Northeast

[Real Quiet]

I myself can't complain about the weather. Much of the country gets it a lot worse than me. And yes, parts of the northeast got hammered.

[cal828]

Here in this part of Arkansas we have occasional weather events, but they are usually more of an aggravation than an actual disaster like has occurred down on the Gulf coast. I spent some time down there when my brother and his family lived in the town of Houma which was, I think, the dead center of where Ida came ashore. I could have ended up staying down there, but chose to return to Arkansas. Kinda glad I did. Don't think I could have coped with those recurrent weather disasters where people are without the basics for who knows how long? Maybe weeks. And even after the electricity and water, etc. is restored, then you have to cope with the clean up and restoration of your home and hopefully your vehicles haven't been ruined by high water.

[JolyB]

It must take a great deal of courage to continue to live in an area that you know is prone to extreme weather dangers, whether it be hurricane, flooding, tornado or forest fire. I don't know if I would have the strength to rebuild after losing a home or a business to such an event. Cars can be replaced, buildings can be rebuilt, but so often in the pictures of such horrid events we see the loss of what I think of as the memories of life, the little things that we want to hold on to because they have such personal meaning - a photo album, a painting or a treasured momento.

Having said, I want to stand on my soap box for a moment and rant about the way such events are covered by The Weather Channel and its ilk. To me it is close to obscene how they will have a Jim Cantore standing in the middle of a dangerous storm, being buffeted by wind and rain, at the same time that the authorities are warning everyone to either seek shelter or evacuate for their safety. What is the point of such coverage - I've referred to it as weather porn. Clear and accurate coverage of weather events is necessary but to tell all viewers the numerous ways in which they will be hurt by a storm usually gets excessive.