I'm not sure why this would bug you, actually, since the National Weather Service is still going to be issuing alerts. The NHC specializes in hurricanes and tropical storms, and if the storm isn't one, then it makes more sense for different meteorologists to examine it.

In an attempt to make a clumsy analogy - If this was the field of medicine, and a head injury transmuted into more general all-around pain and discomfort, you wouldn't insist on treatment from a neurosurgeon just because he/she was the first treating doctor.

@ Stephen Greenwell: NHC is risking lives by refusing to issue coastal hurricane warnings. Sandy has been a hurricane, is a hurricane now, and may yet be a hurricane when it makes landfall. NYC in particular is being lulled into a false sense of security by NHC's negligence. Academic arrogance putting innocent lives at risk! NOAA forecasts NYC experience surge of 11-13 feet! Click for map closeup at link: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at3+shtml/085338.shtml?gm_esurge#contents

Well, it does have the attention of Jim Cantore of the Weather Channel and he is not happy with it. People respond to emergencies and have grown to depend on those flags being up. Cantore noticed people in NYC and in Conn where taking this storm very casually because they asked where the warnings were? These people (govt) set this system up and the people became accustomed to it. Now to have them say because it is turning into a nor'easter, we won't raise flags is nuts. There should be a big meeting on this when this storm passes. This is unacceptable to many.

I noticed the same thing in Bristol - I couldn't believe. I hope they move their boats today -

sometimes it's better to bring the boats our further from the docks so there's nothing to bang around.

I just went to the Middletown website and it states that trash pickup will be delayed this week due to Hurricane Sandy.

Well they can post up all they want but when the general public is taking a casual stance to this because there are no watches or warnings, then NOAA has a problem. Whether a storm is a hurricane or a nor'easter, if it blows above 60 knots, there should be warning flags up for mariners. Some people have taken their boats out but others are still in because they know the storm is heading into NJ. It doesn't say you won't still get that storm surge or high winds coming in. The govt set this standard up years ago and we are still in the Hurricane Season which ends on November 1st. You can't expect the public to keep all the legal stuff straight, let alone trying to figure out when a hurricane turns into a nor'easter. Sometimes these academics get lost in their own b/s.

I am a committed democrat and I would not vote for this weasel for dog catcher. I will be voting for Brendan Doherty.

Good Year:
From what I saw, Gov. Chafee invited Congressman Cicilline to the podium to speak, just as Sens. Reed and Whitehouse did. Reminding people to think of other residents, particularly seniors, is a reasonable piece of advice.
Also, there will be plenty of time to discuss politics before the election without using a comment thread dedicated to the hurricane.
Thanks.

yes it was. and people should remember when they vote that robicheau, pedro and staven were originally against code red....didn't want to spend a few dollars.....said people get their information elsewhere