Dear friends and fans in the NorthEast US

So I’m looking at the maps, predictions, and storm tracking for Hurricane Sandy. As someone who has grown up in NC[1], let me tell all our friends, family, and fans in the North East – be ready[2]. Were this a normal storm, it’d be a pain in the ass, but the mix hitting all at once looks pretty rough. Head inland if you can, follow the advisories, and if they tell you to evacuate, do it.[3]

I’ll admit, if it were down here, I’d be pretty “meh” about it. “Oh, and Category 1? Wet and Windy, no worries.” I don’t generally get worried until a storm reached Category 3. All the bad ones we’ve gotten this far in are Cat 3 or higher at landfall. However, y’all aren’t subjected to these sorts of storms the way we are, and don’t build or plan for them the way we do. Be prepared, be informed, and be safe.

[1] Where hurricanes have been a way of life for the last 300+ years and where we learn how to track storms and follow the news on them before age 10. Since 1950, we’ve had over 180 tropical storms of one sort or another, and Hurricane Hazel is still fresh in people’s minds, with Hurricane Fran a reminder of how bad it can get.
[2] Kage has a good reference for you.
[3] No, really. DO IT.