About the Hurricane

I was living in Northern Va when Isabel hit.
It was windy and there was a lot of flooding.
Some areas had a lot of trees come down.
We were lucky - we never lost power.
The Potomac over flowed a bit (we took a look at it at Algonkian Regional Park and the boat launch area parking lot was under water).

With Irene, we'll have to see which way she veers in the next few days.
It's good you have a back up date in place ahead of time.

We're no meteorologists!

Go to the professionals: www.noaa.gov and look in the upper left corner for a place to type in your "city, state" and get the local weather forecast. This is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration -- the folks who put the weather satellites in the sky and the ones who provide most of the data that's repackaged by the TV stations etc.

Expect the unexpected. That's a hurricane. I'd move that shoot to Saturday morning but tell the parents that it may have to be rescheduled if the hurricane arrives early; however, the tracking is usually pretty good so you should know soon whether it should reach our area Saturday night (as now predicted) or any earlier.

C.:

I know you are new to the East Coast....so here goes...

In Chantilly - you can expect heavy rain and some strong winds...since the coast is 25 miles from us - we will most likely get the outside of the storm - the 'eye' of the storm should not even come near us as we are INland..if we were on the coast - like Virginia Beach - we would have more to be "afraid" of...

Like you - I'm from California - and thought the earthquake yesterday was fun!! I was in Pasadena in 1987 - that was a RIDE!!! And the 1989 one in San Francisco - THAT ONE? That one scared me - windows blew out of the building I was in...yikes...

As to hurricanes....and anything else - DO NOT PANIC...when you panic you lose the ability to think CLEARLY...so late Saturday night to Sunday we can expect rain and heavy winds...if it bothers you - bring the kids up to my house...we are in Reston...

what can we expect?
Flooding.
If you live in a Flood Plain - your landlord should've told you this - be prepared to protect the property with sand bags....and believe it or not - in my 16 years here in DC, there has only been ONE time we needed sand bags and that was 2006...

Downed trees and power lines...so you can be prepared to lose electricity...although so far - we have not - we lost electricity ONCE and tat was in 2002 when it was 110 here for 7 days straight...

I've TRIED to get my husband to go buy a generator but still no...(BOO HOO!! LOL!!)
make sure you have foods that you don't have to have electricity in order to cook - we have a Coleman stove in our storage room with about 8 bottles of propane so we can cook and heat food should we lose power.
Make sure all of your computers are backed up and shut off Saturday when you go to bed...just in case of a power surge or power outage.
Like in an earthquake - should you lose power - do NOT open the refrigerator unless you HAVE to to keep the food cold.

As to your photo shoot - you should be good. you might have some rain and some wind but overall? I think you will be fine!!

Have you checked the weather?
Not only is Irene coming from the south this weekend but we are supposed to get whatever has been battering the Midwest this week by tomorrow.
So it will be wet. I hope it dries out Saturday for you.

VA hurricanes were nothing like NC and FL hurricanes. Lots of rain. The Potomac may flood, the Rappahannock probably will flood, it did last weekend.

I would take a wait and see approach to this and keep an eye on the weather channel.

A hurricane is nothing like a regular thunderstorm. It comes in bands of increasing strength and with increasing rain fall. Think of it like a cotton candy machine.... whirls around throwing off bands and wisps until it "gets going". Growing up in South Florida, I lived through many of these storms and when the storm is as big as this one, it can last all day long.

Truthfully, I think the entire NE corridor is going to get slammed. We're stocking up in Upstate NY b/c we'll likely be flooded in due to a creek near our home.

I would keep your original plan b/c you'll know by Friday evening how bad it will be, but definitely have a set back-up date.

Hi C.,
this has nothing to do with the storm but check out www.ticonderoga.com and sign up for their newsletter to get a coupon :) It's a fun family farm with all sorts of "attractions" . They are having an end of summer and hello to fall special Septmeber 3rd-5th, 10am-5pm.
And its in Chantilly VA!
Lot's of Fun Games for All Ages
All New Enormous Jump & Bounce Pillow
Hayrides to Peak @ the Pumpkin Patch
Face Painting - Cow Train Rides
S'____@____.com

Oh yeah when we go we bring grhama crackers, hersheys chocolate, and marshmellows, they have two firepits and sticks available to make smores. And you can bring in otuside food so we always pack a lunch :)
Just somehting to look forward to after Irene and the earthquake and aftershocks.
Pammy

I thought we aren't supposed to get much before Sunday.
Have they changed the forecast? Check the hour by hour.
LBC

Hurricanes are unpredictable, and that is what makes them so incredibly frustrating. You could be fine if it stays east, however as long as you're in the projected "cone" path, you should be prepared for the worst. You'll know more by the end of today and by mid-day tomorrow whether DC is going to get more than just typical thunderstorm weather. Make a backup plan with your client. Good luck!

Depends on the category the storm is. The weather people do not have it coming straight in. It looks like it will hug the east coast. So, I would antcipate that you will need to use the other date. In a hurricane, there is the wind, rain, storms and possibility of tornades. It also depends on what side you are on. If you are on the dirty side, then it can be worse. I would recommend you keep a look on the weather and see exactly what they are saying. Hurricanes are not thurderstorms they are some much worse and they are rated by category. After looking at the tracking you might be okay for Saturday. It doesn't look like it will be up in your area until Sunday or Monday. I would just keep an eye on the development. It is now a category 3 hurricane. That is a major hurricane. Good luck!

We went through Hurricane Ike a couple of years ago. Didn't have power for 12 days! 12 days in HOUSTON without power, which means NO AIR CONDITIONER.