Hi Mark,   
      
   On Wed 2011-Aug-24 12:46, Mark Hofmann (1:261/1304) wrote to Richard Webb:   
      
   RW> YOu folks along the east coast get ready to rock.  She's   
   RW> bad, and looking like she might get even badder before she   
   RW> reaches the U.S> east coast.  Already we've got 100+ mph   
   RW> winds, and all that good stuff.  Barometer's been dropping   
   RW> in her eye as well I note from watching the advisories last   
   RW> couple of days.  This ain't good folks!   
      
   MH> Irine is looking impressive.     
      
   Yup, she's keeping her strength, and will even suck in more   
   material to work with as she crosses open waters to our east coast.  IF I were   
   you I'd be making sure I was super ready   
   about now.  Get them batteries in radios and flashlights   
   charged up or replaced too!   
      
   MH> Latest models show it brushing the NC coast and running up the   
   MH> eastern seaboard. I don't believe that to be the case, as I favor a   
   MH> more inland track.  Going just west of the bay here in MD is not out   
   MH> of the realm of possibility. That would cause massive flooding from   
   MH> the storm surge.   
      
   OH yeah it sure could.  NEither would surprise me, but if   
   she stays at this strength she's not gonna leave a whole   
   lotta pretty in her wake.  I'm not envying you guys up   
   there.  I spent a week marooned on hospital island after   
   Katrina, and that was enough for me.   
      
   I'll still remember the guy from the state emergency ops   
   center asking me if we could ascertain how much stored   
   oxygen we had on hand.  Emergency management boss man sent   
   me to head of maintenance who told me he'd be glad to find   
   out for me if I could find him some scuba gear.   
      
   MH> Will keep an eye on this.  We have had hail twice, an earthquake,   
   MH> and probably a hurricane all in the past week.   
      
   Yup, you guys are getting some bang for your buck, making   
   them government emergency management pros earn their   
   salaries.  IF they're not having some sleepless nights over   
   the next couple days then they're not doing their jobs.   
      
   Regards,   
              Richard   
   ---   
    * Origin:  (1:116/901)