Hongkonger moment
I’m seeing so many posts about the hurricane meanwhile we get hit by multiple typhoons every year.
For our tropical cyclone hazard system, most people don’t have to work under typhoon warning signal no. 8, but only if it happens before you get to work.
There used to be a joke about “Lee’s Forcefield”, where the observatory would often NOT put up no. 8 until after the stock market starts for the day, meaning most people have to work.
Therefore yes, you’re going to work.
Not an expert here, but given the differences in measurement scales, I suspect there is a difference in intensity.
If my reading of this Hong Kong Observatory reference is correct, a no 8 is classified as wind speeds between 63-117 km/h.
When we talk about hurricane strength, we’re using this scale. Unless they are measuring different metrics, a no 8 is the equivalent of a tropical storm. Which is to say, we don’t even rate that as hurricane strength.
Helene hit land at around 220 km/h (Cat 4). Milton reached speeds of 260km/h (Cat 5), but might weaken to 190-200km/h (Cat 3) by the time it reaches land.
No. 8 is just one of the signals. There are also no. 9 and no. 10. These signal are used based on the wind speed at HK instead of the storm itself.
For the actual strength of the typhoon, we just call them differently: https://www.hko.gov.hk/en/informtc/class.htm
Although I’d admit the current hurricane is actually stronger than a lot of typhoons: https://www.hko.gov.hk/en/informtc/historical_tc/metinfo_wind.htm
Yeah but hong Kong isn’t built on sand out of matchsticks and painted cardboard
They probably also have a higher standard for building codes and enforcement than florida does.
My friend has a wedding in Tampa on Saturday and as of this morning are still planning for it…
RIP
One of our coworkers was off this week to be married yesterday. I guess it will be a good story someday.
and the boss is making that call from out of state
Here they close the office and say to work remotely from wherever you are. Which strikes me as worse. Like, if my power goes out or home floods I am not going to take my laptop and find a co-working space at a shelter. If it’s bad enough we shouldn’t drive it’s likely bad enough we shouldn’t work.
“Our records show your laptop has been powered off for the last week? What happened”
“My house is gone and I needed to find a place for me and my family to live.”
“Hmmm. Okay, but just remember we’re a team here and everyone needs to contribute to be successful! Try to let us know next time you’re going to be away, okay?”
On a scale of 1-10 how accurate was I
Ha! Yes once we were working extra days for an audit - I try to work in the office only and leave my laptop there, had worked Monday though Saturday, long hours, took Sunday off, the boss of my boss yelled at my boss (who was a devout Christian) because I left my laptop at the office. He told me and I looked him straight in the eye and said “I don’t work on Sundays” and he absolutely backed me up.
But now that upper management have families, in general the flexibility does run in both directions. Most consider it a benefit to be able to work remotely, I’m sort of an outlier in that way (because the office is so close to my home, the space there is a benefit to me).
But yeah pretty close - people are working today until the power goes out.
They give me those days “off.” I take those days off. I’m already WFH, but I spend the time prepping for the storms and then taking care of my kids and making sure they feel happy and safe. We make a movie marathon out of it. We download stuff to tablets for when the power goes out. We get out the air mattress and sleep together in the living room (my bedroom is under a tree). Work is not going to interrupt me taking care my family.
I know that I am in a fortunate situation that allows me to do something that many can’t. I don’t take that for granted. That said, I do make it happen.
Yes, “off with pay” is the appropriate work status. My work is actually pretty flexible with us, I just hate working from home now because I have to drag everything out and set it up somewhere, particularly bad for a storm because everything from outside is also stuffed in the house.
but think of the shareholders who indirectly caused this hurricane!
Proper work attire
in FL. I worked last night at a grocery store pushing carts.
Albeit grocery stores are pretty essential and we didn’t get hit much at all besides some rain and wind it’s still funny
To earn the right to work
“Keep suckin down the brain juice and imagining yourself the victim of capitalism!”
