It’s Tuesday, and I’m writing this blog post on Monday. Right now, much of the Eastern seaboard in the United States is under the very real threat of the most terrifying storm system(s) we’ve seen in a long time. And it’s not even winter! Hurricane Sandy is doing her best to come ashore and several states are in Emergency mode, with highways closed, shelters open and people just hoping for the best.
Several years ago, Sebastian Junger wrote the harrowing tale of the Andrea Gail, a swordfishing boat that was lost at sea during another “perfect storm” which occurred almost during this exact date. It seemed too crazy to be real: a fishing boat goes out in relatively calm seas but encounters several mammoth storm systems that merge together at one point, exactly where the Andrea Gail ends up. The captain and crew members were lost and the Andrea Gail was never recovered.
Later, it was made into a movie, imagining what happened to the captain and crew while they were out at sea. We happen to have both the movie and the book at the library, if you’re interested in reading about/watching this other perfect storm.
Today, I’m afraid many people are feeling the same things as those family members in the movie, awaiting word from their loved ones and wishing for their safety. Thanks to the internet reports, Facebook posts and Twitter feeds, it’s a bit easier to keep tabs on everyone. If you want a good view of what’s going on, I suggest checking out the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration website. We certainly live in an instant culture and if the power remains on, then the information will get through. Good luck to everyone facing this storm!
