I was jealous of the Gulf Coast this weekend, watching all the hurricane coverage. So I've decided I'm going to do hurricane coverage, too, since Dennis is headed straight for Kentucky. I'm going to update every now and then, excitedely tracking the storm's progress, and when it's real close I'm going to chain myself to a light pole near the coast of the Ohio River to bring you, my regular reader, closer to the action.
Condition right now: Cloudy with a slight breeze. At the condos behind my office I can see people going about their business as if nothing were happening. Reports that Dennis has been "downgraded" seem to have lulled them into a false sense of security. Fools!
UPDATE -- 9:25 AM EDT-- Considering boarding up my office window, but I don't have an office window. Take trip to conference room to look outside. White convertible parked in lot with top down. Sky ominously partly cloudy. Gathering gloom to the southwest, direction from which hurricane will arrive.
UPDATE -- 9:42 AM EDT -- Is that thunder I hear?
UPDATE-- 9:43 AM EDT -- Evidence reaches me via air conditioning duct that it was the guy in next office farting, not thunder, that I just heard.
UPDATE -- 10:05 AM EDT -- Woman walking by my office asks me if my car windows are closed. "Looks like it might rain," she says, hiding her terror beneath a facade of disinterest. I find it inspirational how brave people can be in times of great stress.
UPDATE -- 10:23 AM EDT -- Call to state Division of Emergency Management, asking what preparations I should be making for arrival of the hurricane. After a mometnary pause in the conversation, I am referred to flash flood expert. "Stay out of low places," he says. "Don't drive through standing water. I don't think we're expecting anything extreme." Public servant, my butt. The government fiddles while Rome burns.
UPDATE -- 11:15 AM EDT -- While walking out to the dumpster, I swear I saw the Weather Channel's Jim Cantore drive by out on the highway. Obviously, he's looking for a good place to set up. I hope he doesn't take the light pole down by the river I scouted this weekend. When the storm surge comes crashing in, I'm going to have to hang on for dear life.
Cantore's bio, by the way, contains this:
In addition to his on-air responsibilities, Cantore is an enthusiastic “in-the-field” meteorologist and reports live from locations near the center of severe weather. Cantore has provided live coverage for major weather events including the Tornado Outbreak in May, Hurricanes Andrew, Fran, Bonnie, Georges, the ‘98 severe ice storm in Northern New England and the blizzard in Chicago that produced the city’s second heaviest snowfall on record.
Live coverage of snow falling. That's great television.
UPDATE -- 11:44 AM EDT -- Gettting hungry. May have to venture out into the storm for food and water. No sign of rain, but it's coming. I can feel it.
UPDATE -- 11:46 AM EDT -- Weather.com says it's raining here. A quick trip into the conference room to check interrupts CEO meeting with important-looking men in suits. Got the hell out fast before I could see if it really is raining. Will have to brave the front door without adequate preparation. If Jim Cantore can do it, so can I!
It is times like this that I think back to the inspiring advice of that modern stoic, Dan Rather.
"Courage"
Posted by: Pursuit | 07/11/2005 at 10:49 AM