Moonwolf's Lair

So Tropical Storm Hanna is busy making its way up the coast towards us – if the predicted track is anything to go by, it’ll be a few miles to the east of us in about four hours time.

DC, as usual, is losing its mind in panic mode. We’ve already seen the panic buying at the local grocery store. Like people didn’t have a clue this might be coming while Gustav was still ambling around the Gulf Coast!

The DC area is really weird when it comes to inclement weather conditions – especially the local drivers. I call it “Dinosaur Syndrome”.

Think about it. The dinosaurs all died out because, at the end of the day, they couldn’t adapt to changing environmental conditions.

Now think about DC area drivers.

They wake up in the morning, it’s a nice day. They drive off to work – most of them, despite years of first-hand-experience, still using the parking-lot that is the Capital Beltway parking lot (I-495).

They work for a few hours (in theory), then comes lunchtime.

And it’s raining.

They’re totally flummoxed by this, and drive as if it was still great weather – they haven’t managed to switch over to “driving in the rain mode”. The end result, there’s accidents.

Those lucky enough to avoid anything major then return to work, and spend the rest of their work day trying to kick their brains into “driving in the rain mode”. They do so, come out of their offices to drive home, and are flummoxed once more – it’s sunny again.

So they try to drive home, but they’re in “driving in the rain mode” and haven’t switched back. The end result, there’s accidents.

Rinse.

Repeat.

Hence, Dinosaur Syndrome.

This is, after all, the DC area – everything is done according to government specifications on a government timetable. It only stands to reason that this extends to people’s ability (or lack of) to adapt to the weather

I wonder why people accuse me of being a cynic?

Here’s to the area first responders, and the utilities crews when they come out for the aftermath. May they be safe from the weather – and DC Dinosaurs on their way to their work!

[UPDATE 1750 EDT]

Well, Hanna’s gone past us – and it was relatively anti-climactic.

It’s on its way to New York/Philadelphia now, as you can see from the snapshot I’ve ‘ported over from Google Earth.