TWC at it Again

[Steve]

Oddly this seems to be a phenominon (sp?) this year moreso than I can remember. I'm thinking that with the media fight to report everything first these days, that's carrying over to the weather. I don't necessarily view this as a positive development. Though if people are right, then it's hard to argue with them just the same.

Steve

[perk]

Derek your comment about Texans not caring is totally out of line. Just because we don't cry on this board all day does'nt mean that we are not taking Emily serious.I've been tracking this storm since before it was a depression,furthermore this board preaches trusting the NHC and in just about every one of their discussions in the last few days they have shifted their track further south.As for Claudette i have no idea what you are talking about.In my opinion this is just one more of the many posts to poke fun at people in Texas.

[Shoshana]

the board activity also is not anywhere near the same for Texas landfalls as it is for Florida and nwhhc receives far less traffic for a TX hit than for a hit anywhere els in the USA

I get the feeling that Texans dont take these things as seriously as they should. After all, during Claudette, they waited UNTIL the eye wall was destroying structures to start boarding up and evacuating

People in the northern Gulf and Florida have gotten quite a few hurricanes the last few years - and they were strong. Before Andrew, did Floridians get as hyper about hurricanes? And then after last year, it just ramped them up.

Here in Texas, we've gotten used to hurricanes lookin like they're coming our way, and then ... they go somewhere else. If you look at the stats, after Florida, Texas is second in hurricane hits since 1900. But the Texas coast is huge compared to Louisiana but LA has had almost as many hurricanes as Texas.

If a strong hurricane really looked like it was going to hit Texas, there'd be stuff goin on. People aren't used to boarding up here - it happens so rarely. But they will evacuate.

Another thing - alot of people I know in the greater Houston area are very aware of hurricanes - they just don't hang out at hurricane forums - they'll watch tv for their info. Right now, everything's real low key about Emily so people are just goin about their business till they hear something about Emily coming in their direction...

'shana

[Ixolib]

the board activity also is not anywhere near the same for Texas landfalls as it is for Florida and nwhhc receives far less traffic for a TX hit than for a hit anywhere els in the USA

Now, that IS an interesting observation...

[beachbum_al]

Like they have never been wrong on where a hurricane will make landfall on the three day forecast. (Rolling my eyes at the TWC) Those in South TX I would not let my guard down. I hope it doesn't hit there but I wouldn't let my guard down.

[Derek Ortt]

People in Claudette were shown on the news boarding up in the eye wall and many interviewed after the storm said they were planning on evacuating the morning that it made landfall. Not exactly good preparation for those in central Tx from that storm. Maybe because it was "only" a tropical storm the night before it made landfall or something

[perk]

Derek anytime a storm threatens you can find a hand full of stupid people.The media seeks out stories like that, but you can't equate the behavior of a few people and apply it to the majority.

[cancunkid]

I just checked the Brownsville Herald online addition for Sunday the 17th and the lead story is not about a hurricane but about a book......Harry Potter! Hope he whips up some magic for them just in case.

[EDR1222]

the board activity also is not anywhere near the same for Texas landfalls as it is for Florida and nwhhc receives far less traffic for a TX hit than for a hit anywhere els in the USA

I get the feeling that Texans dont take these things as seriously as they should. After all, during Claudette, they waited UNTIL the eye wall was destroying structures to start boarding up and evacuating

That isn't to smart, because I think Texas is second only to Florida in states with the most landfalling hurricanes if you look back through history.

[Innotech]

well I did know some people who planned to ride out hurricane Lili in ABBEVILLE which is near the coast. This was when it was a Cat 4 145 mph storm mind you. That person was very fortunate that she weakened before landfall. I cannot imagine going through a Cat 4 near the coast.

[cinlfla]

Derek anytime a storm threatens you can find a hand full of stupid people.

Amen!! to that. I know for a fact there were a lot of Floridians that did not prepare or evacuate when told to, some of these people were in mobile homes how stupid was that? imo I think this happens everywhere whether you live in Texas, Florida or the Carolina's and to keep this on subject I never follow twc they repeat themselves to much

[BLHutch]

During Claudette, we were assured for DAYS that the storm was going to hit Brownsville. The system was supposed to turn. Yet, it kept marching closer and closer to us, only to veer away from Houston/Galveston at close to the last minute. If people were unprepared for that, it was because the NHC dropped the ball big time. As did our local wx folks. The lesson to be learned from that is to be prepared no matter what the models say. They can be wrong.

And Texans do take hurricanes seriously. I don't know why you'd think otherwise. We have a history with hurricanes surpassed only by Florida. I have lived on the Texas gulf coast my entire life. I for one, take storms seriously.

Brady

[thetraveler]

I guess I will wade in on this subject... Claudette was suppose to go in way south of the metro houston area and it went from a t/s to a cat 2 in less than 12 hours if i recall. People were unaware of this and it was too late to really take any precautions. It was almost like Charlie in the fact it ramped up quickly and it went where people werent expecting it. As far as Texans are concerned a hurricane was forecasted to hit the Port Arthur area a few years back (cant remember the name) and the traffic leaving that area was tremendous. People came to Cleveland Texas via hwy 105 and it was a nightmare trying to get around town. SO I think that we do take these things seriously and watch and wait. When the time comes we will do what we have to do to help each other and work together in the aftermath to make things right again. Just like in Allison and Alicia and Carla... Have a great day.

[Ixolib]

Okay - I'll add to the mis-direction from the original title of this thread...

Statistically speaking, from 1900 until 2004, simple math indicates that Alabama "should" be the most concerned and Florida "should" be the least concerned. But, like everyone says, if a cane is barreling toward your neighborhood, historical statistics don't mean squat!!

[Shoshana]

^Ok... I'm surprised that Lousian has more coastline than Texas... it doesn't look that way on the map!

[Agua]

Okay - I'll add to the mis-direction from the original title of this thread...

Statistically speaking, from 1900 until 2004, simple math indicates that Alabama "should" be the most concerned and Florida "should" be the least concerned. But, like everyone says, if a cane is barreling toward your neighborhood, historical statistics don't mean squat!!

Confirms what I always suspected, but never felt motivated enough to hunt up the miles of contiguous coastline: on a "storm per mile basis", the northern Gulf gets beat up a helluva lot.

[wx247]

Those figures are misleading because Alabama and Mississippi have less coastline.

[Agua]

^Ok... I'm surprised that Lousian has more coastline than Texas... it doesn't look that way on the map!

It suspect it's including every twist, turn along the periphery, including bays, bayous, etc.

[Agua]

Those figures are misleading because Alabama and Mississippi have less coastline.

That's the point. On a per mile basis, more storms hit here.

[Ixolib]

Those figures are misleading because Alabama and Mississippi have less coastline.

Hence the "average" per mile of coastline compared to the number of hits over the last 104 years. Perhaps not 100% accurate down to the 1/10th of a mile, but not misleading...

BTW - Googled the coastline lengths for each state - that was the result confirmed by more than one source.