Hurricane Preparedness

[chrisfont23]

What's everyone's plan? I have a 5000 w generator and personally, I care more about the sanctity of the kiddies and the fridge...but, I plan on running at minimum, my powerhead. I have the fear that the dirty electricity pushed out my a generator and lack of consistent flow/current might be a bad idea for my lighting. Anyone ever been through this? Curious to see what you did.

Also, for those w/ no generators...I remember Gloria in '85 very well. We had no power for 5-6 days here on LI. What do those folks do in that situation?

Hope this helps everyone!

[chrisfont23]

Current Computer Forecast (8.25.2011 11:30AM EST)



Current National Weather Advisory:

...Dangerous Hurricane Irene Turns North-Northwestward...
Published: Thu, 25 Aug 2011 11:01:10 EDT
At 11:00 a.m. EDT, the center of Hurricane Irene was located near latitude 25.9 north, longitude 76.8 west. Irene is moving toward the NNW near 13 mph and this motion is expected to continue through tonight, with a turn toward the north by early Friday. Irene is forecast to continue moving over the northwestern Bahamas today and pass well offshore of the east coast of central and north Florida tonight and early Friday. The hurricane is forecast to approach the coast of North Carolina on Saturday. Maximum sustained winds are near 115 mph, with higher gusts. Irene is a Category Three hurricane. Some strengthening is possible today and tonight. A Hurricane Watch is in effect for north of Surf City, N.C., to the N.C.-Va. Border. A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for north of Edisto Beach, S.C., to Surf City, N.C. For storm information specific to your area in the U.S., please monitor products issued by your local NWS forecast office.

Current Public Advisory

000WTNT34 KNHC 251454TCPAT4BULLETINHURRICANE IRENE ADVISORY NUMBER 21NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL0920111100 AM EDT THU AUG 25 2011...DANGEROUS HURRICANE IRENE TURNS NORTH-NORTHWESTWARD...COREAPPROACHING ABACO ISLAND...SUMMARY OF 1100 AM EDT...1500 UTC...INFORMATION-----------------------------------------------LOCATION...25.9N 76.8WABOUT 75 MI...115 KM NNE OF NASSAUABOUT 645 MI...1040 KM S OF CAPE HATTERAS NORTH CAROLINAMAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...115 MPH...185 KM/HPRESENT MOVEMENT...NNW OR 335 DEGREES AT 13 MPH...20 KM/HMINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...951 MB...28.08 INCHESWATCHES AND WARNINGS--------------------CHANGES IN WATCHES AND WARNINGS WITH THIS ADVISORY...NONESUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT...A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR...* THE CENTRAL AND NORTHWESTERN BAHAMASA HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR...* NORTH OF SURF CITY NORTH CAROLINA TO THE NORTH CAROLINA-VIRGINIABORDER INCLUDING THE PAMLICO...ALBEMARLE...AND CURRITUCK SOUNDSA TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR...* NORTH OF EDISTO BEACH SOUTH CAROLINA TO SURF CITY NORTH CAROLINAA HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLEWITHIN THE WATCH AREA. A WATCH IS TYPICALLY ISSUED 48 HOURSBEFORE THE ANTICIPATED FIRST OCCURRENCE OF TROPICAL-STORM-FORCEWINDS...CONDITIONS THAT MAKE OUTSIDE PREPARATIONS DIFFICULT ORDANGEROUS.A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS AREPOSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 48 HOURS.WARNINGS WILL LIKELY BE REQUIRED FOR PORTIONS OF THE WATCH AREALATER TODAY. THE HURRICANE WATCH WILL ALSO LIKELY NEED TO BEEXTENDED NORTHWARD ALONG THE MID-ATLANTIC COAST LATER TODAY.INTERESTS ELSEWHERE IN THE MID-ATLANTIC STATES AND NEW ENGLANDSHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF IRENE.FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA IN THE UNITEDSTATES...INCLUDING POSSIBLE INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASEMONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICEFORECAST OFFICE. FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA OUTSIDETHE UNITED STATES...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR NATIONALMETEOROLOGICAL SERVICE.DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK------------------------------AT 1100 AM EDT...1500 UTC...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IRENE WASLOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 25.9 NORTH...LONGITUDE 76.8 WEST. IRENE ISMOVING TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHWEST NEAR 13 MPH...20 KM/H. THISMOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH TONIGHT WITH A TURN TOWARDTHE NORTH BY EARLY FRIDAY. ON THE FORECAST TRACK...THE CORE OF THEHURRICANE WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE OVER THE NORTHWESTERN BAHAMASTODAY...AND PASS WELL OFFSHORE OF THE EAST COAST OF CENTRAL ANDNORTH FLORIDA TONIGHT AND EARLY FRIDAY. THE HURRICANE IS FORECASTTO APPROACH THE COAST OF NORTH CAROLINA ON SATURDAY.MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 115 MPH...185 KM/H...WITH HIGHERGUSTS. IRENE IS A CATEGORY THREE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSONHURRICANE WIND SCALE. SOME STRENGTHENING IS POSSIBLE TODAY ANDTONIGHT.HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 70 MILES...110 KM...FROMTHE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 290MILES...465 KM.THE LATEST MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE REPORTED BY AN AIR FORCE RESERVEHURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT WAS 951 MB...28.08 INCHES.HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND----------------------WIND...HURRICANE FORCE WINDS ARE CURRENTLY SPREADING OVER THENORTHWESTERN BAHAMAS. HURRICANE OR TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS ARESTILL OCCURRING OVER PORTIONS OF THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS...BUT SHOULDBEGIN TO DIMINISH LATER TODAY. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS AREPOSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA ALONG THE COAST OF NORTH AND SOUTHCAROLINA BY LATE FRIDAY.STORM SURGE...IN AREAS OF ONSHORE WINDS NEAR THE CENTER OF IRENE...AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS STORM SURGE WILL RAISE WATER LEVELS BY ASMUCH AS 7 TO 11 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS OVER THE CENTRAL ANDNORTHWEST BAHAMAS. WATER LEVELS WILL GRADUALLY SUBSIDE OVER THESOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS THROUGH TONIGHT. NEAR THE COAST...THE SURGEWILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY LARGE AND DANGEROUS WAVES.RAINFALL...IRENE IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 6TO 12 INCHES OVER THE BAHAMAS.SURF...SWELLS GENERATED BY IRENE ARE AFFECTING PORTIONS OF THE COASTOF THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES. THESE SWELLS WILL CAUSELIFE-THREATENING SURF AND RIP CURRENT CONDITIONS. PLEASE CONSULTPRODUCTS FROM YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE.NEXT ADVISORY-------------NEXT INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY...200 PM EDT.NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY...500 PM EDT.$$FORECASTER BROWN

[Ryan seymore]

Just posted a similar thread a little while ago. I live in seaford delaware and we may get hit hard from what ive been reading and bad news for us because we have no generator.. Im going to run an exstention cored to the car and run only my lights and power head for a little bit each day and other things in the house. the weather channel says power could be out for up to a week for some people if it hits like they think it will..
not to mention my tank almost fell over from the tremor we got from the earthquake in virginia. This week sucks!
can wait to see what everyone else says good luck to everyone i hope all goes well

Ryan

[Original Fin]

I have not been through that with a fish tank, but I remember riding out Gloria (in NH) very well.

I don't think lack of lighting for up to a few days would be much of a problem.
The primary concerns would be aeration and temperature, so for those with generators, go ahead and use them for powerheads, heaters and skimmers.
For those without generators, the first thing I would do is make up as much change water as you can. Large water changes may be the only tool you have to deal with nutrient export in the absence of a skimmer, media reactors and lighted macro regugia.
Next, start freezing small plastic water bottles and have a cooler to keep them in. When the power goes out, you can float them in the tank as needed for cooling. Sorry, I don't have any ideas for weather that turns cold, just hope it doesn't and hopefully some of you have wood stoves/fireplaces to heat your homes. That's probably not an issue for most in August though.

For aeration, you can try the dump bucket aproach. Fill with tank water, dump back in from a height that produces a lot of bubbles and motion. But this will need to be done quite often.
You could also get some of those battery operated livewell bait bubblers, and a bunch of batteries.

HTH and good luck!


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- Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[NoobSalt]

I'm up in Boston and this is supposed to be the worst storm they have had in DECADES. You know, just more trouble to deal with already after the terrible temp spike I had that killed so much in my tank already while I was on vacation.

I have no generator, and I live in a very old Bostonian apt and don't own a car, so if I lose power for a few days, I might be losing a lot of live stock :'(.

Any suggestions would be greaaaat on how to prepare for this.

[Original Fin]

Noob, if your in the Metro area. More than likely your power outages will be among the first to be restored.
What's the longest you've lost power for during winter storms?

Outer burbs and rural areas have the highest risk for lengthy outages.


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- Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Ryan seymore]

HI FIN! thanks for helping us prepare our tank for this storm. Ill be getting a live well bubble pack from walmart for 20 bucks and batteries and looking for something to run a power head most likely the car thing will workout but the lights are a big concern...

[twisted]

Hey fin! I've been through a number of canes and as far as tanks go, just a few p heads are usually fine. I picked up a few spiral fluorescent bulbs that I'll use over the tank just to keep some light on. They do a good job so that I don't have to run my lights. Before the storm do a good wc and have enough extra made up to do one if power is out for a bit. Here in cape may we are a bit worried the storm is gonna go into the Delaware bay. If that happens, the pics I posted this morning may be the last. Good luck to all ya and b safe and smart.

[NoobSalt]

My longest power outage with the tank has only been a few mins. I am in the metro area so I don't forsee it being toooooo big an issue, but then again you never know. Either way, I have some water ready to go for a water change, not so much worried about the lighting because I mean hey, even the fish in the ocean don't have the sun for a while during cane season right? Really its just the water flow that concerns me if the power is out for more than a couple of hours, maybe I'll pick up an airstone if I can get to the store in time. The issue is, not having a car and living in the city with an LFS that is a good 30 min car drive away, I depend on my buddy to drive me and I don't think he will be able to considering he is at work till after the LFS closes....I'll keep you guys posted with what happens though. Good luck to everyone on the East Coast!

[chrisfont23]

Current National Weather Advisory

Published: Thu, 25 Aug 2011 14:29:21 EDT
At 2:00 p.m. EDT, the center of Hurricane Irene was located near latitude 26.5 north, longitude 77.2 west. Irene is moving toward the NNW near 14 mph. This motion is expected to continue through tonight with a turn toward the north by early Friday. The core of the hurricane is forecast to move north of the northwestern Bahamas later today and pass well offshore of the East Coast of central and north Florida tonight and early Friday. The hurricane is forecast to approach the coast of North Carolina on Saturday. Maximum sustained winds are near 115 mph, with higher gusts. Irene is a Category Three hurricane. Some strengthening is possible today and tonight. A Hurricane Watch is in effect for north of Surf City, N.C., to the N.C.-Va. border. A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for north of Edisto Beach, SC, to Surf City, NC. For storm information specific to your area in the U.S., please monitor products issued by your local NWS office. Details...

Satellite Image

[Ryan seymore]

wow...... its hard to believe were in its patch right now... good luck everyone and i hope the best for you guys and our tanks if power goes out

[twisted]

If youre in de then you and I r in the same boat....power is gonna go. Let's just say a prayer that the storm doesn't go up the de bay.... Gonna be alot of new beachfront property here in cape may....
If you don't have a gen, pick up a power inverter that hooks to a car battery and run a run your return pump and skimmer for an hour or so at a time.
Good luck

[NoobSalt]

How is everyone holding up? So far nothing but some light rain here in Boston! Good luck people!

[twisted]

How is everyone holding up? So far nothing but some light rain here in Boston! Good luck people!

hey noob! here in the bottom of jersey its real wet and a little windy.not too bad.....yet. its gonna get nasty here around midnight.

[fish are friends!!]

I think the news said it may start to downgrade to a tropical storm (if u havent already seen that) so idk if it will be as bad....all ik is that its supposed to weaken once it starts going up the new england areas
but im not possitive....good luck 2 all of u tho.....

[Loreanny Medina]

We are just north of Boston and we are also hearing tropical storm conditions 60mph winds at worst. I am hoping we don't lose power. I will be so bored!!!

[NoobSalt]

Where north of Boston are you? The rain has so far stopped here.

[Loreanny Medina]

Lawrence. It has been on and off light sprinkle showers while we were out earlier today. We have been inside for the past few hours so I have not checked outside in a bit.

[twisted]

Power is out here in the bottom of jersey. And crp! I got a bad leak in my living room

[chrisfont23]

Here she comes (Long Island). Winds getting heavy. Raining really bad.