[Info-vax] Completely OT: Frank Lloyd Wright

[AEF]

On Oct 28, 5:52 pm, JF Mezei <jfmezei.spam... at vaxination.ca> wrote:
> On 12-10-28 11:44, John E. Malmberg wrote:
>
> > Standard operating procedure appears to be to buy more perishables like
> > Milk than you can possibly use before they expire before any major storm.
>
> In the case of Mr VAXman, the only question is how long will his stock
> of Guinness last ?  :-)
>
> Back in 1996, I experienced Olivia. (North west Australia, it was
> between a 4 and a 5). I was in Karatha at a very solidly build
> backpackers. Was told to go buy enough food to last 3 days in case
> stranded at backpackers (roads closed etc).
>
> The radio warnings were stern, telling people to buy essentials,
> batteries, food etc.
>
> So I went to the grocery store before it closed. Not that many people.
> But everyone's idea of "essentials" were chips, beer, cookies and other
> party essentials :-)
>
> People in the region are always prepared during cyclone season, so when
> one comes along, they don't really need to stock on on the real essentials.
>
> Despite being build very solidly (concrete, bricks), the backpacker
> building at times felt like a ship in rough seas with bands of water
> (not rain at that stage anymore) hitting the building at high speed
> (winds up to 250kmh)

That was a 250 mph wind gust on Barrow Island, not Karatha.

>
> We witnessed it from a protected inner court from covered balconies. I
> tried to venture out to the street side, but didn't even get to open the
> door much. Second floor on one side of building was flooded. Rain/water
> was coming through the emergency exit door a bit like that scene in
> "Titanic" where you see water coming out all around the door just before
> it breaks and floods the corridor. (except there, it didn't break).
>
> Amazing show of nature's force. Something I will never forget.

Indeed.

>
> Nevertheless, it was a party atmosphere. What else do you do all night ?
> Power eventually failed rather spectacularly with transformer blowing up
> here and there in town giving off the signature purple fireworks.

Power failure party? I'll pass.

>
> There was very little damage in town. Roads re-opened at noon the next
> day. Found out the road house I had stayed at the night before getting
> to Karatha had been destroyed. I had been warned by many to always ask
> the status of Olivia before setting out on my bike in the morning. At
> that roadhouse, they didn't bother getting the updated fax and told me
> "not to worry, it probably won't hit here".

Pretty amazing there was so little damage. Certainly not typical of
cat-4 storms!

>
> The morale is that for those who are prepared, such storms are awsome.
> For those who are not prepared, such storms are a disaster waiting to
> happen.

You're being too cavalier here. There's a world of difference between
hitting a tiny town and a metropolitan area. There's only so much you
can do.

> Important note: Ever since cyclone Tracy on december 25 1974 which
> destroyed nearly all building in Darwin , Australia has had very strick
> buiding standards for the northern sections that are prone to be hit by
> cyclones.
>
> Newsreel on aftermath of Tracy.http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=B89wBGydSvs
>
> In the case of Sandy, it is hitting well outside of hurricane prone
> areas. This isn't just home building standards, but also natural tree
> pupolation of the region which is not suited for such winds and weight
> of rain (and land arrangement that may cause land slides once
> waterlogged etc).

In this case it's more about massive flooding and storm surge, not
wind per se.

AEF