Hurricane Irene Post #13

7:15 am Monday - Ok, this is really the last post... One last bit of damage in the house - Colleen noticed a ceiling tile in the basement was wet, towards the back of the house. After checking it out, I determined that it was water that must have dripped from the heat duct that ran from the main ductwork at the back of the house, to the vent next to the front door, where we had a small puddle of water from the leaking picture window. Water probably ran down the vent and into the duct, and when the duct turned down to meet the main duct, leaked out onto the ceiling tile. It looks drier this morning.

All in all, Irene turned out to be mainly a pest for our family, not a disaster, fortunately. I'm glad we were prepared!

Hurricane Irene Post #12

3:00 pm - Probably my last post, since the worst has definitely passed us. Still windy out, and it looks like we might get another band of rain, but people seem to be out and about a little. Took a long walk around the neighborhood, saw a couple of trees tilting but only the one at my neighbor's that had actually fallen over. I can hear his chainsaw at work now.

Talked to Rob up in Keene a few minutes ago, they are fine and have power in their dorm. He and his roommates are getting ready to head over to their Fraternity House for a while. He actually parked his car there yesterday as he heard that the parking lot at school where he normally parks floods.... No word on whether classes will be starting tomorrow. The worst of the storm hasn't really hit there yet.

Also just heard from AJ, they survived as well, no power outages and they didn't run out of beer. Classes for them have been postponed from Tuesday but they haven't announced a start date yet.

Hurricane Irene Post #11

8:00 am - Just came in from a walk around the block. Very little damage. Collected all 4 of my missing shutters, too. But no paper delivered yet. Still raining, but alternating between heavy and light, with gusting winds. All the grass is squelchy underfoot. Power out to about 5,000 residents, including across Georges Rd from us. A few pictures -

House of the Missing Shutters













River Running Through It













Only damage I saw until I walked around the corner....













...and saw this. Good thing it fell this way and not the other.

Hurricane Irene Post #10

7:15 am Sunday - Made it through the night, although didn't sleep much. Left the TV on low volume so we could hear if the tornado watch turned into a warning. Still raining hard and very windy, although it seems to be shifting away from the front of the house (NE facing) to the right side (NW facing). Good news for my leaking windows in the front. Damage-wise, everything looks ok, but I have lost several shutters - one is sitting on the front steps.

Hurricane Irene Post #9

11:25 PM - Wind/rain really strong now. Multiple leaks from windows above front door. Can't believe caulk doesn't last 15 years.

Hurricane Irene Post #8

10:40 pm - The first major 'flicker' in the electricity.... Earlier than I though it might happen! Major rain and wind right now, beating against the house. Haven't decided whether to stay up and monitor the situation, but I suspect the wine with dinner and a Pat O'Brien 'Hurricane' drink might decide for me....

Hurricane Irene Post #7

8:20 pm - Still raining heavily and windy. If I hear the expression 'hunkered down' on TV one more time, I may become deranged.

Hurricane Irene Post #6

7:30 pm - Well, the newly-caulked study window is leaking already. Not a good sign. I thought I had fixed it, but I guess I was too caulky about it...

Hurricane Irene Post #5

6:45 pm - Just had a decent-sized wind gust to accompany the suddenly-heavier rain. Looks like we are into the main rain bands now. Just saw the filled bathtub and am wondering why it's blue, when the tub isn't. Hope Kathleen got all the bleach out...

Hurricane Irene Post #4

5:00 pm - Rain coming down pretty heavily now, and the wind is picking up. I guess we are officially 'into it' now.

Hurricane Irene Post #3

3:15 pm - Still not much activity. Some rain, but basically zero wind. Governor Christie just had a news conference, I think Irene is afraid to approach NJ because the Governor said to 'stay the hell away from New Jersey'....

Hurricane Irene Post #2

1:40 pm - Panic sets in as I realize we are out of grenadine. I brave the elements to go to the liquor store.

Hurricane Irene Post #1

I will try to keep this going as long as we have power and Internet access!

11:35 am Saturday – we've had one band of showers come through

so far, around 9:00 am, and it looks like it's about to start again. Getting

a little breezy out now too. Very humid and gross outside, 78 degrees.

House is as prepped as we can get it, everything outside moved into

the garage or tucked away. Oh yeah, caulked that leaking window in my

study, too... Basement floor cleared of anything that could soak up

water that could be moved. Water and supplies laid in, candles ready

to go.