Hurricane Irene

My thoughts on Irene.

Right now, she is a Cat 2 Hurricane heading for the Carolina coast. She may land as a Cat 3, however as she enters the shallow waters off the Carolina coast, she will lose strength. There will be damage in the low lying coastal areas. Once over land, the storm will weaken further. Even if it gets back out over the water, there may not be enough energy in the shallow water for the storm to restrengthen should the path then cross over Long Island. The southern shores of Long Island and Connecticut stand to get the strongest damage, however the surge may well effect low lying areas on the north shore of Long Island. Now I am not a meteorologist, but I do work quite a few hurricane claims. While prudence should be everyone's guide, the reality is that the dire predictions go to the worst case scenario. Personally, I feel that should the storm hit New York City/Long Island/Connecticut, Irene will be either a Cat 1 hurricane or a Tropical Storm.



We shall see.
 
Note from Coach Toop about football

Please be aware that NO ONE is forcing the students to stay at KP...this is communication breakdown. Here is the official word about football from Coach Toop:


Parents,
I wanted to clarify what is going on here at the Academy, especially as it relates to your sons and football: The Superintendent has granted special liberty for all Midshipmen until Tuesday according to class rates. If a Midshipmen wants to leave or their family wants them home/in a safe place, he or she must leave by 1800 Friday. THIS INCLUDES ALL FOOTBALL PLAYERS.

Last night, after the Superintendent addressed the Regiment, my captains called and let me know of the situation. I told them if anyone needed to leave or wanted to – they should leave. For those that are staying, we will have practice (if there are enough players to make it feasible) weather permitting. The captains spoke to the team and then called back to let me know that some will be going home and most will be here for practice today. I told the captains I would speak to them in the morning after I had further guidance. Indeed, there is an all-hands meeting at 0900 this morning so I will inform the team if there are any updates. Understand that the safety of my players is and always be my first concern. For the record, I will be here today rather than driving four hours north to pick-up my daughter who is stranded and cannot get transportation home. I’m sure there will be a number of players who will have to stay at the Academy and we will try to carry on and keep things as normal as possible. We open the season in eight days but sometimes there are more important issues than a football game and this is definitely one of them. If any of you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact me.

FYI: the team is working extremely hard and after we weather the storm (literally) we’ll get back to it next week –

Coach

Michael G. Toop '77
Head Football Coach
United States Merchant Marine Academy
 
cmakin said:
My thoughts on Irene.

Right now, she is a Cat 2 Hurricane heading for the Carolina coast. She may land as a Cat 3, however as she enters the shallow waters off the Carolina coast, she will lose strength. There will be damage in the low lying coastal areas. Once over land, the storm will weaken further. Even if it gets back out over the water, there may not be enough energy in the shallow water for the storm to restrengthen should the path then cross over Long Island. The southern shores of Long Island and Connecticut stand to get the strongest damage, however the surge may well effect low lying areas on the north shore of Long Island. Now I am not a meteorologist, but I do work quite a few hurricane claims. While prudence should be everyone's guide, the reality is that the dire predictions go to the worst case scenario. Personally, I feel that should the storm hit New York City/Long Island/Connecticut, Irene will be either a Cat 1 hurricane or a Tropical Storm.



We shall see.
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Thank you for this calming message after so many want to write of "dire consequences". Irene is a dangerous storm and should in no way be taken lightly. However, as is often the case, the predictions of dire consequences by the media and others does not materialize. Remember, the storm itself was not the reason for so much of New Orleans' damage. It was poor planning, poor execution and old weak levees. Not making light of Irene at all, and every precaution should be taken, but KP is in a good spot according to the latest storm predictions and should fare OK. Some damage perhaps, but all personnel in the area should be fine...if proper preparations are made and instructions are followed. I realize it is hard for those so far away and for those who live in areas where there is no real hurricane threat and understand the "dire consequences" feelings, but let's not panic here. Looks like the Academy has sent the right message and is taking the proper and necessary precautions to ensure the safety of the midshipmen and staff first and the academy assets second. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone in Irene's path.
 
cmakin said:
Now I am not a meteorologist
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Neither am I, but after looking at NOAA's 48 hour surface and 500mb forecasts, it doesn't give me a very 'warm and fuzzy' feeling. Standby for dirty weather...
 
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Why ... Because I Guess...

Wow! Every time, it just seems every time - at least over the past 15 months or so when something of note is discussed on this forum, folks jump in and more pointedly jump to conclusions based on either unfounded assumptions or partial and/or misinformation.

This thread is a perfect example. I know in our house both of us are concerned for the safety of our son who is a first class man. I also expect all the parents who read this are too, but the way this thread veered off onto a set of posts that seem to me to immediately assume that the football team was going to be handled any differently than the rest of the regiment was surprising to me. I know I had some additional knowledge as I was originally planning to move a sailboat we have purchased from the USMMA Sailing Foundation down from KP to Annapolis this weekend (now working on plan B and very grateful to the entire waterfront staff for pulling our boat out of Hague Basin with many, many others over the past couple of days), but I didn't have any information about the special liberty, etc. other than what I got from my son via a cell phone call after I was already home about 280 miles from KP - so am really like the rest of you. I'll also grant it's probably different for parents of members of the Class of 2015 because I don't know when the Plebe Candidates were given their cell phones and allowed to call their parents but I'd guess it was sometime on Thursday as well.

My adds, pleas, and points to this thread are three-fold:

1) Back when I started reading this forum in 2008/2009 as my own DS was getting ready to/considering USMMA, it sure seemed like the posters and participants took a breath before they posted and they posted either fact or at least qualified and gave some background to their speculation, or they asked each other questions. I'd suggest that at least for me, that sort of effort made the overall information here more valuable and easier to find.

2) Jumping to conclusions about what is happening at the USMMA based on a single or even a couple of data points, even when they are coming from an individual midshipman, who may actually be your own child, is often unwise. As even some of the parents of the current Class of 2015 Plebe Candidates have probably already seen from the Dr Jekyl and Mr Hyde nature of some of their Sunday call conversations with their own DS/DD the perspective of a midshipman on even the same exact topic can swing wildly in a day or two. They (the Mids in the Regiment) live in a uniquely contrived environment, they are often over-tired - the pace is blistering - even for "old hand" members of the Class of 2012, they often do not get nearly enough sleep for days. BTW this will only get worse as the Trimester goes on. Top it off with all the rest of the stuff and at times they (our own DS/DD) are pretty much reactionary, raw nerve endings. For most of the 2015 parents, you'll see and sense this shortly at "Acceptance Day/parent's Weekend" - you'll also marvel in most cases at the change and the maturity level difference from the kids you sent off to KP what at that time will be just 10 weeks prior.

3) Finally a word on coaches, bandmasters, etc. at the USMMA. It cannot be said often enough just how fine a staff and special group these people are and as such we parents really need to step back and give them the benefit of the doubt. It takes a truly special person to lead a sports team or major extra-curricular program at ANY Federal Academy let alone either USCGA or USMMA where the Regiment of ~950 midshipmen, in addition to the rigorous academics and regimental programs field so many varsity sports teams and major programs like the USMMA Regimental marching Band. Coaches at USMMA tend to go two ways - stay a very, very short time and leave very frustrated or stay a very, very long time and retire knowing they contributed to the development and education of some of our nation's future leaders. We as parents probably cannot imagine how frustrating it must be to these folks who at another "regular college" would be able to handle everything with regards to their student-athletes entirely differently than they must do in order to ensure their teams achieve even a modicum of success on the playing fields usually competing against larger schools. As such, again please give these folks the benefit of the doubt, they aren't coaching at KP because that's where they will "get rich and famous". If they have been there more than a year or two, they are doing what they are doing because they have a love for what they do AND a big part of that is helping our sons and daughters develop into (to steal a phrase) "all they can be."

ANV and stay safe this weekend everyone.
 
I am impressed that the Administration, Staff, Regiment and others have worked hard to prepare for weather like Hurricane (or Tropical Storm) Irene's visit to USMMA. They take their charge to watch after these Mids very seriously, whether they are ON campus, traveling to/fro, or onboard ship.

New parents might not realize that the mids can move between most buildings using zero-deck (basically, basement-level tunnels/corridors that interconnect most of their buildings). I'm just glad they will be well-protected from winds downing limbs and not be forced to go outside if a move is required. They are certainly high enough that any storm surge will not threaten their safety.

BZ to Jasperdog and others, as usual, and kudos to the mids who have helped prepare and secure the place. It is surely great practice for when they are onboard their vessels. Remember, when we are 'relieved' that the storm is turning out to sea, it may be turning towards vessels out there who have Mids doing their Sea Year -- this is excellent preparation for the eventuality that THEY may experience something similar in the future during THEIR Sea Year.

Best to all. Sorry that we here in NC are sharing this with the rest of the East Coast. We did what we could to knock the stuffins' out of it.
 
I second the request for prayers. My DS and about 50 Mids are riding out the storm aboard Kings Point boats anchored halfway up the Hudson. It's pouring rain right now and many of them are soaked. My DS just called and they are just hoping they don't start dragging anchor when the wind picks up.
 
They'll be fine, no worries. Ships are made to be pounded and I'm sure the Kings Pointer has been through far worse in much deeper seas.
 
And the stormtracker shows Cat 1 Hurricane Irene walloped NYC. From what it looks like, KP may have gotten the stronger-winds side of the storm.
Here's hoping that the Mids are safe (if soggy), and the Mids on the ships farther upriver are as well.
 
Just heard Kings Point mentioned on The Weather Channel. They were saying that the water was still rising on Long Island Sound.

My DS had not been home since Christmas and was able to get roundtrip out for under $300.00 to Michigan. On another note his wrestling coach called to check on him and asked were he was. :wink:

Safety and Prayers for all.
 
LineInTheSand said:
They'll be fine, no worries. Ships are made to be pounded and I'm sure the Kings Pointer has been through far worse in much deeper seas.
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The problem isn't so much the seas as it is the wind. The Kings Pointer barely has enough maneuvering capability to dock in 30kts of a crosswind, let alone a Cat I hurricane or TS. Trying to turn its bow back into the wind after being broadside while dragging anchor wouldn't be easy... and there's not much room in the River to play around with (in fact, they're anchored in about the widest area).

That being said, it goes without saying that there's plenty of maritime experience and knowledge between the faculty and student body there to keep them and the ship safe. They'll be fine, along with having a fun story to tell.
 
Is the Kings Pointer up the Hudson or out in the Atlantic?

luv2fly
 
Underway back to KP about an hour ago- lots of debris in the river but otherwise all good-
 
kpmom2013 said:
I second the request for prayers. My DS and about 50 Mids are riding out the storm aboard Kings Point boats anchored halfway up the Hudson. It's pouring rain right now and many of them are soaked. My DS just called and they are just hoping they don't start dragging anchor when the wind picks up.
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Your son will have a great story to share!
 
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