Category 2 Hurricane Dolly makes landfall

[hellokeith]

link at The Weather Channel

Hurricane Dolly making landfall
Tim Ballisty, Meteorologist, The Weather Channel
2:23 p.m. ET 7/23/2008

Hurricane Dolly is currently making landfall about 20 to 25 miles north of South Padre Island as category two hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph.

Even before the eye's landfall, Dolly's western eyewall has been punishing the South Texas coast for several hours now.

Although meandering at times, Dolly is generally moving to the west-northwest at just 7 mph. The storm's pressure, measured by the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter reconnaissance plane, is at 967 millibars.

Nasty squalls of tropical downpours, tropical storm-force sustained winds, and hurricane-force gusts from Hurricane Dolly are rotating onshore along the far South Texas coastline. Conditions will only continue to deteriorate through the afternoon and tonight as Dolly's center of circulation approaches.

It should be emphasized that this will be a long duration event for South Texas due to Dolly's sluggish nature and impacts from Dolly will last well into Thursday.

With Dolly's western eyewall just sitting and spinning along the shore (for a few hours now), locations along the immediate coast such as Port Mansfield, Laguna Vista, Arroyo City, South Padre Island, and Port Isabel are all taking a pounding.

Other cities such as Brownsville, Harlingen, and Raymondville are also feeling the wrath of Dolly. All power is reported out on S. Padre Island while power lines and power poles are down in Brownsville, Harlingen, and Port Isabel.

A 72 mph wind gust was measured earlier this morning at Port Isabel, Texas. An unofficial observer east of Matamoros, Mexico recorded winds of 65 mph with gusts to 119 mph. Brownsville record a gust of 67 mph around 12 noon CT.

Waves are growing in height (generally 10 to 20 feet) as Dolly churns just offshore; crashing and punishing the shoreline. Because of Dolly's stubborn movement, severe beach erosion is becoming a major concern.

The expected storm surge, from Corpus Christi south to South Padre Island, is forecast to range from 3 to 5 feet.

The intense winds of Dolly will be damaging and in some cases destructive. Power outages and structural damage are likely especially for poorly-constructed houses and buildings. In fact, power outages are already occurring. However, because of the very slow forward movement of Dolly, it is quite possible that the most life-threatening impact from Dolly will eventually be the flooding rainfall.

I'm watching on various TV channels scattered reports of power outages all over S. Padre Island, rain and some hail. Levees along the Rio Grande in Brownsville expected to hold in spite of potential flooding.

Hope there is not too much damage, S. Padre Island is a great vacation destination, beautiful area with friendly people. I went there almost every summer as a child.

 

[dphantom]

Plenty of warning but a bit stronger than the forecast last night. Hope everyone did the smart thing and got out of the way.

 

[heyheybooboo]

It's SOP to cut the power before the hur'can hits ...

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Originally posted by: heyheybooboo
It's SOP to cut the power before the hur'can hits ...

Not in any I've been through. Most people want their A/C running along with their fridge/freezer until mother nature decides she doesn't want you to have power any longer.

The lucky people live in neighborhoods with buried power lines. Even during a hurricane your power is likely to stay on unless a main feeder line gets damaged between you and the power station.

 

[woodie1]

Originally posted by: TastesLikeChicken

Originally posted by: heyheybooboo
It's SOP to cut the power before the hur'can hits ...

Not in any I've been through. Most people want their A/C running along with their fridge/freezer until mother nature decides she doesn't want you to have power any longer.

The lucky people live in neighborhoods with buried power lines. Even during a hurricane your power is likely to stay on unless a main feeder line gets damaged between you and the power station.

^^^THIS^^^

 

[Arkaign]

/ Pat Robertson logic on

This is just God kicking Texas in the balls for producing GWB.

 

[woodie1]

Originally posted by: Arkaign
/ Pat Robertson logic on

This is just God kicking Texas in the balls for producing GWB.

Nice one 😉

While it is true he has a ranch here is was born in the NE IIRC.


EDIT: Born in New Haven, Connecticut on July 6, 1946.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Originally posted by: woodie1

Originally posted by: Arkaign
/ Pat Robertson logic on

This is just God kicking Texas in the balls for producing GWB.

Nice one 😉

While it is true he has a ranch here is was born in the NE IIRC.


EDIT: Born in New Haven, Connecticut on July 6, 1946.

So if a hurricane hits New Haven, Connecticut we'll know that god is punishing Connecticut for producing GWB?

😉

 

[woodie1]

Originally posted by: TastesLikeChicken

Originally posted by: woodie1

Originally posted by: Arkaign
/ Pat Robertson logic on

This is just God kicking Texas in the balls for producing GWB.

Nice one 😉

While it is true he has a ranch here is was born in the NE IIRC.


EDIT: Born in New Haven, Connecticut on July 6, 1946.

So if a hurricane hits New Haven, Connecticut we'll know that god is punishing Connecticut for producing GWB?

😉

Works fer me. 🙂

 

[heyheybooboo]

Originally posted by: TastesLikeChicken

Originally posted by: heyheybooboo
It's SOP to cut the power before the hur'can hits ...

Not in any I've been through. Most people want their A/C running along with their fridge/freezer until mother nature decides she doesn't want you to have power any longer.

The lucky people live in neighborhoods with buried power lines. Even during a hurricane your power is likely to stay on unless a main feeder line gets damaged between you and the power station.

You are clueless. As is your local government and power utility if in fact you live on a barrier island taking a direct hit from a hurricane and the authorities don't shut down utilities prior to landfall. Do you live on a barrier island, Chickie?

How well does that AC work (powered by that underground electric primary) when your house has six feet of water in it? If your house still exists, that is ....

Gee. I wonder why emergency officials in hurricane preparation documents advise you to unplug appliances and turn off your main electric circuit breaker? I guess you are too smart for that, huh?

Electric utilities shut down their local grids to prevent hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional damages to their infrastructure that result from exploding transformers, line surges & such. It makes it much easier to respond and repair after the disaster - except of course when the typical dumb asses can't follow simple instructions and decide to leave their air conditioning on.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Originally posted by: heyheybooboo

Originally posted by: TastesLikeChicken

Originally posted by: heyheybooboo
It's SOP to cut the power before the hur'can hits ...

Not in any I've been through. Most people want their A/C running along with their fridge/freezer until mother nature decides she doesn't want you to have power any longer.

The lucky people live in neighborhoods with buried power lines. Even during a hurricane your power is likely to stay on unless a main feeder line gets damaged between you and the power station.

You are clueless. As is your local government and power utility if in fact you live on a barrier island taking a direct hit from a hurricane and the authorities don't shut down utilities prior to landfall. Do you live on a barrier island, Chickie?

How well does that AC work (powered by that underground electric primary) when your house has six feet of water in it? If your house still exists, that is ....

Gee. I wonder why emergency officials in hurricane preparation documents advise you to unplug appliances and turn off your main electric circuit breaker? I guess you are too smart for that, huh?

Electric utilities shut down their local grids to prevent hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional damages to their infrastructure that result from exploding transformers, line surges & such. It makes it much easier to respond and repair after the disaster - except of course when the typical dumb asses can't follow simple instructions and decide to leave their air conditioning on.

Clueless? How many hurricanes have you sat through, booboo? Clearly the answer is zero. Either that or you'd be lying straight through your teeth.

I went through 3 hurricanes in the course of a month a few years ago. The eye of Hurricane Charlie passed directly over my house. I've been in Florida for the large part of 35 years and have been through other direct hits, and an untold multitude of close calls. I've been on barriar islands during hurricanes too. Never, ever, have I experienced the power company shutting down electricity. Ever. You have no idea wtf you're talking about.

 

[woodie1]

Originally posted by: heyheybooboo

Originally posted by: TastesLikeChicken

Originally posted by: heyheybooboo
It's SOP to cut the power before the hur'can hits ...

Not in any I've been through. Most people want their A/C running along with their fridge/freezer until mother nature decides she doesn't want you to have power any longer.

The lucky people live in neighborhoods with buried power lines. Even during a hurricane your power is likely to stay on unless a main feeder line gets damaged between you and the power station.

You are clueless. As is your local government and power utility if in fact you live on a barrier island taking a direct hit from a hurricane and the authorities don't shut down utilities prior to landfall. Do you live on a barrier island, Chickie?

How well does that AC work (powered by that underground electric primary) when your house has six feet of water in it? If your house still exists, that is ....

Gee. I wonder why emergency officials in hurricane preparation documents advise you to unplug appliances and turn off your main electric circuit breaker? I guess you are too smart for that, huh?

Electric utilities shut down their local grids to prevent hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional damages to their infrastructure that result from exploding transformers, line surges & such. It makes it much easier to respond and repair after the disaster - except of course when the typical dumb asses can't follow simple instructions and decide to leave their air conditioning on.

I can vouch for TLC and the FPL in Florida leaving the power on. I spent 20 years there myself.
There may be other areas where the power is shut off, I don't know.

 

[heyheybooboo]

Originally posted by: TastesLikeChicken

Originally posted by: heyheybooboo

Originally posted by: TastesLikeChicken

Originally posted by: heyheybooboo
It's SOP to cut the power before the hur'can hits ...

Not in any I've been through. Most people want their A/C running along with their fridge/freezer until mother nature decides she doesn't want you to have power any longer.

The lucky people live in neighborhoods with buried power lines. Even during a hurricane your power is likely to stay on unless a main feeder line gets damaged between you and the power station.

You are clueless. As is your local government and power utility if in fact you live on a barrier island taking a direct hit from a hurricane and the authorities don't shut down utilities prior to landfall. Do you live on a barrier island, Chickie?

How well does that AC work (powered by that underground electric primary) when your house has six feet of water in it? If your house still exists, that is ....

Gee. I wonder why emergency officials in hurricane preparation documents advise you to unplug appliances and turn off your main electric circuit breaker? I guess you are too smart for that, huh?

Electric utilities shut down their local grids to prevent hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional damages to their infrastructure that result from exploding transformers, line surges & such. It makes it much easier to respond and repair after the disaster - except of course when the typical dumb asses can't follow simple instructions and decide to leave their air conditioning on.

Clueless? How many hurricanes have you sat through, booboo? Clearly the answer is zero. Either that or you'd be lying straight through your teeth.

I went through 3 hurricanes in the course of a month a few years ago. The eye of Hurricane Charlie passed directly over my house. I've been in Florida for the large part of 35 years and have been through other direct hits, and an untold multitude of close calls. I've been on barriar islands during hurricanes too. Never, ever, have I experienced the power company shutting down electricity. Ever. You have no idea wtf you're talking about.

I have a graduate degree in Public Administration with a background in engineering. I have over ten years of public service in local gov't administration including 2 'Electric Cities' which run their own systems.

As the City Manager it was my responsibility to oversee all emergency operations and coordinate pre- and post-disaster planning and response from each municipal department and outside organizations, including mutual aid arrangements and pre-staging with line crews from folks like Florida Power & Light. And yes, Dumb Ass, I have been through multiple hurricanes.

I say it is Standard Operating Procedure for the electric utility to shut down the local electric grid on a barrier island such as South Padre prior to a direct hit from a hurricane. I will guarantee it.

Not only does it save hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage to the infrastructure it saves thousands of man-hours in logistical support and restoration.

I'm not impressed with your bravado. As a matter of fact I've dealt with dipsticks like you in every hurricane. I bet even in mandatory evacuations you refuse to leave. We even have a plan for you.

Prior to landfall we will send a cop or fireman to your house with a toe tag for you to fill out.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: heyheybooboo

Originally posted by: TastesLikeChicken

Originally posted by: heyheybooboo

Originally posted by: TastesLikeChicken

Originally posted by: heyheybooboo
It's SOP to cut the power before the hur'can hits ...

Not in any I've been through. Most people want their A/C running along with their fridge/freezer until mother nature decides she doesn't want you to have power any longer.

The lucky people live in neighborhoods with buried power lines. Even during a hurricane your power is likely to stay on unless a main feeder line gets damaged between you and the power station.

You are clueless. As is your local government and power utility if in fact you live on a barrier island taking a direct hit from a hurricane and the authorities don't shut down utilities prior to landfall. Do you live on a barrier island, Chickie?

How well does that AC work (powered by that underground electric primary) when your house has six feet of water in it? If your house still exists, that is ....

Gee. I wonder why emergency officials in hurricane preparation documents advise you to unplug appliances and turn off your main electric circuit breaker? I guess you are too smart for that, huh?

Electric utilities shut down their local grids to prevent hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional damages to their infrastructure that result from exploding transformers, line surges & such. It makes it much easier to respond and repair after the disaster - except of course when the typical dumb asses can't follow simple instructions and decide to leave their air conditioning on.

Clueless? How many hurricanes have you sat through, booboo? Clearly the answer is zero. Either that or you'd be lying straight through your teeth.

I went through 3 hurricanes in the course of a month a few years ago. The eye of Hurricane Charlie passed directly over my house. I've been in Florida for the large part of 35 years and have been through other direct hits, and an untold multitude of close calls. I've been on barriar islands during hurricanes too. Never, ever, have I experienced the power company shutting down electricity. Ever. You have no idea wtf you're talking about.

I have a graduate degree in Public Administration with a background in engineering. I have over ten years of public service in local gov't administration including 2 'Electric Cities' which run their own systems.

As the City Manager it was my responsibility to oversee all emergency operations and coordinate pre- and post-disaster planning and response from each municipal department and outside organizations, including mutual aid arrangements and pre-staging with line crews from folks like Florida Power & Light. And yes, Dumb Ass, I have been through multiple hurricanes.

I say it is Standard Operating Procedure for the electric utility to shut down the local electric grid on a barrier island such as South Padre prior to a direct hit from a hurricane. I will guarantee it.

Not only does it save hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage to the infrastructure it saves thousands of man-hours in logistical support and restoration.

I'm not impressed with your bravado. As a matter of fact I've dealt with dipsticks like you in every hurricane. I bet even in mandatory evacuations you refuse to leave. We even have a plan for you.

Prior to landfall we will send a cop or fireman to your house with a toe tag for you to fill out.

:thumbsup:

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Originally posted by: heyheybooboo

Originally posted by: TastesLikeChicken

Originally posted by: heyheybooboo

Originally posted by: TastesLikeChicken

Originally posted by: heyheybooboo
It's SOP to cut the power before the hur'can hits ...

Not in any I've been through. Most people want their A/C running along with their fridge/freezer until mother nature decides she doesn't want you to have power any longer.

The lucky people live in neighborhoods with buried power lines. Even during a hurricane your power is likely to stay on unless a main feeder line gets damaged between you and the power station.

You are clueless. As is your local government and power utility if in fact you live on a barrier island taking a direct hit from a hurricane and the authorities don't shut down utilities prior to landfall. Do you live on a barrier island, Chickie?

How well does that AC work (powered by that underground electric primary) when your house has six feet of water in it? If your house still exists, that is ....

Gee. I wonder why emergency officials in hurricane preparation documents advise you to unplug appliances and turn off your main electric circuit breaker? I guess you are too smart for that, huh?

Electric utilities shut down their local grids to prevent hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional damages to their infrastructure that result from exploding transformers, line surges & such. It makes it much easier to respond and repair after the disaster - except of course when the typical dumb asses can't follow simple instructions and decide to leave their air conditioning on.

Clueless? How many hurricanes have you sat through, booboo? Clearly the answer is zero. Either that or you'd be lying straight through your teeth.

I went through 3 hurricanes in the course of a month a few years ago. The eye of Hurricane Charlie passed directly over my house. I've been in Florida for the large part of 35 years and have been through other direct hits, and an untold multitude of close calls. I've been on barriar islands during hurricanes too. Never, ever, have I experienced the power company shutting down electricity. Ever. You have no idea wtf you're talking about.

I have a graduate degree in Public Administration with a background in engineering. I have over ten years of public service in local gov't administration including 2 'Electric Cities' which run their own systems.

As the City Manager it was my responsibility to oversee all emergency operations and coordinate pre- and post-disaster planning and response from each municipal department and outside organizations, including mutual aid arrangements and pre-staging with line crews from folks like Florida Power & Light. And yes, Dumb Ass, I have been through multiple hurricanes.

I say it is Standard Operating Procedure for the electric utility to shut down the local electric grid on a barrier island such as South Padre prior to a direct hit from a hurricane. I will guarantee it.

Not only does it save hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage to the infrastructure it saves thousands of man-hours in logistical support and restoration.

I'm not impressed with your bravado. As a matter of fact I've dealt with dipsticks like you in every hurricane. I bet even in mandatory evacuations you refuse to leave. We even have a plan for you.

Prior to landfall we will send a cop or fireman to your house with a toe tag for you to fill out.

Great. I'm a tech writer with 20+ years of experience, primarily in engineering and IT disciplines. I've written numerous disaster plans, including the Hurricane Preparedness and Disaster Plan for Disney World. I've been through many hurricanes as well, including hurricanes on barrier islands on both the east coast (Merrit Island) and West Coast (Siesta Key) of Florida. None of the plans have ever stipulated that the power be shut down nor I have ever experienced a grid being shut-down 'just in case.' Not only that, my neighbor 2 doors down has worked as a lineman and manager of the lineworkers department for FPL (Now Progress Energy) for 35+ years. I asked him this morning if there's such a contingency during a hurricane and he replied "None that I'm aware of. We wouldn't do that because we could be cutting power to people that use electrical equipment necessary for life support, like iron lungs. We wouldn't want to place them on backup systems any sooner than necessary. That goes for hospitals and senior citizen homes too."

Even NO didn't shut down their grid until Katrina forced the control systems to remove power from damaged grids. The only shutdowns that occured prior to the storm was the 3 nuclear plants, and that was done because of concerns of rising waters.

btw, it's really hilarious how you backpedaled from your initial broad generalization of "It's SOP to cut the power before the hur'can hits ..." Suddenly it's 'Oh, we do this on barrier islands.' lol. Maybe that's how you pansies in Te'has do it. In Florida, we leave the power on and deal with it.