KBL Damaged/Killington Damage Reports

[oakapple]

To be honest, not to discredit Vermont, but this storm was made out to be worse than Katrina.

While the flooding in Vermont has been severe, to say this storm lived up to its expectations put up by CNN etc is hogwash. A couple thousand people without power and flooded out roads is fixable in a couple weeks, tops. Maybe not to the point where it looks like nothing happened, but Vermont is not going to look like New Orleans does now in 5 years. Lets be real here.

Overhyped definitely. But for the unfortunate ones who are stuck momentarily, I can see them wanting to blow off steam.

You're kidding, right? Can you spend more than 5 minutes looking at the devastation, and tell me this is "momentary"? Based on fatalities, Irene is now the 4th-deadliest hurricane in U.S. history. Current estimates of the damage, which are probably low (because not all is known yet), are between $14 and $26 billion. At the low end, it would be the 8th-worst in history; at the high end, it would be 4th-worst.

It won't match Katrina, but it doesn't change the fact that this was very, very bad. In Vermont, it's a 100-year flood.

 

[deadheadskier]

I'm not so sure New Orleans is a fair comparison. New Orleans got screwed because it was built below sea level. If Katrina had hit say Tampa, you wouldn't have had near the devestation. It still would've been big.

My friend Renee who lives in Wilmington, VT said numerous downtown business owners are looking to move on. It's just not worth it to rebuild their businesses. They didn't make a lot of money in the first place, so they plan on taking their insurance money and finding something else to do. I don't think that town will be the same as before the storm 5 years from now. I hope I'm wrong.

Irene didn't hit as a Cat 2 or 3 in Manhattan like feared, but early estimates have it as one of the top 5 most costly storms to ever hit the US. I don't really think such devastation can be overhyped.

 

[Warp Daddy]

Frankly none of this matters EXCEPT the fact that way too many folks are really hurting right now . Life is still at risk for those with serious medical conditions who may be isolated due to road washouts in several directions .

My thoughts are with them not some internet pissing match about who's dick is bigger >

 

[AdironRider]

they plan on taking their insurance money and finding something else to do.

This is my point. While the monetary damage is awe inspiring, insurance will cover 90% of the losses this storm caused, which technically, the business owners have already paid for that probably many times over in insurance premiums. At least they are getting their money back.

Not shortchanging deaths in any shape or form, those are unfortunate. Theres nothing than can justify someones life.

But I dont feel bad for insurance claims and a couple washed out roads that are inconvienient right now. The damage is not like Andrew, Katrina, or any other myriad of hurricanes that have absolutely leveled entire communities.

 

[bvibert]

Where was the storm ever predicted to be worse than Katrina? That's a new one to me. The reports I saw indicated that the storm could have similar, but probably less, strength compared to Gloria, but would be moving much slower.

 

[oakapple]

This is my point. While the monetary damage is awe inspiring, insurance will cover 90% of the losses this storm caused, which technically, the business owners have already paid for that probably many times over in insurance premiums.

Boy, you sure don't want to get educated, do you? The usual rule of thumb is that insurance covers 50% of the losses, not 90%. Some reports have suggested it could be less in this case, because many insurance policies have flood exclusions.

Besides that, I suspect that if you lost your home or business, you wouldn't be making light of it, regardless of how much insurance money you could get. A home or business has intangible value that no amount of money can replace.

 

[UVSHTSTRM]

My only question is who does the hype or over hype really hurt in the long run? It really can't be a bad thing right? My only issue is what they chose to hype (NYC). This has more to do with the National Media more than anything. They were quick to move on from Virginia and NC (who got hit just as hard as anyone) to get to the real golden goose NYC. In the end, why would anyone follow the national coverage vs their local coverage. I know in VT, Upstate NY and NH the weathermen nailed this. The media in NH was over the top with their coverage leading up to it and during it at times, but again who does this hurt? Heck I found the Vermont coverage by the local Vermont stations were actually caught off guard more then anything, so much so their reporting was slow because they didn't have people in place to report and once it happend they were stuck on the outskirts using youtube and online photos as there main sources of info. The wind in the northern NE states particularly NH really didn't amount to much, but as you know, it's not the wind that kills people during hurricanes, it's the floodwaters. This is often where the overhype claim can be made as places like CNN and the big three tend to focus on the wind while it's the flooding they should focus on. All this being said I am in NH and obviously don't watch alot of news outside the area and don't watch alot of national news so I could be off in my assesment.

Sorry for the babbling.

 

[UVSHTSTRM]

Frankly none of this matters EXCEPT the fact that way too many folks are really hurting right now . Life is still at risk for those with serious medical conditions who may be isolated due to road washouts in several directions .

My thoughts are with them not some internet pissing match about who's dick is bigger >

Word has it that a man from the Jacksonville/Whitingham area has died due to lack of medication.

 

[WJenness]

Agree with bvibert... Nowhere did anyone say that Irene would be 'worse' than Katrina.

Katrina was a Cat 5 in the gulf at one point and heading DIRECTLY for New Orleans...

Which brings me to another point, I've heard some people say that Katrina 'came out of nowhere'... no it didn't... the weather people knew it was coming and crowed as loud as possible about it for DAYS before it made landfall... I remember watching it... Most people just weren't paying attention because it wasn't going to impact their lives... Until the gas prices shot up anyway...

Something to consider is that Irene was the first Hurricane to make landfall ANYWHERE in the US since 2008... It's path probably impacted more Americans than ANY other storm in history. As a result, of course it's going to drum up more coverage... as it should... But the big difference I see is the prevalence of social media now (Twitter, Youtube, facebook, smartphones, etc.) vs. 3 years ago. So much more coverage pre-storm and damage reports during and post storm have amplified the perception of this storm in the eyes of many... Jim Cantore standing at Battery Park a couple of days before the storm was to hit NY certainly drew more attention now than it would have three years ago, because so many people talked / tweeted / facebooked about it, that everyone was focused on it. It simply wouldn't have happened the same way even just three short years ago.


However, Irene was a very damaging storm... It doesn't matter if the losses are / were covered by insurance... They are still losses and impacts on people's lives and communities... Many of these VT communities will be irrevocably changed by this storm... Some may end up being 'better' communities (whatever that means) after coming through this... but many will not.

AdironRider, you are CLEARLY out of touch with what's going on if you think that even a significant minority of the infrastructure damaged will be passable in any form over the next few days.

-w

 

[AdironRider]

Where was the storm ever predicted to be worse than Katrina? That's a new one to me. The reports I saw indicated that the storm could have similar, but probably less, strength compared to Gloria, but would be moving much slower.

Every news channel out there.

Even CNBC was making predictions like that. Im sorry, but if the financial news channels are babbling on about it, its getting a little overhyped. Traders were chomping at the bit hoping to ride a massive oil shock like happened after Katrina. Its almost like the media wanted it to happen for ratings.

If it was my house, Id take my insurance money, fix it, then maybe make a plan to prevent it from happening the the future.

Everyone makes choices in life. Buying a house by a something called the 'roaring brook' was a concious decision. Anyone who was naive enough to think a flood couldnt happen to them might want to reaccess their priorities. But thats just the Libertarian in me coming out.

 

[oakapple]

My only issue is what they chose to hype (NYC). This has more to do with the National Media more than anything. They were quick to move on from Virginia and NC (who got hit just as hard as anyone) to get to the real golden goose NYC.

To the extent the word "hype" applies, it was appropriate. Because of the population density in NYC, and that fact that it's not built to withstand a hurricane, a direct Category 1 or 2 hit would have released devastation on scale you cannot imagine. The same storm in Miami would not have anywhere near the same impact.

Since preparations take several days, you have to tell people as soon as the models show a realistic (say, 5% or greater) probability of that happening. The word "hype" is probably a misnomer here, because it connotes publicity blown up beyond what is necessary or important. This was what had to be done.

 

[oakapple]

Thats just the Libertarian in me coming out.

That's just the guy who can't be bothered to do any research coming out.

 

[AdironRider]

Say what you will, but I stand by my statements. Waterfront property purchases are a concious decision.

 

[Newpylong]

This is my point. While the monetary damage is awe inspiring, insurance will cover 90% of the losses this storm caused, which technically, the business owners have already paid for that probably many times over in insurance premiums. At least they are getting their money back.

Not shortchanging deaths in any shape or form, those are unfortunate. Theres nothing than can justify someones life.

But I dont feel bad for insurance claims and a couple washed out roads that are inconvienient right now. The damage is not like Andrew, Katrina, or any other myriad of hurricanes that have absolutely leveled entire communities.

You've never owned a house have you? Unless you are required to have flood insurance, most people don't. Then something like this happens and people aren't covered. Many of the people effected by this were not exactly next to rivers so how is this "waterfront property"?

Regular home owner's insurance will NOT necessarily cover flood damage. If they do, it won't be 100%. It covers leaks, water getting into the basement from storms, pip bursts, etc, but not this.

This didn't level entire communities? Check out the videos of Wilmington, VT... the downtown area is a complete loss. What's the difference between no building and one that is not habitable?

 

[bvibert]

Every news channel out there.

I never once saw a comparison to Katrina before your statement in this thread. The only comparisons we were getting were in regards to hurricane Gloria. I'd stop watching whatever channels you were watching if I were you.

Anyone who says that the storm was over-hyped, or that the damage is being over-hyped isn't in touch with what's going on throughout Irene's path.

 

[oakapple]

Say what you will, but I stand by my statements. Waterfront property purchases are a concious decision.

Yes, of course they are. But many of the residences, businesses, and roads damaged were not on any waterfront. When you look at the scale of devastation in Vermont, you cannot possibly conclude that this was within the normal risk parameters that even intelligent, prudent, risk-averse people would have been led to expect.

 

[AdironRider]

You've never owned a house have you? Unless you are required to have flood insurance, most people don't. Then something like this happens and people aren't covered. Many of the people effected by this were not exactly next to rivers so how is this "waterfront property"?

Regular home owner's insurance will NOT necessarily cover flood damage. If they do, it won't be 100%. It covers leaks, water getting into the basement from storms, pip bursts, etc, but not this.

This didn't level entire communities? Check out the videos of Wilmington, VT... the downtown area is a complete loss. What's the difference between no building and one that is not habitable?

Flood insurance is a choice, and good one considered the only provider out there provides a nice subsidized rate. Why is this, cause its govt.

And the difference is a dumpster rental and some new drywall and those houses are habitable again. Just a little different.

 

[Philpug]

Guys, you are having a battle of intelligence with an un armed person. Move on. Next he is going to complain that the starving people in Africa should move to where the food is.

 

[AdironRider]

All Im saying is that life isnt fair. I know I will be buying flood insurance, as Ive lived at the top of a hill and gotten flooded out before. Live and learn. Its cheap anyways.

What happened to personal responsibility? This will not be that big a deal in a month or two.

 

[AdironRider]

Yes, of course they are. But many of the residences, businesses, and roads damaged were not on any waterfront. When you look at the scale of devastation in Vermont, you cannot possibly conclude that this was within the normal risk parameters that even intelligent, prudent, risk-averse people would have been led to expect.

Every peice of damage Ive seen is the result of culverts, streams, and riverbeds overflowing.

KBL has the roaring brook running right under it. Great idea.

Rt. 4? You cannot be serious? Theres a river running along the whole thing practically to woodstock.

Rt. 7 has a bridge over water washed out.

River Road, enough said.

Anyone who buys a house and expects nothing to happen to it is naive. Big trees fall down, hopefully not on your place, but it happens. Happened to my cabin in Victor last year as well. I took out the chainsaw and cut her up and went on living my life.