Joined: 18 Mar 2005
Posts: 256
Location: 3rd coast
| Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2007 3:08 am Post subject: Hurricane season . . . | |
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. . . officially starts today. And we have the beginnings of one in Barry, now brewing in the Gulf of Mexico.
Inspired by the saying, "Hope for the best (zero hurricane troubles), prepare for the worst (because nature, more often than not, trumps our efforts), here's the topic to pass along your hurricane preparation/suvival tips. To start: Stock up on your H20; you need 3 gallons a day per person. That can add up to a lot of water. You can fill up the bath tub for an extra resevoir. Stock up on canned goods and foods that need little cooking, but be aware: the higher the salt content, the more likely you'll be thirsty, so look for low-salt canned vegetables, soups, tuna packed in spring water, etc. Same with dry goods. Check your flashlights, batteries, and radio. (I'm gonna have to dig like a coal miner to find trueairspeed's recommendation for the best radio to have during hurricane season, so bear with me . . . ). I caution people against using candles, as they can be more of a hazard than they're worth. That said, one candle I will recommend is citronella; after landfall, you're gonna have a population explosion of mosquitos. (We sell citronella incense sticks, which I highly recommend for both effectiveness and safety reasons. Not surprisingly, we're out of stock on them most of the time.) Keep insect repellent on hand, not to mention Raid or other pest control products. Bugs will be living with you for a while should you live in a landfall zone. Have an evacuation plan. Contact your county officials or go online to see if there is an official route system because if there is, you can bet law enforcement will be there to implement it. In our area, we are getting word that county officials will evacuate via zip codes closest to the coast first. (Here they will check your ID and may turn you around if your are not a resident of a flood/storm surge zone. This is to avoid the highway bottleneck disaster that happened during Hurricane Rita's approach in Sept. 2005.) A part of any evacuation plan is to have your car serviced NOW. Get the radiator flushed and checked for leaks. Have tires inspected, belts and hoses, etc. A general tune-up wouldn't be a bad idea, either. Check your car's emergency repair kit and keep it stocked for duct tape, good flashlight w/batteries, flares. Check your spare in the trunk, and make sure you have a good car jack. There's also a product, a tire-inflation in a can, that can do in a pinch. I've used it once and it saved me a lot of trouble. Invest in the plywood sheets to cover your windows NOW please, not with 48 hours to landfall. Same for propane generators, flashlights, batteries, jugs of water, etc. You don't need to hassle our fellow retail workers at Lowes and the Home Depot when this stuff is out of stock. If you should purchase these items, don't be a jerk and try to return them two days after the storm has either blown over or gone to another region. View these purchases as an investment in protecting your property and store them accordingly. Go to your ATM and withdraw as much cash as you feel is necessary to have at the ready. If your freezer is fairly stocked, cook what you can to pack and take with you, or dine on it before you hit the road. Got a dozen eggs in your fridge? Make a big scrambled egg get-away-dinner. Use up what you can before you evacuate your home. Transfer refrigerated goods to the freezer compartment of your fridge, then turn the setting to its coldest. If you lose power, goods that need cold storage will gain a few more days of safe-keeping. Also, put a few bottles of water in the freezer; once they're frozen, transfer them to the refridgerator to help keep things cold that cannot be transferred to the freezer (like those eggs). A plus - now you have extra cold water available for drinking should you lose power. (That last "cool" tip was courteosy of Magnolia.) Get prescriptions refilled to take care of you for a month, if possible. Call your doctor if you need help on this. (Another Magnolia tip.) Stock up on your own first aid kit, including antibacterial soap, aspirin/pain reliever, antiseptic oinment, contact lens solution, Band-Aids, Ace bandages, toiletries. Feel free to add your own thread of preparation/survival ideas, in case I missed anything. As a veteran of Rita, as well as a witness to survivors of Katrina who relocated here, these tips may save your neck. (And Mags, I hope Barry doesn't pay you a "visit.") |
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Joined: 06 Jul 2003
Posts: 8380
Location: Central CA
| Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2007 3:47 am Post subject: | |
| They're predicting nine of them this year. I suppose anything above a Category 2 will simply finish New Orleans Off. Large sections of all those newly repaired levies have already eroded away from just normal weather. Most people involved, Including some of the honchos from the USACE don't hold out much hope if one comes into that section of the Gulf Coast again. One official said a storm surge of just a few feet could pretty much take those sections out again. | |
Joined: 26 Aug 2005
Posts: 1707
| Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2007 8:40 pm Post subject: | |||
 You didn't get that yet? Can't remember the brand I bought but True sent me a link to one at Target... around $35. You'd be smart to grab one ... hey... aren't they tax free right now?
One tip to add.... a landline phone. And another.... if you freeze water in plastic bottles... DON'T DRINK IT. I heard yesterday that some plastic chemical releases from the bottle when the plastic freezes... or maybe as it thaws... can't remember. Anyway... don't drink water from frozen bottles. (I have a flipping freezer full of them  )
As for Barry......nah. Going the wrong way. Or should I say the right way... 
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Joined: 26 Aug 2005
Posts: 1707
| Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2007 8:43 pm Post subject: | |
| Did I say I have three 5 gallon cans of gasoline in my garage? | |
Joined: 26 Aug 2005
Posts: 1707
| Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2007 8:48 pm Post subject: | |||||
Gee thanks. I needed a reminder. The local weathermen sound like they're calling a horse race. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand weeeeeeeeere off. I don't like it. It makes me nervous.
There's one thing I've learned the past three years... surviving Ivan, Dennis and the soft side of Katrina... What Mother Nature wants to take back... she will. Can't do a damn thing about it. And we may as well accept it. |
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Joined: 06 Jul 2003
Posts: 8380
Location: Central CA
| Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2007 11:22 pm Post subject: | |
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We can't do a damed thing about it and nobody else is going to unless they can make money for it so... you're right.
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Joined: 04 Jul 2003
Posts: 2110
| Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 3:11 am Post subject: | |
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I was checking this site out a bit and it looks interesting.
www.weatherbug.com Looks as if you have to download to your computer, though. Anybody using this already? I'd be curious on how it works. |
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Joined: 06 Jul 2003
Posts: 8380
Location: Central CA
| Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 4:04 am Post subject: | |||
I'd advise against it. It's basically pure spyware. Not only does it phone home with information regularly and subject you to popup ads every time you blink but it implants itself so solidly in your computer you can't even delete the thing normally. The following is just one guy's experience and it's typical.
That's bullshit too, because it installed Gator, one of the most notorious spyware programs ever developed. I'm told this is no longer the case but I wouldn't mess with this thing. In fact, I'd run like hell the other direction. This is some nasty stuff. |
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Joined: 04 Jul 2003
Posts: 2110
| Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 12:53 pm Post subject: | |
| Thanks for the info, Nofs. Sure glad I did not download it. Looked interesting anyway. | |
Joined: 26 Aug 2005
Posts: 1707
| Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2007 10:37 pm Post subject: Re: Hurricane season . . . | |||
Six weeks down. So far so good!
I know a lightning bolt will strike any moment just because I said that. Here's to looking at another season like last year. (Fingers crossed.) |
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Joined: 18 Mar 2005
Posts: 256
Location: 3rd coast
| Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 9:17 pm Post subject: Re: Hurricane season . . . | |||||||
At seven weeks down, keep those fingers crossed, Mags. The local major daily on the Gulf Coast gave us this fun fact:
I've still got a stash of empty 2 liter soda jugs to fill with water, plus flashlights, and extra batteries, just to be sure; next on my list is to order a case of lucky rabbit's feet. |
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Joined: 06 Jul 2003
Posts: 8380
Location: Central CA
| Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 4:30 am Post subject: | |||||||
Atlantic Tropical Storms Have Doubled
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Joined: 26 Aug 2005
Posts: 1707
| Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 10:02 pm Post subject: | |
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Damn!
Dean looks like a problem. 
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Joined: 04 Jul 2003
Posts: 2110
| Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2007 12:44 am Post subject: | |
We have Erin going through Texas right now. We do need the rain here where I am. At least its not 105 degrees out there like it has been. 
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Joined: 26 Aug 2005
Posts: 1707
| Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2007 2:48 am Post subject: | |||
Yeah, I hear ya on that one. But I wish it was something other than a big 'ol storm cooling things off. But all's well that ends well... goodbye Erin. |
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Joined: 18 Mar 2005
Posts: 256
Location: 3rd coast
| Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 3:15 am Post subject: | |||
Down on the coast, we could stand to be a little drier, USA. For a tropical storm, Erin sure caused trouble Thursday. Entire segments of freeways, highways and feeder roads flooded big time. Streets in small neighborhoods near my home looked like streams, with water up to car bumpers. In fact, this summer's rain pattern here has made for a dismal sales season for the outdoor landscaping business. 
And now, Dean. Go into any grocery store here and you'll notice bottled water, batteries and some canned goods in scarce supply. I've already asked my boss the plan for closing our store should Dean pay us a visit next week. |
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Joined: 04 Jul 2003
Posts: 2110
| Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 5:23 am Post subject: | |
| As you know camper, the weather here in Texas has been strange. We got the rain here in the northern and central part for a while and the last month or so the coastal regions have gotten hit. We really didn't hit the 100 degree mark until this month. So, all in all, its been a very mild summer. So, I'm not discounting that you guys don't need any more rain. We got flooded up here as well for a while. Just hope Dean doen't cause many more problems, should it hit. | |
Joined: 26 Aug 2005
Posts: 1707
| Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 8:05 pm Post subject: | |
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Dean is one nasty storm.
I have my fingers and toes crossed for ya'll. Everyone together... think... SOUTH... SOUTH... SOUTH. |
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Joined: 06 Jul 2003
Posts: 8380
Location: Central CA
| Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 8:42 pm Post subject: | |
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The thing even LOOKS nasty to my inexperienced eye.
Dean's wobble a telltale sign 
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Joined: 18 Mar 2005
Posts: 256
Location: 3rd coast
| Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 12:04 am Post subject: storm photo op. | |||
That's one freaky image, Nofs.
Indeed, I am aware of the bizarre weather North Texas experienced earlier this summer. I wasn't sure where that was in relation to you USA, but we had a similar situation here. We got soaked June and July. In as much as it held down the temperatures, the water rose as well. Last month I drove home one night after closing the store and nearly lost my car to high water. I pulled into a parking lot and waited for over an hour in the dark for the streets to drain. Then this month we hit triple digit temperatures for a week. Certainly, those conditions were enough to dry us out. When Erin trolled inland, we were thinking, "Hey, we could use some rain to spell us from the heat." Erin dumped on us for roughly six solid hours. Freeway underpasses, feeder roads and major thoroughfares became rivers. A county sheriff on her way to work to help save stranded motorists needed saving herself when she drove her car into high water on Hwy 288. Tropical storms scare me as much as hurricanes. In 2001 a tropical storm, Allison, rumbled through our region: 
That's no river the above bridge spans, but a flooded section of Hwy 59 South leading to Victoria and north up 610 to Hwy 290. The drop from the bridge down to the freeway is probably around 5 to 9 stories, depending on the grade. I live right near that area. When the rain finally stopped and the water drained, we saw car after ruined car abandoned in the mud and mess. How people fled their vehicles in the pouring rain to reach safety I have no idea. From that photo, you would have to walk a half a mile east to the nearest exit ramp. What's really disturbing is the feeling that this new multi-lane freeway design (no doubt at considerable taxpayer expense) has become, for better or worse, a kind of retention pond for massive rainfall. I don't know what civil engineers were thinking when they detonated the elevated segments of Hwy 59 South in the 1990s, then burrowed five stories into the ground to create this sublevel mass transit artery. I can tell you what I'm thinking as I watch Dean churn towards the Gulf: the evacuation route county officials recommend its citizens take to safety may well be a death trap. |
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Joined: 04 Jul 2003
Posts: 2110
| Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 9:37 am Post subject: | |
Good Heavens Camper!!!!  The picture of the bridge is something else. I do live in the Dallas area so I know how it is weatherwise. Hope things do go well down there for you and Mags.  
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