Late Saturday Afternoon in Williamsburg: Metropolitan Avenue Prepares for Hurricane Irene

After 4 p.m. today we went out during a lull in the pre-hurricane rain to get a couple of 9-volt batteries so we can listen to the radio if (when?) the power goes off. The great Crest Hardware store was ready for Irene. They're staying open till 7 p.m.

Down Metropolitan Avenue, dueling deli/newsstands have taped up their windows.


Around the corner, some of New York's Bravest, two FDNY firefighters, as well as a couple of dog walkers, were at Sunac. No word if the market will stay open 24 hours as usual.

Across Union Avenue, Kellogg's Diner half-heartedly taped up its windows. There were a lot of people inside, as they were elsewhere, at the Macri Park Bar, San Marcos Pizza, etc.

The subway was closed, of course.

The person in this billboard by the BQE is what we imagine Hurricane Irene looks like.

According to our friends at Free Williamsburg, Hurricane Irene can potentially destroy our neighborhood. We live across one street from a Zone B evacuation area and across another street from a Zone C evacuation area. Why we are in a no-evacuation zone, we have no idea.

We wish everyone good luck in weathering the storm.
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UPDATE, SUNDAY 5 P.M.: We are all fine here, with no damage except a lot of leaves and a few branches on the ground. No flooding or loss of power here. We are very grateful for that and know that many others were not as lucky.

Saturday Morning in Williamsburg: Awaiting Hurricane Irene on Conselyea Street

A car ready to greet Hurricane Irene.

A story from Richard Grayson's Eating at Arby's: The South Florida Stories (Grinning Idiot Press, 1982)

A scary warning

“Oh, oh,” said Manny one afternoon.

“What’s wrong, Manny?” asked his wife Zelda, who was in the Florida room sweeping away little salamanders.

“They just said on NewsWatch 10 that there’s a hurricane warning.”

“Oh, no,” said Zelda. “What does that mean?”

“That means a hurricane is probably going to strike South Florida. We must get ready for the hurricane, Zelda.”

“How do we do that?”

“First, we have to make sure we have food in the house. If there is a hurricane, we cannot go to buy food at Publix or to eat out at Arby’s. Then we have to board up our windows. After that we need to buy batteries for our flashlight. And then we should fill up our station wagon with gas.”

“I’m scared of hurricanes, Manny.”

“The important thing is to be prepared. If you are prepared, Zelda, there is no reason to get scared.”

“I suppose hurricanes are just a fact of life for us here in South Florida,” said Zelda.

“Yes, but hurricanes are not always so bad. Besides, our weather is almost always beautiful.”

“Yes, Manny, our weather is almost always beautiful. I guess hurricanes aren’t that scary. I feel better now.”

“Good for you, Zelda,” said Manny. “Now we can get out our map and track that hurricane!”