NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14467407/?GT1=8404


Hopefully people living on the coasts have learned a lesson from Katrina and have a reasonable evacuation or shelter in place plan.

I'm prepared to do either, based on circumstances.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14467407/?GT1=8404


Hopefully people living on the coasts have learned a lesson from Katrina and have a reasonable evacuation or shelter in place plan.

I'm prepared to do either, based on circumstances.And hopefully they have the resources to bring their plans to fruition. (I'm thinking of the people who didn't have the money to buy gas to put into their cars to drive out of the way.)

A hurricane hitting NYC would not be a disaster. :rolleyes: We have the staten island/brooklyn coastal defence system.

The man is a scaremonger. Also, I doubt all of the subways would flood either.

A minor inconvenience perhaps.

And hopefully they have the resources to bring their plans to fruition. (I'm thinking of the people who didn't have the money to buy gas to put into their cars to drive out of the way.)


I agree. I didnt mean simply individuals, but municipalities.

If they have the luxury of two days notice, it would be nice to know they have a plan to utilize every pulic and private means of transportaion to get people out of harms way-city buses and private coaches, school buses, taxis, even mail trucks.
Not only are you getting people to safety, but also public assets.

Gas stations could be re-imbursed for any fuel they give away or sell cheap-I'd rather see it in fuel tanks going out of town than be a total loss, polluting the flood water and eventually everything.

He's upset because all of the predictions for this years superstorms were wrong.

I'll just wait for the crappy made for TV movie on the super-hurricane. It seems more likely.

Disasters happen everywhere. El Paso has been flooded recently. High desert El Paso ... You can't always be ready.

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/elp/swww/v7n1/Elpasoflood.jpg
On the other hand, if I lived in coastal Georgia, I'd have those supplies laid up.

Disasters happen everywhere. El Paso has been flooded recently. High desert El Paso ... You can't always be ready.

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/elp/swww/v7n1/Elpasoflood.jpg
On the other hand, if I lived in coastal Georgia, I'd have those supplies laid up.


Its not a big deal to have enough essentials on hand to carry you and your family comfortably for several days or a week. I have enough of everything for a month for my family of 5 if need be. I also have stuff specifically to share with neighbors, if they need it.

I also have a "grab bag" ready to go, if we had to evacuate, for any reason. Change of clothes for each, bottled water, power bars, hygiene items, cash, gas cards and phone cards, as well as a list of hotel 800 numbers to make reservations on the fly, plus local and state maps.
Neither car ever has less than 1/2 tank of gas and maintenance is always up to date.

I dont want to be the one my family counted on to keep them safe and comfortable and let everyone down.

It takes a relatively small amount of planning and the cooperation of my wife.

Thankfully, the area I just moved to doesnt seem prone to many natural disasters aside from maybe heavy snowfall.

I have, for years, always had supplies and plans.

A few years back, the remnants of a hurricane came through the Northern Virginia area and put out the power in the region for three days.

I was the only person on the block with the ability to cook meals on a regular basis (and not just on the barbecue). We had power, lights, a LARGE amount of stored water, food, and the ability to cook our regular meals at will.

There's a book called Making The Best of Basics
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1882723252/102-5210941-4299341?v=glance&n=283155

which shows you how to prepare, store, and rotate supplies.

You don't have to be a fear-monger to say, "you should prepare". All you have to be is smart.

My neighbors now store as I do, because they found out that something as simple as a wide area power outage for days really reduced their lifestyle to primitive levels.

Its not a big deal to have enough essentials on hand to carry you and your family comfortably for several days or a week. I have enough of everything for a month for my family of 5 if need be. I also have stuff specifically to share with neighbors, if they need it.

I helped a friend move a few years back. He had laid up supplies for the Y2K disaster. I think he could have lived at least a year on what he had in the basement.

When we used to live along the coast, it was automatic to fill all the bathtubs when it looked like a hurricane was going to make landfall in our vicinity. Our pantry is so overfull, we could probably live off it for a couple weeks, anyway.

But your point is that it isn't hard to be prepared and that is a a correct statement.

I have, for years, always had supplies and plans.

A few years back, the remnants of a hurricane came through the Northern Virginia area and put out the power in the region for three days.

I was the only person on the block with the ability to cook meals on a regular basis (and not just on the barbecue). We had power, lights, a LARGE amount of stored water, food, and the ability to cook our regular meals at will.

There's a book called Making The Best of Basics
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1882723252/102-5210941-4299341?v=glance&n=283155

which shows you how to prepare, store, and rotate supplies.

You don't have to be a fear-monger to say, "you should prepare". All you have to be is smart.

My neighbors now store as I do, because they found out that something as simple as a wide area power outage for days really reduced their lifestyle to primitive levels.

I agree- sicne I've had kids, I've always been prepared.

I have the luxury of deciding whats better for us- to move to safer ground or stay here and endure.

I used to live right on the NJ shore where the flooding after heavy rains was a threat, let alone a large hurricane.

Now I'm on high ground in the mountains. My new neighbor told me this area went three days with no power last winter, so I'm shopping for a back-up automatic generator so I can still work from home, the well pump can still pump water and the heat can still circulate. Though I'll have the fireplace, woodstove and kerosene/propane heaters as backup.
Cooking wont be a problem.

And like I said, I also plan to be able to help neighbors if needed, I have a load of items I can spare to help them out too. If the people in your immediate area arent desperate, they are less of a liabiltiy-plus, its the right thing to do.

I have in my house:

Canned and other dried goods for 18 months for my family and up to four other people.

25 55-gallon plastic water storage barrels, all filled and nitrogen-purged.

An extensive array of medical supplies, including supplies for diabetics.

a 75Kw diesel generator, with a week's worth of fuel. I have a battery system that kicks on within a few milliseconds of losing home power - if power is not restored in 20 minutes, the diesel generator starts automatically.

a wide array of propane stoves and lamps

firearms, ammunition, etc.

I have solar power units from Brunton, and a lot of rechargable batteries.

and a lot more

and plans... plans for evacuation (and places to evacuate to, including rally points for relatives and friends).

I have in my house:

Canned and other dried goods for 18 months for my family and up to four other people.

25 55-gallon plastic water storage barrels, all filled and nitrogen-purged.

An extensive array of medical supplies, including supplies for diabetics.

a 75Kw diesel generator, with a week's worth of fuel. I have a battery system that kicks on within a few milliseconds of losing home power - if power is not restored in 20 minutes, the diesel generator starts automatically.

a wide array of propane stoves and lamps

firearms, ammunition, etc.

I have solar power units from Brunton, and a lot of rechargable batteries.

and a lot more

and plans... plans for evacuation (and places to evacuate to, including rally points for relatives and friends).

You are prepared without a doubt.

As far as the generator- I'm leaning more towards a back-up that runs on propane (I have a 500 gallon tank of LP)- you mentioned yours is 75 KW- is that the size I would need to run essentials? I'm not worrying about running a hot-tub or tanning bed- I would want to be able to use lights, computer, fridge and washing machine-Obviously not all at once.
You probably know more about them than me right now and I dont know what size to look for.

I dont think I'm interested in the portable gas or diesel ones as I dont want to do that much maintenance or run extension cords in the winter.

You are prepared without a doubt.

As far as the generator- I'm leaning more towards a back-up that runs on propane (I have a 500 gallon tank of LP)- you mentioned yours is 75 KW- is that the size I would need to run essentials? I'm not worrying about running a hot-tub or tanning bed- I would want to be able to use lights, computer, fridge and washing machine-Obviously not all at once.
You probably know more about them than me right now and I dont know what size to look for.

I dont think I'm interested in the portable gas or diesel ones as I dont want to do that much maintenance or run extension cords in the winter.

My generator is a surplus Air Force 75kw diesel generator. It's really simple to maintain, and very, very easy to start. I've worked my way up in generating capacity (hence the plethora of smaller portable power devices and small generators).

Power, on the other hand, wasn't my main priority. I can live without power if need be. Water is the hardest thing to store enough of. I don't have a well at my home (although each of my alternative sites has a well).

I helped a friend move a few years back. He had laid up supplies for the Y2K disaster. I think he could have lived at least a year on what he had in the basement.

When we used to live along the coast, it was automatic to fill all the bathtubs when it looked like a hurricane was going to make landfall in our vicinity. Our pantry is so overfull, we could probably live off it for a couple weeks, anyway.

But your point is that it isn't hard to be prepared and that is a a correct statement.

Yeah- I dont panic and dwell on disasters-natural or man made. I'm not paranoid, just prepared. And I think its this very reasonable degree of preparedness that prevents panic and desperation.
If there is some major event, I can take a deep breath and weigh my options and decide with a clear head whats best for us.

And part of my purpose for this thread is that- If one person reads this and decides maybe its a good idea to stash a $20.00 bill in their car so they arent caught short and cant buy fuel-even something as minor as that- I'll be glad.

I cant stand to think of the suffering-people broiling on rooftops or in attics, desperate for help or even a sip of fresh water. So much misery could be prevented if a decent # of people took a few steps to prepare for themseleves and their families or just an elderly neighbor.

My generator is a surplus Air Force 75kw diesel generator. It's really simple to maintain, and very, very easy to start. I've worked my way up in generating capacity (hence the plethora of smaller portable power devices and small generators).

Power, on the other hand, wasn't my main priority. I can live without power if need be. Water is the hardest thing to store enough of. I don't have a well at my home (although each of my alternative sites has a well).
I'm wondering how practical a cistern would be for water storage? I think all one would need would be a deep hole that you plastered on all the sides. Then just throw a pump on the top and you're ready to collect water.

A ten by ten by ten foot hole would store almost 7500 gallons.

I can't wait to see this. Nature is really trying to kill us this time. I hope she does her best.

...if shocked, refer to the "do animal lovers hate people?" thread. :p

I'm wondering how practical a cistern would be for water storage? I think all one would need would be a deep hole that you plastered on all the sides. Then just throw a pump on the top and you're ready to collect water.

A ten by ten by ten foot hole would store almost 7500 gallons.

It would probably be worth it, especially if you used the water on a regular basis - the water comes in from the city supply, and you take out water as you use it. A nice reserve.

Pity the wife won't let me dig up the backyard.

My generator is a surplus Air Force 75kw diesel generator. It's really simple to maintain, and very, very easy to start. I've worked my way up in generating capacity (hence the plethora of smaller portable power devices and small generators).

Power, on the other hand, wasn't my main priority. I can live without power if need be. Water is the hardest thing to store enough of. I don't have a well at my home (although each of my alternative sites has a well).


I'm not a mechanic, so a very low maintenance LP backup is looking good to me. I dont want to have to try to fiddle with a motor in the cold or rain.
I can live without power for a while too, but my wife and I both work from home and it would be a huge advantage to us both if we were still able to work, despite some emergency. Or, if we had no power here, but our offices- hers 95 miles and mine 45 miles away were still functioning, I dont want to look bad.
I like to be reliable and have always been the guy every one else says they can count on. So being able to continue to function,even under extreme circumstances is attractive to me.

I'm wondering how practical a cistern would be for water storage? I think all one would need would be a deep hole that you plastered on all the sides. Then just throw a pump on the top and you're ready to collect water.

A ten by ten by ten foot hole would store almost 7500 gallons.


There is a lot on the internet about cisterns. I think it has to be dark and very cold, there has to be some serious consideration given to the source (rainwater?) then chlorination,filtration for potable water. Not as much concern for water to flush a toilet.

If you have the property, its probably worth looking into. I have a slope to my property and would consider putting a cistern uphill from the house to take advantage of gravity.

There is a lot on the internet about cisterns. I think it has to be dark and very cold, there has to be some serious consideration given to the source (rainwater?) then chlorination,filtration for potable water. Not as much concern for water to flush a toilet.

If you have the property, its probably worth looking into. I have a slope to my property and would consider putting a cistern uphill from the house to take advantage of gravity.
I remember going on vacation in Key West one time. The B&B we stayed at had an old cistern that they used to collect rainwater and runoff from the roof. They didn't use it for drinking water, only for gardening and that sort of thing. On the other hand, my grandparents lived in a house with both a well and a cistern. We always got in trouble for dropping things into it from the porch.

The idea appeals to me on two fronts. The first is economy. I can use it to water the plants during one of our dry summers. That concern is mitigated by the pump that I have on my dock that serves the same purpose. If the lake dries out, then I'm more worried about drinking water.

The other concern is drinking water. I have the land to build a cistern, so a small one might just be the thing to occupy my time after I get the new garage finished.

Ehh..

I live in the mountians..

*parks car in garage*

Ehh..

I live in the mountians..

*parks car in garage*


Me too. Flooding has become a distant concern for me, but heavy snow fall & ice could be an issue.

Me too. Flooding has become a distant concern for me, but heavy snow fall & ice could be an issue.
Oh dear lord..

We had a really bad ice storm a year or two ago..

Everything was covered in ice.. the grass.. the windows on our house were frozen shut.. trees fell..

The idiot school didn't give us the day off, sent us home at lunch when they started thinking "how the fuck are we going to get these kids home?!"..

Well I loved that morning, my mother yelling at me as I tried not to fall on the ice covered hills I needed to walk down to get to the bus stop.. "hurry up, you're going to miss the bus".. BLAH!

I hope your kids get to suffer like that.. :p

Heh, no matter what, I'm going to be in the middle of such a storm if it occurs on the east coast. Either A) I'll be surfing, or B) my unit will be activated and I'll be enforcing curfews and rescuing stupid and unlucky people. And probably clearing roads.

Oh dear lord..

We had a really bad ice storm a year or two ago..

Everything was covered in ice.. the grass.. the windows on our house were frozen shut.. trees fell..

The idiot school didn't give us the day off, sent us home at lunch when they started thinking "how the fuck are we going to get these kids home?!"..

Well I loved that morning, my mother yelling at me as I tried not to fall on the ice covered hills I needed to walk down to get to the bus stop.. "hurry up, you're going to miss the bus".. BLAH!

I hope your kids get to suffer like that.. :p

I have to bring them to the bus stop,which is 2 miles away inside our community.

You dont want my kids to suffer. You dont want to meet me.

Heh, no matter what, I'm going to be in the middle of such a storm if it occurs on the east coast. Either A) I'll be surfing, or B) my unit will be activated and I'll be enforcing curfews and rescuing stupid and unlucky people. And probably clearing roads.


Good luck either way.

I have to bring them to the bus stop,which is 2 miles away inside our community.
My.. god..
You dont want my kids to suffer. You dont want to meet me.
You'll be too busy digging the snow off the drive way.. :p

Oh, do they plow the roads you use?

A hurricane hitting NYC would not be a disaster. :rolleyes: We have the staten island/brooklyn coastal defence system.

The man is a scaremonger. Also, I doubt all of the subways would flood either.

A minor inconvenience perhaps.

The city could use the bath anyway.

Great. Just what I need. Somebody telling me that my Miami Beach front property is going to get destroyed.

'Course, that isn't me. I'm too intelligent, and too poor, to do something like that. But this is the unfortunate scenario. As we develop property on the natrual barriers, we're setting up "suicide houses" and opening a gateway of death for those more inland. The natural currents of the ocean, the wave action, and even the storms themselves have created a cycle of construction and flattening, one that protects the mainland from the full force of the storms. The Lower Mississippi, south of New Orleans, has been deteriorating for far too long. It would have decreased the impact on the Big Easy (Long Shot these days) considerably.

And of course, Mr. Gore capitalized on this, but I see no reason not to do so as well: Global Warming. That has increased the capacity for the storms to grow in size and strength. Storms get bigger, faster, and stronger more easily than in the past. How much is attributable to humans is debatable, but we do have an impact.

These factors, our development, CO2 emissions, and natural climate change, basically assure that the coastal and low lying regions of America are basically screwed next time a big storm hits. Unfortunately, that includes me. Y'all will see me on the news, as that crazy guy that builds a hang-glider and lets the storm carry me away from it. :D

My.. god..

You'll be too busy digging the snow off the drive way.. :p

Oh, do they plow the roads you use?

I already hooked up with my neighbor, who has a plow on his truck,so my shoveling will be kept to a minimum. I can put the cars on a level spot on the front lawn, off the road when it starts snowing. He can then plow the driveway the right way.

Yes- plowing is included with our membership, as is garbage pick up. They brag that our community is well cleaned before the county roads, which I guess I'll find out.

I already hooked up with my neighbor, who has a plow on his truck,so my shoveling will be kept to a minimum. I can put the cars on a level spot on the front lawn, off the road when it starts snowing. He can then plow the driveway the right way.
Then I'm screwed!

We have a plow thing for out riding mower, so.. well.. I have no point.
Yes- plowing is included with our membership, as is garbage pick up. They brag that our community is well cleaned before the county roads, which I guess I'll find out.
I think you're safe.

The plows clean roads by importance, so you'd be stuck in your house for a while (I think...).

Then I'm screwed!

We have a plow thing for out riding mower, so.. well.. I have no point.

I think you're safe.

The plows clean roads by importance, so you'd be stuck in your house for a while (I think...).


I work from a home office, so I have no where I hafta be.

I work from a home office, so I have no where I hafta be.
Think about the children!
Lucky bastard!

Yeah, an expert said there is a megadisaster coming. WOW!!! as if jim bob who lives in a box in NYC couldnt have predicted that one.

I have, for years, always had supplies and plans.

A few years back, the remnants of a hurricane came through the Northern Virginia area and put out the power in the region for three days.

I was the only person on the block with the ability to cook meals on a regular basis (and not just on the barbecue). We had power, lights, a LARGE amount of stored water, food, and the ability to cook our regular meals at will.

There's a book called Making The Best of Basics
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1882723252/102-5210941-4299341?v=glance&n=283155

which shows you how to prepare, store, and rotate supplies.

You don't have to be a fear-monger to say, "you should prepare". All you have to be is smart.

My neighbors now store as I do, because they found out that something as simple as a wide area power outage for days really reduced their lifestyle to primitive levels.

That post made me remeber Hurricane Isabel. We went thorugh 9 days without power, just generators and stored-up water. No hot showers or anything else, jus that. It sucked. :mad: