DesignatedMarksman
12-06-2006, 19:01
The SteyrAUG Guide To Hurricane (Or Tornado) Survival...
OK, as a longtime resident of South Florida and a veteran of hurricanes from Andrew to Wilma I feel I am qualified to comment on this subject.
If you live in the SE United States anywhere near a coast you will want to save or copy this one.
BEFORE THE STORM:
1. Should you stay or should you go?
Consider leaving. There are all kinds of reasons people stay from not having a place to go, concern about property and friends or things like that. But probably the thing that makes most people stay is they "think" they know what a hurricane hit is like when most don't. If you are in a hurricane warning and the storm ends up hitting 150 miles away and it was a small hurricane you did NOT experience a hurricane but the outer storms associated with one. This causes most people to feel they have been through a hurricane and know what to expect when they are wrong.
That said, even those who HAVE been through a hurricane probably won't bail for a Cat 1 hurricane. The problem is hurricane forcast is NOT an exact science but a collection of best estimates. Hurricane Wilma was "forcasted" to be a Cat 1 storm by the time it reached us but what we in fact got was 122 mph sustained storm that gusted up to 144 mph and did the kind of damage normally associated with a Cat 3 storm. The short version is by the time you know FOR SURE where it is going and how strong it will be it will also be too late to leave.
So if you have a hurricane forcasted to "possibly" hit your area and you can leave it is probably a good idea. I personally use Cat 3 as my demarkation point. Having seen what they do if we "might" get a Cat 3 or stronger storm I explore my options to leave. Might be a good week so secure the house and take a short visit to see your family up north.
2. Secure your home.
Secure your home to protect it from the storm and from looters after the fact if you leave.
The number one thing you want is these:
groups.msn.com/_Secure/0RgCPAoETXpDz2O*tHjXLeUi6n3cyaRk47rAUwg*W3iyTR0dHoCjJPrquycugNTdXNPY6i8JsOK0qQXJlThBHuW!52nw2tlN2NIF r0Q91L1o/P1003124.jpg
REAL Hurricane Shutters rated for a Category 5. The rule of thumb is if you lose a window you will probably lose the roof. Once winds get inside and under the roof they begin to stress it from underneath. In major storms don't forget to reinforce the garage door, that is how most roofs were lost during hurricane Andrew. A simple way to reinforce it is a few 2x4s wedged against the door with the rear bumber of your car from the inside.
If you don't have hurricane shutters, save up for them. Plywood just won't save you in a big storm and shutters are a hell of a lot cheaper than rebuilding your house. During Andrew the ONLY houses that didn't lose the roof had quality shutters.
Locks doors and reinfornce all weak points. Have a safe room to bail to if needed (interior room with no windows) and put your most important supplies in there.
Hurricane preparation isn't cheap and you will need lots of things. Now most of us don't have $3-500 to blow on supplies so the thing to do is buy something every week. Whenever you go shopping buy about $10 worth of supplies for your hurricane kit:
Candles
Batteries
First Aid Kit
Canned food
MREs
Radio
Mosquito repellent
Insurance papers
and most importantly WATER.
Skip the gallon jugs, they leak. Rinse out 2 liter soda bottles and fill them with water. The are more portable and durable, 64 oz. Gatorade bottles also work well. You should have a min. 7 days of supplies for each person.
In addition you should grab all the camping comforts you can afford. Plan on roughing it for a week. People who got hit will tell you just how nice something like a cot to sleep on is when they don't have a roof or a bed. Even if you DO have a roof, you will probably sleep on a porch because it gets hot and humid at night with no AC.
Get at least one big ass cooler for storing food. Won't be the same as a fridge but it works for storing food. Ice everything down the day BEFORE the storm as ice will be a rare commodity afterwards. Freeze containers full of water while you still have power to make big blocks of ice. Put some in your regirgerator afterwards and make it work like an ice box.
Gas up all your cars and pull some cash. Be prepared to fend for yourself without power for an entire week at least.
Have your shit laid out. Be able to find it in the dark cause you are going to lose power. After Wilma we were without electric for 15 days.
groups.msn.com/_Secure/0SgAEA1cUst*z2O*tHjXLeerz7JQQ8rYvlIU24XPKZHNUh2LQjfXGWNia6pgH0lly8d*g2EmQsEqAnOZ8Eq4X8GOvgLKpygPJiNN Oz3rwXz4lIuNyDNrKAw/P1003130.jpg
Save your grill.
groups.msn.com/_Secure/0RgAEA4ATIZDz2O*tHjXLeSWs1Z!t6wUuLNO2GPzKXq1XdJZuPAmY0Mk00lm0MOsTgmRiS1e1NoRQQMm98pAHru83dMINHXTiCH3 CDuz6CF8/P1003123.jpg
I put this thing INDOORS with about 4 tanks to ride the storm cause I knew it would be the new stove for at least a week. You want a dozen pie tins. Put food on a tin or in foil and just cook everything you have on the grill.
Have a few long drop cords. People who don't have genertors will want to plug in their refrigerators. You see who is good neighbors after a storm by just looking where the bright orange extention cords are running.
Besides a generator buy a window AC unit. Being able to cool off the primary living/sleeping area was wonderful. I also have a solar water heater so I had hot water.
groups.msn.com/_Secure/0RgCPAoYTj5Hz2O*tHjXLeYD*1y2Sk*QeicGwH8Z!Q4zS*3HPWMt1tEPYxGaUU1kEK0b5BWYtrIP*Sw7Zbm5fblPj7PAAQ8UdRCR FT7OlkNc/P1003129.jpg
If you can get a generator to run the fridge. Having a working refrigerator is like winning the lottery after a storm. If you think generators are expensive now, wait till you try and buy one after you get hit. Save up, it will be worth every penny.
Store gas, after Wilma all the stations had gas but NO electricity to run the pumps. A reserve of 25 gallons should be sufficient until a few stations are up and running.
Get a weapon light. Was open carry season after the hurricane and the USP was with me everywhere. After dark it was a MP5 with e bright ass LED light. If you don't have a weapon light, get one. Night visions is also very useful follwing a hurricane and the days of no electricity.
Solar power is your friend.
groups.msn.com/_Secure/0RgCPAoQTFZHz2O*tHjXLeba3LY4WbZ73YRvBRejoAbAW9oF2s*uvDIUenhCNxWjzGbcUeGayU6TFpY!kTG6BK8Hu3ub4Xukr2Yx AoOsGzTo/P1003127.jpg
This latern was brighter than about 10 candles and worth the $35 I paid for it. Ran all night and just put it in the sun the next day for a few hours and it was good to go again. Little things like good light keep you from going bonkers. Also safer than 25 open flames. The solar radio was great for getting info and providing entertainment after the storm. Little things like hearing your favorite songs (like Owner of a Lonely Heart by Yes) can really pick up your day when things are getting difficult.
I cannot stress how important a good illuminated watch is. This will be your new clock and if you can't read it at night you won't know what time it is.
I have a Luminox dive watch that did a superb job.
DURING THE STORM:
Battery operated TVs are your friend. You want to be able to SEE where the damn storm is right now. I got one for $20 at Kmart, buy one. Resist the urge to go out during the eye.
Very few people die FROM the hurricane. Most die from stepping in water energized by fallen power lines (and they can be several houses away in the same pool of water) and from falling branches/debris. Be VERY CAREFUL when going out after the storm has passed.
AFTER THE STORM:
OK, if you really got hit your yard probably looks like this:
groups.msn.com/_Secure/0RgCPAoATH5Dz2O*tHjXLeXBZxJDZp9YiIuiZKcvbjzgGu5GOeQaWp60RhTMX1vzhCayT4HwXGri9f9!zoePY*IHwT1qgZ3c*5uM y25R2ikc/P1003105.jpg
Secure your property and clean up the debris as best you can. Place debris piles strategically for use as concealment or a "looter" blind. Fallen limbs also make good firewood (fires illuminate the night and smoke repels mosquitos).
groups.msn.com/_Secure/0RgCFAn8T5Y*z2O*tHjXLeTWmRgMN!iT8nE72rH*D!5!XApqEyZHl82FyCIaryKE1jNnbL3swojc4QswUNWKPAqKTPllFA7JErSh gb72jyqQ/P1003131.jpg
I got a patio fireplace just for this reason. Gets rid of storm debris, provides some light and a rally point for neighbors and kids made smores almost every night. Also sitting around a fire at night with freinds beats the shit out of sitting in your dark house wishing you had TV. Also things like roasting marshmellows and hot dogs on the fire go a long way to help prevent storm stress in kids.
Your yard might not be as secure as it once was:
groups.msn.com/_Secure/0SgAAAFsUteDz2O*tHjXLeR50ECTmhmirS03*9RjidoWzybdi81d!WFHQh2I51kEA53lqfBGinU5m9HrrtTlyFNeHhbhUNjPn!cD 3QM5D3s7LUxOBApmIVA/P1003125.jpg
I strung fence wire in place of my fallen fence to serve as "tripwire" if I chased looters in that direction.
groups.msn.com/_Secure/0SgCwHVwU9uDz2O*tHjXLeWeBOy!d8SRlbhwpArBAgPMq5NTVC1NY8hnzoHVszjE41yc0HwJD6yksVXF!j6PZa8CRU*RhvPEokVz hwNLxcVHBdPZtTJa6pg/P1003126.jpg
Pick a COMFORTABLE weapon.
groups.msn.com/_Secure/0RgAAAH8T5I*z2O*tHjXLeZaw!wr17BK*BsTG8O3KSukm7ZH*iBj3jy8v!Lvaml7OM3oibHSWc1PAcJWUE5YwNNkL65B7IVdNblv ikmS95b8/P1003122.jpg
Realize you will carry a handgun and rifle CONSTANTLY as well as extra mags. The only people who don't love M1 Garands are those who had to carry one and all their gear all the time. Expect that for a full week you will always have a handgun on your hip and a rifle slung. If you have a Swiss Army M4 with 20 lbs. of shit on it things will get old quickly.
Organize a basic crew of neighbors, shooting buddies, etc. Work with the understanding that as soon as they have gotten their house squared away they will band together and check on everyone involved. These people will come see if you are ok a lot sooner than any government employee.
Agree that you will help the guy(s) most in need. Go from house to house and help with basic repairs and assitance then decide who is most vulnerable and camp there.
Pull security for those homes if not the entire block. After Andrew we actually created a map of a 4 block area and noted which houses were occupied, vacant, etc. We told neighbors we would be operating at night and requested permission to be on their property during patrols. We also invited them to join our patrols. We noted houses that we KNEW should be empty and were inviting targets, better to get them robbing the place next door before they get to your house.
We all had firearms and carried openly. Mostly AR15s, shotguns and I had a HK91. We all wore camo as we were trying not to be seen by those who would be robbing houses and didn't want to attract deliberate attention to ourselves. Make sure you don't have trigger happy idiots in your ranks. This isn't "shoot a looter" night.
I cannot stress how valuable night vision was, both weapon sights and monoculars. Only mosquito repellent was more appreciated than even Gen 1 stuff. Second to NV is communications. Basic Motorola radios are absolutely needed. Some quick ties for flex cuffs are also nice but make sure you know who you are taking into custody. Don't ID yourself as "police" unless you actually are. Simply refuse to identify yourself to those you detain, question or take for the NG. Simply stating that "nobody belongs in this house" is usually enough. Protect ONLY your homes and neighborhood, do not go on a "looter hunt" at the local strip malls. Homeowners protecting their property is one thing but grabbing people robbing discount records and tapes is another unless you actually own discount records and tapes.
During the week we took about a dozen people out of several homes that we KNEW should be empty. These individuals who didn't know who the guys with camo and guns were and were only too happy to be turned over to local NG posts. We also advised the NG who we were, where we lived and where and when we would be operating. Make sure they know what house you are basing from and that free coffee will be available at that home every night. Work with them, not against them. Our patrols ran into their patrols on more than one occassion.
This is also why you stagger out your patrol. We usually ran a 8 person team with one point man, 3 guys on one side of the street (in the yards) 50m back and 3 guys on the other side of the street with one guy 50m to the rear. Better to have your point man go talk to the NG patrol with the other 7 guys with guns remaining unobserved. They NG guys were pretty savy and knew what was going on. When we finally ran into them continuously we discontinued our patrols.
Be prepared to fend for yourself (food, clothing, shelter and security) for a week. In Homestead people were on their own for a month or more. And the only thing worse than losing everything, is losing everything and not having any kind of plan or supplies.
During Wilma I encountered people who didn't even have 3 days worth of supplies.
Expect that within a week or so local stores and businesses will be up under their own power or a generator. That is when things will start getting easier for you. When the rib joint around the corner was up and running it was like Christmas around here.
OK, as a longtime resident of South Florida and a veteran of hurricanes from Andrew to Wilma I feel I am qualified to comment on this subject.
If you live in the SE United States anywhere near a coast you will want to save or copy this one.
BEFORE THE STORM:
1. Should you stay or should you go?
Consider leaving. There are all kinds of reasons people stay from not having a place to go, concern about property and friends or things like that. But probably the thing that makes most people stay is they "think" they know what a hurricane hit is like when most don't. If you are in a hurricane warning and the storm ends up hitting 150 miles away and it was a small hurricane you did NOT experience a hurricane but the outer storms associated with one. This causes most people to feel they have been through a hurricane and know what to expect when they are wrong.
That said, even those who HAVE been through a hurricane probably won't bail for a Cat 1 hurricane. The problem is hurricane forcast is NOT an exact science but a collection of best estimates. Hurricane Wilma was "forcasted" to be a Cat 1 storm by the time it reached us but what we in fact got was 122 mph sustained storm that gusted up to 144 mph and did the kind of damage normally associated with a Cat 3 storm. The short version is by the time you know FOR SURE where it is going and how strong it will be it will also be too late to leave.
So if you have a hurricane forcasted to "possibly" hit your area and you can leave it is probably a good idea. I personally use Cat 3 as my demarkation point. Having seen what they do if we "might" get a Cat 3 or stronger storm I explore my options to leave. Might be a good week so secure the house and take a short visit to see your family up north.
2. Secure your home.
Secure your home to protect it from the storm and from looters after the fact if you leave.
The number one thing you want is these:
groups.msn.com/_Secure/0RgCPAoETXpDz2O*tHjXLeUi6n3cyaRk47rAUwg*W3iyTR0dHoCjJPrquycugNTdXNPY6i8JsOK0qQXJlThBHuW!52nw2tlN2NIF r0Q91L1o/P1003124.jpg
REAL Hurricane Shutters rated for a Category 5. The rule of thumb is if you lose a window you will probably lose the roof. Once winds get inside and under the roof they begin to stress it from underneath. In major storms don't forget to reinforce the garage door, that is how most roofs were lost during hurricane Andrew. A simple way to reinforce it is a few 2x4s wedged against the door with the rear bumber of your car from the inside.
If you don't have hurricane shutters, save up for them. Plywood just won't save you in a big storm and shutters are a hell of a lot cheaper than rebuilding your house. During Andrew the ONLY houses that didn't lose the roof had quality shutters.
Locks doors and reinfornce all weak points. Have a safe room to bail to if needed (interior room with no windows) and put your most important supplies in there.
Hurricane preparation isn't cheap and you will need lots of things. Now most of us don't have $3-500 to blow on supplies so the thing to do is buy something every week. Whenever you go shopping buy about $10 worth of supplies for your hurricane kit:
Candles
Batteries
First Aid Kit
Canned food
MREs
Radio
Mosquito repellent
Insurance papers
and most importantly WATER.
Skip the gallon jugs, they leak. Rinse out 2 liter soda bottles and fill them with water. The are more portable and durable, 64 oz. Gatorade bottles also work well. You should have a min. 7 days of supplies for each person.
In addition you should grab all the camping comforts you can afford. Plan on roughing it for a week. People who got hit will tell you just how nice something like a cot to sleep on is when they don't have a roof or a bed. Even if you DO have a roof, you will probably sleep on a porch because it gets hot and humid at night with no AC.
Get at least one big ass cooler for storing food. Won't be the same as a fridge but it works for storing food. Ice everything down the day BEFORE the storm as ice will be a rare commodity afterwards. Freeze containers full of water while you still have power to make big blocks of ice. Put some in your regirgerator afterwards and make it work like an ice box.
Gas up all your cars and pull some cash. Be prepared to fend for yourself without power for an entire week at least.
Have your shit laid out. Be able to find it in the dark cause you are going to lose power. After Wilma we were without electric for 15 days.
groups.msn.com/_Secure/0SgAEA1cUst*z2O*tHjXLeerz7JQQ8rYvlIU24XPKZHNUh2LQjfXGWNia6pgH0lly8d*g2EmQsEqAnOZ8Eq4X8GOvgLKpygPJiNN Oz3rwXz4lIuNyDNrKAw/P1003130.jpg
Save your grill.
groups.msn.com/_Secure/0RgAEA4ATIZDz2O*tHjXLeSWs1Z!t6wUuLNO2GPzKXq1XdJZuPAmY0Mk00lm0MOsTgmRiS1e1NoRQQMm98pAHru83dMINHXTiCH3 CDuz6CF8/P1003123.jpg
I put this thing INDOORS with about 4 tanks to ride the storm cause I knew it would be the new stove for at least a week. You want a dozen pie tins. Put food on a tin or in foil and just cook everything you have on the grill.
Have a few long drop cords. People who don't have genertors will want to plug in their refrigerators. You see who is good neighbors after a storm by just looking where the bright orange extention cords are running.
Besides a generator buy a window AC unit. Being able to cool off the primary living/sleeping area was wonderful. I also have a solar water heater so I had hot water.
groups.msn.com/_Secure/0RgCPAoYTj5Hz2O*tHjXLeYD*1y2Sk*QeicGwH8Z!Q4zS*3HPWMt1tEPYxGaUU1kEK0b5BWYtrIP*Sw7Zbm5fblPj7PAAQ8UdRCR FT7OlkNc/P1003129.jpg
If you can get a generator to run the fridge. Having a working refrigerator is like winning the lottery after a storm. If you think generators are expensive now, wait till you try and buy one after you get hit. Save up, it will be worth every penny.
Store gas, after Wilma all the stations had gas but NO electricity to run the pumps. A reserve of 25 gallons should be sufficient until a few stations are up and running.
Get a weapon light. Was open carry season after the hurricane and the USP was with me everywhere. After dark it was a MP5 with e bright ass LED light. If you don't have a weapon light, get one. Night visions is also very useful follwing a hurricane and the days of no electricity.
Solar power is your friend.
groups.msn.com/_Secure/0RgCPAoQTFZHz2O*tHjXLeba3LY4WbZ73YRvBRejoAbAW9oF2s*uvDIUenhCNxWjzGbcUeGayU6TFpY!kTG6BK8Hu3ub4Xukr2Yx AoOsGzTo/P1003127.jpg
This latern was brighter than about 10 candles and worth the $35 I paid for it. Ran all night and just put it in the sun the next day for a few hours and it was good to go again. Little things like good light keep you from going bonkers. Also safer than 25 open flames. The solar radio was great for getting info and providing entertainment after the storm. Little things like hearing your favorite songs (like Owner of a Lonely Heart by Yes) can really pick up your day when things are getting difficult.
I cannot stress how important a good illuminated watch is. This will be your new clock and if you can't read it at night you won't know what time it is.
I have a Luminox dive watch that did a superb job.
DURING THE STORM:
Battery operated TVs are your friend. You want to be able to SEE where the damn storm is right now. I got one for $20 at Kmart, buy one. Resist the urge to go out during the eye.
Very few people die FROM the hurricane. Most die from stepping in water energized by fallen power lines (and they can be several houses away in the same pool of water) and from falling branches/debris. Be VERY CAREFUL when going out after the storm has passed.
AFTER THE STORM:
OK, if you really got hit your yard probably looks like this:
groups.msn.com/_Secure/0RgCPAoATH5Dz2O*tHjXLeXBZxJDZp9YiIuiZKcvbjzgGu5GOeQaWp60RhTMX1vzhCayT4HwXGri9f9!zoePY*IHwT1qgZ3c*5uM y25R2ikc/P1003105.jpg
Secure your property and clean up the debris as best you can. Place debris piles strategically for use as concealment or a "looter" blind. Fallen limbs also make good firewood (fires illuminate the night and smoke repels mosquitos).
groups.msn.com/_Secure/0RgCFAn8T5Y*z2O*tHjXLeTWmRgMN!iT8nE72rH*D!5!XApqEyZHl82FyCIaryKE1jNnbL3swojc4QswUNWKPAqKTPllFA7JErSh gb72jyqQ/P1003131.jpg
I got a patio fireplace just for this reason. Gets rid of storm debris, provides some light and a rally point for neighbors and kids made smores almost every night. Also sitting around a fire at night with freinds beats the shit out of sitting in your dark house wishing you had TV. Also things like roasting marshmellows and hot dogs on the fire go a long way to help prevent storm stress in kids.
Your yard might not be as secure as it once was:
groups.msn.com/_Secure/0SgAAAFsUteDz2O*tHjXLeR50ECTmhmirS03*9RjidoWzybdi81d!WFHQh2I51kEA53lqfBGinU5m9HrrtTlyFNeHhbhUNjPn!cD 3QM5D3s7LUxOBApmIVA/P1003125.jpg
I strung fence wire in place of my fallen fence to serve as "tripwire" if I chased looters in that direction.
groups.msn.com/_Secure/0SgCwHVwU9uDz2O*tHjXLeWeBOy!d8SRlbhwpArBAgPMq5NTVC1NY8hnzoHVszjE41yc0HwJD6yksVXF!j6PZa8CRU*RhvPEokVz hwNLxcVHBdPZtTJa6pg/P1003126.jpg
Pick a COMFORTABLE weapon.
groups.msn.com/_Secure/0RgAAAH8T5I*z2O*tHjXLeZaw!wr17BK*BsTG8O3KSukm7ZH*iBj3jy8v!Lvaml7OM3oibHSWc1PAcJWUE5YwNNkL65B7IVdNblv ikmS95b8/P1003122.jpg
Realize you will carry a handgun and rifle CONSTANTLY as well as extra mags. The only people who don't love M1 Garands are those who had to carry one and all their gear all the time. Expect that for a full week you will always have a handgun on your hip and a rifle slung. If you have a Swiss Army M4 with 20 lbs. of shit on it things will get old quickly.
Organize a basic crew of neighbors, shooting buddies, etc. Work with the understanding that as soon as they have gotten their house squared away they will band together and check on everyone involved. These people will come see if you are ok a lot sooner than any government employee.
Agree that you will help the guy(s) most in need. Go from house to house and help with basic repairs and assitance then decide who is most vulnerable and camp there.
Pull security for those homes if not the entire block. After Andrew we actually created a map of a 4 block area and noted which houses were occupied, vacant, etc. We told neighbors we would be operating at night and requested permission to be on their property during patrols. We also invited them to join our patrols. We noted houses that we KNEW should be empty and were inviting targets, better to get them robbing the place next door before they get to your house.
We all had firearms and carried openly. Mostly AR15s, shotguns and I had a HK91. We all wore camo as we were trying not to be seen by those who would be robbing houses and didn't want to attract deliberate attention to ourselves. Make sure you don't have trigger happy idiots in your ranks. This isn't "shoot a looter" night.
I cannot stress how valuable night vision was, both weapon sights and monoculars. Only mosquito repellent was more appreciated than even Gen 1 stuff. Second to NV is communications. Basic Motorola radios are absolutely needed. Some quick ties for flex cuffs are also nice but make sure you know who you are taking into custody. Don't ID yourself as "police" unless you actually are. Simply refuse to identify yourself to those you detain, question or take for the NG. Simply stating that "nobody belongs in this house" is usually enough. Protect ONLY your homes and neighborhood, do not go on a "looter hunt" at the local strip malls. Homeowners protecting their property is one thing but grabbing people robbing discount records and tapes is another unless you actually own discount records and tapes.
During the week we took about a dozen people out of several homes that we KNEW should be empty. These individuals who didn't know who the guys with camo and guns were and were only too happy to be turned over to local NG posts. We also advised the NG who we were, where we lived and where and when we would be operating. Make sure they know what house you are basing from and that free coffee will be available at that home every night. Work with them, not against them. Our patrols ran into their patrols on more than one occassion.
This is also why you stagger out your patrol. We usually ran a 8 person team with one point man, 3 guys on one side of the street (in the yards) 50m back and 3 guys on the other side of the street with one guy 50m to the rear. Better to have your point man go talk to the NG patrol with the other 7 guys with guns remaining unobserved. They NG guys were pretty savy and knew what was going on. When we finally ran into them continuously we discontinued our patrols.
Be prepared to fend for yourself (food, clothing, shelter and security) for a week. In Homestead people were on their own for a month or more. And the only thing worse than losing everything, is losing everything and not having any kind of plan or supplies.
During Wilma I encountered people who didn't even have 3 days worth of supplies.
Expect that within a week or so local stores and businesses will be up under their own power or a generator. That is when things will start getting easier for you. When the rib joint around the corner was up and running it was like Christmas around here.