I know it was a bad Cat 4, but my inner pedant has to point out that it wasn't a Cat 5. I'm the same way about people calling the 30.6" snowstorm I experienced in 1996 a 36" snowstorm, or about authors of my era who put rifles in the hands of regiments who were armed with muskets. It probably means I have the soul of an accountant, but I can't resist doing it.

sits in the pedant corner with Susan. measures to make sure it's a 90 degree angle.

Having lived through earthquakes of various ratings I could give a rat's ass what they measure on the scale. It's the damage that they do. Scales and ratings don't kill people and destroy lives.

Having lived through earthquakes of various ratings I could give a rat's ass what they measure on the scale. It's the damage that they do. Scales and ratings don't kill people and destroy lives.

What. he. said.

I know, ND, but to me one of the most interesting things is how the scales do and don't measure reality--how a Cat 4 can be worse than a Cat 5, how a 6.8 like we had in Seattle in '01 could do so little damage despite its Big Scary Number.

And for me that makes it not matter what the scale is. I say let people call it a catergory plaid hurricane if they want, the scale doesn't mean anything. As such I have a hard time getting hung up on the scale.

What. he. said.

Ditto.

Nic and Mart were both out driving when Loma Prieta hit; Mart had a very good chance of being on the Cypress Structure on the Bay Bridge that day, and for a horrible couple of hours, I thought she was. My daughter was alone at her father's; she was ten years old. Nic had a building come down around the corner from where he was in the SOMA area.

I don't understand pedantry when it applies to human lives. I can vouch for the fact that I honestly didn't give a shit whether the Richter scale said it was a 7.0 or a 7.1. And I really doubt the residents of NOLA noticed that five mile an hour wind differential, you know?

Oh, for God's sake!

Surely y'all know me better by now than to think I measure the human costs of these things in scientific terms, just because I find the scientific terms inherently interesting!

Surely y'all know me better by now than to think I measure the human costs of these things in scientific terms, just because I find the scientific terms inherently interesting!

Nope, I don't for one minute think you measure it that way.

But the other end of that is true and valid as well; for the people who are either in harm's way or for those who've had to deal with the flesh and blood reality of it, your inherent interest, expressed that way and at that time (when people are worried half out of their minds) is going to cause particular reactions. (edit: analytical and pedantic versus the immediacy of worry for someone involved.)

ND, skip this post.

Katrina was a 5 in the Gulf. There were Camille, Hugo, and Andrew. And I think those were the only 5s (Susan -- I'm thinking at any time, not just over land) in -- ok, the last 36 years.