It looks like we narrowly dodged a bullet here in northern Wilmington, Delaware. The eye of Hurricane Irene passed off the coast of New Jersey and made landfall again farther north in New Jersey, so northern Delaware was spared the full force of Irene. I slept very little, since the winds were still troubling. Likewise, it has rain for about 18 hours straight. While my basement pump worked fine, I somehow had wind-driven water coming through my attic and into a second-floor bedroom.

Here are some updates:

• More than 10 inches of rain in some pars of Delaware.
• Many roads flooded or are otherwise impassable.
• More than 50,000 homes without power.
• Emergency driving restrictions remain in effect, banning all but emergency vehicles or those evacuating from flood areas from the state’s roads.

For additional information, see the DELAWARE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY site at http://dema.delaware.gov/.

At least one tornado generated by Hurricane Irene damaged homes in the Lewes, Delaware area. Reports say that at least on confirmed tornado damaged at least 15 homes near Lewes. Five more Tornado Warnings issued on Saturday night. Tornado watch in effect until 5 AM.

Delmarva Power is reporting more than 16,000 of its customers in Delaware and Maryland have lost electric service. Numerous reports of downed trees and wires.

Eye expected to pass over Cape May, New Jersey around 4:00 AM tomorrow.

(Note: YouTube upload is slow. Video postings are delayed.)

Per the latest forecasts, Wilmington, Delaware should receive the strongest force of Hurricane Irene between 2:00 AM and 5:00 AM tomorrow morning.

Delaware Gov. Jack Markell said Delaware would stop collecting tolls on I-95 at 3 p.m.

At 4 p.m., the bridge over Indian River Inlet closed. Divers will inspect the bridge’s pilings to determine if scouring stormwater has compromised the bridge’s structure.

Gov. Jack Markell ordered driving restrictions statewide. The restrictions forbid non-emergency travel effective at 6 p.m. in Sussex County, 8 p.m. in Kent County, and 10 p.m. in New Castle County. The state Department of Transportation said three of its four bridges over the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal will close to all but emergency vehicles at 10 p.m., including the Reedy Point Bridge at Del. 9, the St. Georges Bridge, and the Roth Bridge on Del. 1. The Summit Bridge (Del. 896/U.S. 301) will remain open until sustained winds reached sustained 45 miles per hour.

It is nothing nice out there!

(Note: I keep losing my YouTube upload connection. Video posts are delayed.)

Hurricane Irene effects are getting worse in Wilmington, DE.

2:00 PM Hurricane Irene video post. Just saw that the National Weather Service has issued a flood warning, in addition to the exiting hurricane warning and tornado watch.

For my followers who are not on the east coast, I am attempting to post hourly video of Hurricane Irene as it moves toward and through Delaware. I will try to post as long as I can. – SMK