The White House announced late Saturday that President Obama will be cutting short a campaign swing in the last days before the election and returning to Washington as Hurricane Sandy makes landfall.
Obama will campaign until past the last minute, though. On Sunday he stumps in Orlando, Fla., and on Monday he hits an event in Youngstown, Ohio, before coming back to the White House, meaning he’ll be flying into D.C. when commercial flights are expected to be grounded.
National Weather Service advisories for the Beltway currently begin at 2 a.m. Monday.
Mitt Romney canceled Sunday campaign events in Virginia and will head to Ohio instead to join vice presidential candidate Rep. Paul Ryan’s (R-Wis.) bus tour.
Obama has canceled a Monday event in Northern Virginia and a Tuesday event in Colorado. “Additional changes to Tuesday’s schedule will be announced as warranted,” said a statement from press secretary Jay Carney.
“The President is being regularly updated on the storm and ongoing preparations, and he has directed his team to continue to bring all available resources to bear as state and local partners continue to prepare for the storm. FEMA has already deployed teams and has pre-staged resources to potentially affected states and areas ahead of the storm, and FEMA remains in close contact with emergency responders in states up and down the East coast to ensure there are no unmet needs,” the statement continued. “The President will continue to receive regular briefings on these efforts, and has made clear that he expects his team to continue to lean forward as Hurricane Sandy approaches.”
You people are pathetic! The media are running scared from a Category 1 hurricane. Growing up on the Gulf Coast this was simply an enjoyable day off from school. I can’t believe that this little storm is dominating headlines like this.
If it weren’t for the storm coverage the media would have to talk about Benghazi, and they don’t want to until — possibly — after the election.
Exactly correct!! Sandy has been hyped big time for a week now. The amount of hype is inverse to the emails and questions concerning Benghazi. I, too, lived along the upper Texas gulf coast and this storm would hardly make a headline.
Correction: The hype is PROPORTIONAL to questions on Benghazi. That’s what I get for posting after only two cups of coffee.
The danger isn’t the wind, it’s the rain. Because it’s a Cat 1 there won’t be much of a storm surge but inland areas may experience torrential rain and widespread flooding. Living on the Gulf Coast you’d at least have a clue, you’d know from prior experience what areas are prone to flooding, and every aspect of your daily life isn’t controlled by some government bureaucrat. Now think about those in the NE who don’t understand that their subway system is really just a storm sewer and who have no concept of how to take care of themselves. They’re about to get a lesson in how ineffectual government is and it probably won’t be pretty.
Besides, what would you have the media cover? Benghazi? Romney leading in the polls? How would that help Obama?
There is a real threat of storm surge. NYC due to its geography bottles up a storm surge. On the current storm path, we are scheduled to get 10ft+ in places. That is enough to flood out the subways.
A lot of development is under 10 ft in elevation. It is going to be a big mess, on the order of the 1992 storm. The saving grace will be that the storm hits during low tide (hopefully).
Doesn’t the storm have to actually hit the mainland for a surge to occur? Its still hundreds of miles out to sea. These chicken littles are really good.
My! Shades of McCain suspending his campaign and rushing back to DC to “lead” the response to the economic meltdown.
Ehud –
DC has so many nervous and flighty drivers that they are more of a danger to themselves and each other than the storms are. The city is paralyzed by snow. Locals think blinding rain caused by a hovering hurricane with 70 mph winds is no reason to slow down below 65-70 mph on major interstates like 395. And if the weather gets too bad, they will simply abandon their cars in the middle of the road and hitch home. Obama’s going back to DC to watch the fun.
Let him. It’ll be his last-ever chance to experience an Eastern seaboard hurricane.
Obama just wants to be seen as acting like a potus, which is something he has never done.
Ehud, I too, live on the Gulf Coast and I felt the same way you did. It was like “what am I missing here”. I slept through a catagory 1 called Humberto a few years back after going through Rita and Ike, it was nothing.
However,I did hear an explanation from the weather man on Foxnews and it did explain a little better. First, there is a snow storm moving in to meet the hurricane and they really don’t know what this will do. Second, it is coming in at New York and between geography and population that has added to their concern. Third, at least according to the weather guy, no one has ever seen a storm with this combination of factors so, fear of the unknown, is part of it.
Down here we have hardened ourselves against storms and we have experience from hard knocks. If we got an ice storm with six inches of snow, we wouldn’t be prepared for that.
With all that said, politicians will always use storms to change the subject and look like a leader. Never let a crisis go to waste.
Not true. There have been storms of this type in the past. Just not during the current generation. WUWT’s had an article up about this very thing. What makes this storm problematic is the population density.
Although it may be hype, three factors warrant caution: Topography, Population Density, History- numerous mountains, steep hills and resulting river valleys concentrate flooding into dense population areas. Rapidly rising rivers cut off access to essential emergency services. Utility services shut down and can’t be repaired due to the resultant transportation damage for long periods. And it’s getting cold. Look up the ’72 hurricane Agnes, I was there. Fooding into the second stories of hundreds of thoudands of homes. The damage to central and eastern PA was horrendous. She came up the Chesapeake bay, squated on PA & NY for days and rained non stop. It wasn’t the wind (although it did some significant harm)it was the non-stop water…
70 mph! We call that a category “afternoon” weather event in Las Vegas.
Make smores with the kids Barry and just kick back. So what if you might lose some key states? You can’t argue with acts of God.
If you on the Gulf Coast think this is pathetic, I’m originally from WNY and the DC Metro area shuts down with a single inch of snow… that is called a ‘dusting’ of snow in WNY. But then that area knows how to deal with the stuff. The DC Metro area becomes demolition derby with just a bit of snow and ice: there are no winter driving skills here.
That severe weather event of high lateral wind-speeds this summer should have helped to get the worst of the tree limbs and any other stuff that was going to hit the power grid in NoVA out of the way. But this area is plagued with brown-outs and blackouts in clear weather. A week without power should have gotten people off their duffs to lay in emergency supplies and water, plus at least some small generators to keep vital equipment going at home. We shall see. Just don’t be depending on FEMA for help… or any other government agency at any level, come to that. You are on your own during these events and if you are in the path of the storm and not prepared, well, you will get what you deserve.
Did Obama check in with Napolitano to make sure the weather service is deploying their 37,000 rounds of .40 cal ammo approporiately?
…lean forward…?!
What will msnbc say? The Preezy of the Steezy blatantly using their tag line.
First you have to remember this is bureaucrat central and they couldn’t manage themselves out of a paper bag. Second, the “response” will be experienced and whined about by all the big media types and the cry-baby big government types. So the bureaucrats are scared for their accountability. For some reason people in DC think they live near the coast. When I was there for a “hurricane” they shut down the METRO 12 or more hours before the storm stranding thousands of low income workers who foolishly relied on public transportation. Get this, they said they were following what Miami did with their train, which is elevated and within sight of the Bay.
If you want to really see how they handle this. Wait till later in the week when the storm has passed over the whiners and is dumping biblical amounts of rain on the NE, you’ll hear little about the flooding then just like last time. Once the storm has passed over the narcissists that make up the Capitol region, the “caring” will drop off fast.
But in the mean time, stand by for a torrent of whine as DC discovers the wind blows, the rain falls and man is insignificant before the power of nature. Okay, actually they’ll just learn how much they depend on electricity…from evil coal burning plants.
So, Obama is putting everyone on Air Force 1 at risk to arrive home in a cat1 storm. That of course, is so he can personally supervise the relief effort. Sure sounds heroic to me! The guys in Benghazi wouldn’t have minded a little attention like that!
“The President is being regularly updated on the storm and ongoing preparations, and he has directed his team to continue to bring all available resources to bear as state and local partners continue to prepare for the storm.”
Indeed. If he is that apprised of the weather situation, how is it that far-fetched to think he could, in no way, be as equally apprised of the situation in Benghazi?
Obama lied
Clinton lied
Panetta lied
They—all—lied.
And the media let them.
And they lied as well.
everybody seems to be forgetting about our socialist with the mostest just having installed that $16 zillion super secret bomb/storm shelter in the newly designated party house. probably has several big screens (no, not for watching benghazi-like stuff) for catching the big game(s) w/ some celeb’s. probably got some serious fridges for tons of the mooch’s lobster and other healthy munchables. probably got a seperate green smokin’ room (if you know what i mean), sometimes referred to as the ‘bump’ room (no not dancing) by the more cool celeb’s. probably has a place for dancing, and rappin’, too. its probably got a prayer room for impressing all those radical islamists, or reverend wrights, or scientologists. whoever can bring the most fried chicked i guess.
Wasn’t it just not too long ago we had another storm like this that there was almost identical news coverage of. Right down to the predicted New York storm surge and flooded subways?
Global Warming!
uh..
Climate Change!
uh…
Whatever!
Run! Run for your lives! Obama really can’t stop the rise of the oceans!!!eleventy!!!
Get in your charged up your solar car and seed off!
Glad it bypassed South Carolina. If it was to hit here, there wouldn’t be any bread, eggs or milk found in any store. I guess everybody makes french toast here when bad weather strikes.
I guess everybody makes french toast here when bad weather strikes.
Laughing out loud P, on an otherwise dreary, breezy Sunday here in central NC.
The storm may be worth 2% to Romney.
Whether you hate him or love him, it’s hard to dispute that the Fraud is the consumate campaigner and every appearance get mega coverage from Pravda, all of which turns into votes. Romney doesn’t have that kind of impact with his personal appearances.
Secondly, bad weather will have a much larger impact on the Fraud’s voters, since many of them don’t get direct cash payments for voting. Romney’s voters, on the other hand, will crawl through hell with their legs chopped off to vote against the Fraud.
I’ve been worried about Ohio. I hope the weather is horrible on election day. If it’s bad enough, New Jersey could come into play.
Prediction: Obama will go to Ohio in hopes that the hurricane will miss. Then he’ll he take credit for it.
We need a President to standup and tell people – “I am not going to concern myself with hurricanes, snowstorms, tornadoes etc. This is first the responsibility of your local officials. We are eliminating all offices of the Federal government relating to disaster management. If a disaster becomes an existential threat to the United States, then the Federal government will act. Otherwise, look to your local officials. If certain States want to organize among themselves shared disaster planning (much like utilities do) they are welcome to do so.”
Aside from that, the only reason Sandy is getting this level of attention is because it’s threatening the Washington DC / NYC media centers. Those news operations are terribly parochial.
Y’all need to stop hyperventilating about a cat 1 Storm. In 2004 we had THREE hurricane roll over us in one season. You didn’t here about Massive relief efforts to Sewalls Point, Stuart or Port St. Lucie FL did you? You didn’t see people from the Treasure Coast Looting or Screaming that we were abandoned.
Nope. We just picked up,wiped our tears away and with some help from the insurance comapnies that would later abandon FL, we rebuilt.
It’s called self reliance. It is one of the old value that once made this country.
It is also the one value that liberals and progressives inetentionally or unintentionally seek to strip us of.
To the Mid-Atlantic States: God be with you. Keep your wits and stay safe.
It’s now how fast you get knocked down, but how fast you get up.
I know this. I’ve seen some of the weather adviseries being put out by local NWS weather stations. They have abandoned the usual dry tone and are telling people the following:
“PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
241 PM EDT SUN OCT 28 2012
…AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS STORM TO IMPACT THE AREA…
SANDY IS EXPECTED TO SLAM INTO THE NEW JERSEY COAST LATER MONDAY
NIGHT, BRINGING VERY HEAVY RAIN AND DAMAGING WINDS TO THE REGION.
THE STORM IS A LARGE ONE, THEREFORE DO NOT FOCUS ON THE EXACT CENTER
OF THE STORM AS ALL AREAS WILL HAVE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS.
THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE AN HISTORIC STORM, WITH WIDESPREAD WIND
DAMAGE AND POWER OUTAGES, INLAND AND COASTAL FLOODING, AND MASSIVE
BEACH EROSION. THE COMBINATION OF THE HEAVY RAIN AND PROLONGED WIND
WILL CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR LONG LASTING POWER OUTAGES AND SERIOUS
FLOODING.
PREPARATIONS SHOULD BE WRAPPING UP AS CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO
WORSEN TONIGHT AND ESPECIALLY ON MONDAY.
SOME IMPORTANT NOTES…
1. IF YOU ARE BEING ASKED TO EVACUATE A COASTAL LOCATION BY STATE
AND LOCAL OFFICIALS, PLEASE DO SO.
2. IF YOU ARE RELUCTANT TO EVACUATE, AND YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO RODE
OUT THE `62 STORM ON THE BARRIER ISLANDS, ASK THEM IF THEY COULD DO
IT AGAIN.
3. IF YOU ARE RELUCTANT, THINK ABOUT YOUR LOVED ONES, THINK ABOUT
THE EMERGENCY RESPONDERS WHO WILL BE UNABLE TO REACH YOU WHEN YOU
MAKE THE PANICKED PHONE CALL TO BE RESCUED, THINK ABOUT THE
RESCUE/RECOVERY TEAMS WHO WILL RESCUE YOU IF YOU ARE INJURED OR
RECOVER YOUR REMAINS IF YOU DO NOT SURVIVE.
4. SANDY IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS STORM. THERE WILL BE MAJOR
PROPERTY DAMAGE, INJURIES ARE PROBABLY UNAVOIDABLE, BUT THE GOAL IS
ZERO FATALITIES.
5. IF YOU THINK THE STORM IS OVER-HYPED AND EXAGGERATED, PLEASE ERR
ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION.
WE WISH EVERYONE IN HARMS WAY ALL THE BEST. STAY SAFE!
$$
NWS MOUNT HOLLY, NJ”
You can mock people in NE all you want, but honestly, these are people who are mostly convinced that it can’t or doesn’t happen to them. If it does, the government will take care if it. The NWS people in Mt. Holly know that this could be a huge problem are telling people – look, evacuate or you will likely die.
This is similar to what we saw when the massive F5 tornado was barreling down on OKC. They had the opposite problem there. People live with tornados and are convinced they’ve seen them all and are jaded. The NWS and local weather casters resorted to similar language, telling people – Get underground or DIE. It was that simple.
This alone should tell you that this is no joke even for you storm experts on the Gulf. You’re used to it, but the folks on the Eastern seaboard haven’t been through this since … oh … roughly the ’50s.
Lean forward. Fall over. Who thought up that stupid motto? And how could anybody be willing to sound so stupid as to actually say, “expects his team to continue to lean forward” as the hurricane approaches? The lameness. It’s painful.
I hope others are as disgusted as I am of president Obama posing as the weatherman-in-chief to demonstrate his command over Sandy’s pending malevolence—YET where is the shame for FAILING to bring all available military resources to bear to save the murdered-most-foul Americans in Benghazi.
You can command an army of NOAA, FEMA, and weather forecasters and not even pick up the phone to say yes—we are sending the Delta Team—that was two hours away—immediately, and all available support, to ensure their salvation on the Anniversarry of 9-11!
Irony: Almost like God showing Obama who controls the rise of the oceans.
Obama felt his election was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2pZSvq9bto
Now God showing Obama that He will decide when the rise of the oceans will happen.
THIS IS THE KIND OF AD THAT HUGO CHAVEZ WOULD MAKE … PRO-OBAMA AD HAS CHILDEN SINGING ABOUT AN AMERICA WHERE SICK PEOPLE JUST DIE & OIL FILLS THE SEA. Image source: The Future Children Project The founders of the ad agency behind the iconic “Got Milk?” ad campaign and some of the other most well-known advertisements in the country have a new message: re-elect President Barack Obama, or your children will live in an America where “sick … READ MORE: http://bwcentral.org/2012/10/pro-obama-ad-has-childen-singing-about-an-america-where-sick-people-just-die-oil-fills-the-sea/
Lean FOWARD!, grab yer ankles, we’re right behind you. Great new campaign slogan!