DTB played Diplomacy for most of the rest of the day. I'm still not sure it is finished.

Later in the afternoon, the sun came out and DB and I went for a walk around the neighborhood and into the game refuge. Lots of neighbors out chatting. Small branches down. Nothing major.

Took some pictures in the game refuge (I'll put on my blog later). Water was very high and, based on debris, may have covered some of the bridges at one point.

Power returned 3:15 Monday morning. How do I know? Must be a mother's sixth sense or something. I woke up with my alarm clock blinking 12:02, so the power had been on for only 2 minutes.

D was wondering what the boys would remember of this storm, but I don't think it is really going to stand out. Lots of rain (8 inches) and some wind, but not nearly what we were expecting (thank goodness).

Comment #2522

2011-08-29T12:12:13Z

Granby power returned about 3 a.m.

Comment #2521

2011-08-29T11:25:07Z

That's great to hear, Margaret. And of course I am always in favor of going to visit mothers, even Mom #2 should the occasion arise. :)

Comment #2520

2011-08-29T03:13:27Z

I was technically in a mandatory evacuation zone here in Delaware, so I used the opportunity to go see Mom up in Ithaca. We were lucky here in Delmarva that Irene skirted further to the east and came during low tide. The beaches have already reopened! We have some seemingly minor damage at the house. I'm hoping not to find any more tomorrow when I get the chance to see the outside of the house in the light. By the time I got home, the clouds were gone and the winds had mostly died down. Now we're looking forward to a few days of beautiful weather.

Comment #2519

2011-08-28T22:06:06Z

Sunday is an appropriate enough day for a miracle.

P was able to check out the Maggie, and—wait for it—it was bone dry inside! (Well, except for the usual small leak above the microwave.) There was debris on the deck on the cabana side, so we know the water came up that high, at least in waves, but inside, even the low spots in the bathroom and bunk room were dry.

There is erosion under the catwalk where it meets the parking area, and the boat garden is destroyed. There is significant erosion at the creek—the far bank looks like the white cliffs of Dover, I'm told. Lots of sand was shifted to the grassy area on the sand bar.

But the catwalk, decks, and dock are fine, without damage and without debris, except for that previously noted.

The water side of the Flounder is a mess, filled with logs, tires, and the like washed up from the marsh. And there's the tree to take care of; but we are very thankful that the other two (weakened) trunks did not fall; they are the ones that would have landed on the house!

It's humbling to realize how well it turned out, considering we were expecting the upper bunks to flood, and difficult to imagine how the causeway could be submerged and the Maggie escape. But we are grateful. Thank you for your prayers!

Here's a video from Saybrook, and one from nearby Westbrook.

Comment #2518

2011-08-28T18:53:24Z

Well, now that Janet has posted her weather, I'll chime in with what I just emailed Mom personally:

It's a gorgeous, sunny/cloudy/breezy fall-ish day here outside the storm.

Jonathan was impressed by how many states it is covering up.

Comment #2517

2011-08-28T18:51:24Z

Power's out at the Flounder (and also in Salem). The water has receded and all sorts of people are walking across the causeway, but our relatives are too smart (so far) to go out when the wind is still fierce and there's risk of getting hit by a flying branch.

Comment #2516

2011-08-28T17:29:38Z

Thanks for all the updates! We haven't noticed a thing. We rode up to the top of Pilatus and had a gorgeous blue-sky view of the alps. It was too windy for the paragliders but the birds were having a blast. I do not mean at all to take your situation lightly. We are praying for you and are happy some of you can be part of the rescue crew, though a 48 hour surely sounds difficult. Love in CH

Comment #2515

2011-08-28T16:10:02Z

Here's a news video from Old Saybrook. We think that's Harvey's Beach in the background.

Comment #2514

2011-08-28T16:08:55Z

Eric, you may find that having a generator is also a great way to make friends. :)

Comment #2513

2011-08-28T16:07:57Z

Noon update from New Hampshire: Well here we are waiting for the hurricane. Church was cancelled this morning for the first time in its 175 year history. I wonder if those making that call knew it was historic. And we got the word on Friday that school was cancelled for Monday in anticipation of the hurricane. Forecast for Monday is 80 and sunny.

Comment #2512

2011-08-28T16:03:54Z

Wind is howling and rain pelting here in New England, just at noontime. We were out early for church (10 people showed) and had one detour on the way home for what we presume were downed trees or wires. Local breakfast shop stayed hope and had a small crowd looking for Western omelets. Looked like part of our street was without power. More tropical than hurricane right now, with branches and leaves down but no big trees yet. Best decision in building a house on a hill in a small community: the gas generator.

Comment #2511

2011-08-28T15:55:41Z

It's raining and somewhat windy. So far not worth all the fuss.

Comment #2510

2011-08-28T15:54:11Z

Clarification: Downingtown itself is a real mess, lots of flooding. But those we know in the area are on higher ground.

Comment #2509

2011-08-28T15:41:29Z

The Maggie is now visible. Can't see the damage, of course, but at least she's still there. :)

Comment #2508

2011-08-28T15:25:46Z

Correction: The waves are three feet over the causeway.

Comment #2507

2011-08-28T14:52:34Z

Updates:

Exton, 9 a.m. Well, we kept power all night. Still some rain and wind at the moment, but not much. I haven't ventured outside, but nothing looks out of the ordinary. Very happy to not be in one of the low areas. A quick on-line look tells me the lowest point in Downingtown is 255 feet. We are at 670 or so (lower in the basement).

Downingtown, 10:00 a.m. No power, no Internet, but everyone is fine.

Saybrook, 10:30 a.m. See new pictures added above. According to Bill, "The worst I have seen the water in 80 years." The causeway is now almost completely submerged. No news yet from the Maggie, obviously—equally obviously there must be a lot of water in her. People doing okay. They still have power, except for the oven; they turned off the breaker because it started beeping and giving an error code. (It was not in use.)

Granby, 10:30 a.m. *Lost power at 8 - no real wind yet. Probably 7+ inches rain so far. *

Comment #2506

2011-08-28T10:59:49Z

I've added a picture of the downed tree at the Flounder to the body of the article.

Comment #2505

2011-08-28T10:53:57Z

6 a.m. update from the Flounder: Wind not all that strong yet, but relentless. It took down one of the trunks of the big tree, but it landed in the best possible place, damaging the neighbor's flag pole but neither of the houses. The rose of sharon bush blew down. As this is just the beginning, P wisely decided not to go out and check further. You can still see under the causeway. Weather precludes sight of the Maggie, though.

Comment #2504

2011-08-28T10:52:51Z

12:15 a.m. update from Downingtown: Reports of cars floating, people on their roofs. M had to pull a police car out of a river.

Comment #2503

2011-08-28T10:51:58Z

11:30 p.m. update from Exton: Lots of rain; half the family hiding from tornadoes in the basement and texting requests for snacks to those staying above ground. :)

Comment #2502

2011-08-28T10:48:39Z

11:30 p.m. update from Downingtown: Rain, tornado watches/warnings, minor leaks, busy EMT/fire/police.

And double sol games.

Comment #2501

2011-08-28T10:46:06Z

10:30 p.m. update from Exton: Rain.

Comment #2500

2011-08-28T10:37:09Z

Thanks for the updates, Kevin. I apologize to all for not moderating your comments till now. We went to bed on grandparent time last night. I think from now on your comments should come straight through.

Comment #2499

2011-08-28T01:27:45Z

Hey!

Nothing major here has happened except a couple of trees have fallen outside my dorm. I haven't left the building really so i'm not sure whats going on around the rest of campus.

Comment #2498

2011-08-28T01:23:37Z

Hey!

Lots of wind and rain here but not much else. a couple of trees went down outside of my dorm but they fell away from the building. Im not really sure whats going on around the rest of campus but i know there are some downed powerlines. Also, we still have power but the air-conditioning stopped working.

Comment #2497

2011-08-27T21:38:23Z

Thanks! I hear the surfers here had a blast with the 10-foot waves. (Well, not here precisely, where the lakes didn't even ripple, but over on the coast.)

The fort could have given you trouble in the wind if you still had it. :) Hopefully the house itself won't need much holding down.

Comment #2496

2011-08-27T20:54:48Z

Last I heard there were waves on the lake but he wasn't out surfing.

Mark will start a 48-hour shift at the station in a few hours. Brian and I will hold down the fort.