Angry Nature

We've just had an earthquake on "Bush's Fault" (emanating close to Monticello), which sent angry land waves up the east coast to New York and Boston. No, it wasn't likely due to fracking, as according to this map there had been few if any earthquakes in that area in the past six months. Weird, nevertheless.

Next comes the potential for a lot of ocean waves as hurricane Irene gains steam passing the "Rangel Islands" and fixes (southern slang) to head north towards yet another assault on the damn Yankees (more southern talk). The media pandemonium is just beginning--actually some of it might be warranted if it gets people to think twice about certain activities for awhile--but hurricanes along the east coast are not always as destructive as billed.

One of the reasons is the proximity of the northeast quadrant, the worst part, to the coast. If the storm hugs the coast that quadrant never makes landfall until it hits something nearing a right angle, which might be Long Island, Connecticut and Rhode Island.

Back in August 1976 Hurricane Belle spun up the coast, becoming a major hurricane at one point, then hitting the Long Island shoreline and continuing up the Connecticut River Valley. The main impact was heavy rain and flooding since the northeast quadrant never got to New York City. It's still early.