So whats the estimated winds right now in Wilmington. So far we have some strong breezes but nothing much, but then again I'm stuck a room with no windows. I won't be getting off work till 7:00, so by then I'm sure I'll have to deal with rain and some wind when trying to save the S.

 

Currently winds are 12mph. The highest so far is 33mph.

The storm is crawling forward at 3mph. Its now over the gulf stream where waters are warmer and some strengthening is expected. Hurricane force winds are forecast to skirt the coast around 0500 hours.

This is just a prediction :gazingintocrystalball:

 

We are only getting the very edge of the storm. Very cloudy, a little bit of rain. No biggie right now.

F#ck the media! Those guys are pricks...

 

Well Phil, keep your head down and your pants legs up, look like a wet one.

You all be careful!

 

Update.

My shift has ended in the EOC at 1830 hours and I'm now sitting in my "Stessless" recliner watching Wheel of Fortune, enjoying an exquisit, well deserved glass of wine. I'm happy to report that the winds are blowing hard enough to lift Vanna's skirt!

Um, speaking of wind, its starting to howl around the corner of my den. My annomometer (wet thumb) tells me that its blowing between 40 and 50 mph now.

The last major decision made in the EOC before I left was whether or not to close the ABC stores early. I'm happy to report they were left open.

More later...

 

Thanks for the encouragement, Jamie. I"ll be sure to keep my leg up and my pants down.

 

Charleston Update:

The winds have picked up here as well. I've got the wheel with all of the instruments under cover, so I can't tell you what speed we've hit. I'll check later for the highest gust. We've had a few small rain squalls, but nothing to write home about.

With any luck, this one's going to pass us by. Good luck, MyBad. Hope it doesn't stall up there.

 

Ron,

I was just thinking aobut you, hoping that you weren't getting roughed up. I think you're gonna luck out on this one. The 5:00 update (I mean 1700 update) showed the track moving about ten miles to the east.

Still, you should take all precautions and drink heavily to pre-empt any pain should things turn nasty.

 

Update:

1000 hours and I've been back in the EOC for a couple of hours. The drive in was most interesting. 60 mph winds and 100 ft visibility.

Routine stuff going on right now. Bridges closed, mobile homes being destroyed, trees on fire ( ).

The media is still hounding me. The newspaper editor tried to get tough with me yesterday when I told him he couldn't go into the shelters. He said "Why is it that the Red Cross lets the media in in New Orleans but we can't go in here?"

I replied, "Maybe you should take your little newspaper to New Orleans." That REALLY pissed him off!

MyBride is riding the storm out on her own with no power. Poor thing.

I think I'll go have another donut.