2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season Running Thread

I reached to my old intern after Helene because she lived not too far from me and in a very heavy flood area. As each day went back without hearing back I knew it was bad. Finally I caught up with her to hear she and her young family lost everything in their house flood. Thankfully they were able to track down their wedding photogtapher and the person who took the first pictures of their child to get new copies of those things, but the mental anguish is beyond comprehension. For most of us our homes are an extension of our identity, we put so much of ourselves into them. She told me that they can never live in St. Pete again and to move to another area while their child is still very young and doesn't have deep memories of the lost house is the best thing. Many tears were shed during that conversation.

 

I keep all of my important records and mementos in a place where I can grab it if I have a few minutes' notice in case of just a tornado. If you live in a hurricane-prone area, you'd be wise to do the same.

 

Was talking with some friends recently about getting some thumb drives or a 1Tb external and putting all records and photos on it. Maybe two. One is in a grab-and-go bag or place and the other in a bank safety box.

Also maybe video each room in your home, for at least a starting point for insurance when they ask about clothes, furniture and all your stuff. No one likes to think about doing all this but it could be quite helpful.

I was thinking today about how the Helene coverage in NC and TN has disappeared. Two weeks later and they’re an afterthought.

 

Tennessee was an afterthought the next day, at least as far as national media coverage was concerned.

 

I also keep scanned digital copies of my most important papers on a flash drive in my safety deposit box. Mainly because stuff like my (age redacted)-old birth certificate is very very delicate

 

After back to back storms the Small Business Administration's hurricane relief fund has run out of money while Congress is still on vacation.

https://www.politico.com/news/2024/10/15/disaster-loan-program-exhausted-00183784

 

Our paper syndicates Heller and I try to avoid his most blatant political toons, but this one's a Top 3 all-timer and I ran it.

 

Never seen his stuff before, but he looks pretty basic, not much depth or hard punch to his drawings. But, like you, I ran with this one here. His message was clear, and easy to figure out even for (most of) the MAGA dummies out there.

 

Hurricane Oscar formed essentially out of nothing just north of Hispaniola, will hit Cuba's north eastern coast then bounce off toward the Bahamas. Strange season.

 

This map pleases me.

 

Yeah, hopefully no more for this year. Although there is a Cat 5 raging in the Pacific right now.