I know things are different back in the Americas, but Irene is a Cat 1 hurricane, right?
Over here, with a Cat 1 hurricane (called typhoons here) we basically make sure we closed the windows!
Our houses (as mine is) are usually made of reinforced concrete, so to absorb the energy of a hurricane, or an earthquake (which we frequently get 4.0+ also)
So, when you all tremble in your wooden frame houses with the coming of a Cat 1 hurricane (and I wish you all the best of luck going through that, I sincerely don't want to sound like an A$$), I will have closed all my windows in the coming of a Cat 3 hurricane called NANMADOL tomorrow.
Cat 3 will be interesting, but a Cat 5 is just plain scary. I had the "pleasure" of experiencing a Cat 5 hurricane here a couple of years ago. Not fun, at all. Even in a concrete house. We lost a lot of trees that time. Whole forest just got leveled.
So, the best of luck to you all on the east coast!
Have a thought for us in Asia too, we are far, but we are present and strong!
