Hurricane Irene
Saturday and Sunday August 27-28, 2011
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Hurricane Irene passed through southern Maryland on Saturday night 27-28 August. On Thursday Ma Lady II was surveyed and put in the water at KB Derr for sea trial. After successful sea trial we had ML-II hauled back up on to the hard stand at KB Derr in preparation for Irene.

On Friday morning we considered pulling Nighthawk I for the storm,  but found all the boat yards were full and there was no option to pull the boat. Friday afternoon we tied NH-1 down for the storm. We used every line available and had fore and aft spring lines on both sides and doubled all the other lines. Strongest winds were predicted from N to NE so we paid particular attention to the port stern lines. We were also concerned with possible tidal surge but with winds from the NE, it tended to push water out of Town Creek rather than into it.

We helped Jim tie down Refuge and also moved his Parker from the boat house to a space between the boat house and shore. This was done to prevent the boat from floating into the top of the boat house on a high tide/surge. By late Friday afternoon, we had everything tied down and we went home for the evening.

Rain and wind started in SOMD mid morning Saturday and continued to intensify. We went to Jim's ~1300 and moved in for the evening. Our intent was to remain there overnight so we could monitor all three boats as the storm progressed. The eye of the storm was projected to make its closest approach about 75 NM to the east of us. This put us on the west - or - "good" side of the storm.

We checked lines and ran the bilge pumps every couple of hours until about 2000. At that point wind and rain made it unsafe to be on the dock. We were able to see the boats using a spot light from Jim's living room. The power went out ~2000 as well. Jim used his generator to power the house.

About 2300 the storm peaked. We had gusts to ~60 kts and hard, driving rain. From what we could see, the boats were all riding OK. We checked them from the living room about once an hour.

At first light, about 0630, on Sunday morning, we went out to the boats to survey. All three had ridden well. The cover on the Zodiac was shredded and the cover for the Zodiac motor had departed. Jim's bimini top cover was shredded. That was the extent of the damage.

About 0800 we drove over to KB Derr to check ML-II. Other than being covered with twigs and leaves, she was in good shape. We drove back over to our house in Lexington Park and were relieved that there was no damage.

By mid morning Sunday, it had stopped raining and the wind had diminished. We spent the afternoon helping Jim clean up his yard.

As we drove back to our house we saw a lot more damage than we expected. The neighborhoods along Indian Bridge Rd. were especially hard hit. Many trees on top of and into houses and power lines. A lot of property damage.

We returned to our house ~1800 Sunday evening.