What I learned from Hurricane Charley
- From: "Stormin Mormon" <cayoung61-#spamblock*-@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2005 13:44:20 GMT
Subject: [PrepJr] What I learned from Charley (LONG post)
Date: Sunday, August 15, 2004 7:15 AM
:::emerging from lurk mode, waving from the east central coast of Florida:::
Good morning, preppers. Charley was a small lesson learned for my husband
and me. I've been thinking about the extent of that lesson and want to
encapsulate my thoughts and share our successes/small problems with the
group.
When I was in school as a kid, I hated getting things wrong, because I
always
wanted to get 100% on my tests. As an adult, I've come to the realization
that I learn more from the things that I get wrong, than from the things
that I
get right. (This is a consoling thought, since I rarely get anything 100%
right, anymore!!!)
Since we never lost power, I'm not sure about the level of our food and
emergency cooking preps; but since we have enough *stuff*: charcoal, canned
goods,
48+ gallons of emergency water, I think that part of my prep was okay.
(plus
1 point for Margaret)
Since emergency shelter in the county in which I work (and to which I must
respond if called) was NOT opened, I didn't need to grab the 72-hour kit
which
still isn't completely filled. (minus 1/2 point for not being completely
ready)
When we initially really started watching Charley, the track on the
hurricane
put it up the west coast of Florida (over Kris and Tampa) as a Cat II
hurricane. When suddenly on Friday afternoon, it started to make a right
turn and
make landfall earlier and it's size had increased first to Cat III, then to
Cat
IV and suddenly a due east track put the eye over us.......my husband and I
decided that maybe we should leave work on Friday PM and go home and put up
the
storm shutters on the windows on the house. (plus 1/2 point for watching
and
being prepared for changes in plans)
In the late spring we had pulled out our battery operated drill and used it
to loosen some of the screws which hold up the storm shutters on the windows
on
the outside of our house. The drill worked great, loosening the screws;
okay, we thought: no worries there. I insisted that we go to Lowe's and
purchase
work gloves to handle the aluminum panels that are the storm shutters, so
that
we could safely handle the panels without injury to our hands. We already
owned both a wooden ladder and a good kitchen step stool so we knew that we
would be able to reach up high enough to get the panels into place. (plus 1
point
for being prepared with a plan)
However......thinking one is prepared versus actually following through on
the plan is a different animal altogether.
On Friday PM I left work at 2:30pm. I work about 1/2 hour away from the
house. On my way home Ken called to say that he was waiting on one page
(he's the
opinion page editor at our newspaper and he has to *proof* the pages before
he can leave). I said, no problem, I'll start taking out the screws for the
panels, which I did. By the time he did get home, I had the screws removed
on
about half the windows on the house. We started putting up the panels and
noted a discrepancy between the instructions which came with the panels,
versus
what we had been told by the representative of the home builder, from whom
we
bought this new house. (minus 1/2 point 'cause we didn't read the
instructions
when we did our spring trial and minus another 1/2 point 'cause in the
spring
we didn't actually put up a panel)
As we got to the back of the house where I had stopped loosening the screws,
when Ken got home, we found that the battery operated drill no longer had
the
juice to loosen the very tightly cinched screws. So we put the drill back
on
the charger and continued to put up panels on the windows where the screws
were loose. After a half-hour charge the drill was able to loosen 1 (count
it:
ONE) more screw before it bit the dust again. By this time the wind and
rain
had started and the hour was now about 6 pm. We were tired, hungry and
without
the physical ability to put up panels on the last 4 windows. So we stopped,
ate, gave the battery an hour's charge and in the end got 2 of those last 4
windows covered. (minus 1 point for not getting the job done)
I think my point count is in the negative now!!! But as it turns out, the
storm did track more northerly towards Orlando and we got minimal wind and
rain.
(We've had more rain from a passing T-storm than we got from Charley.)
There was no damage to our property; none in the neighborhood and we never
lost
power.
What did I learn? I need an electric drill which I can safely plug in and
use to my little heart's content. Had my husband been called out to help
with
other members of our ward or had he had to leave me to go to the chapel (all
members of the bishopric are supposed to help staff the chapel as an
emergency
shelter), we would have been in deep trouble. Had I been called back to the
special needs shelter in the county where I work, we would have been in deep
trouble.
In summary we are much as we were on Thursday: safe, healthy, in generally
good spirits. (Thanks be to God for the sealing power of the temple, which
keeps couples from strangling each other during the stress of the panel
hanging
process.) We were tried, found wanting, but with a opportunity to become a
little bit more prepared before Danielle or Earl or any of Charley's other
relatives arrive on our doorstep.
I apologize for the length of this post. I hope that others may learn from
my mistakes (and from what I did do right, what little that was!!!) I am so
grateful to all of you for what I have learned in the past, which has helped
me
to have the level of prep that I already do. I'm grateful to hear that Kris
made it through okay; you were in my thoughts.
Margaret Ward
Vero Beach
MM to Elder Ryan Ward, Florida, Ft. Lauderdale, 10/14/04 (but who's
counting?!?)
:::returning to lurk mode with a list of needed preps in hand:::
Hey Margaret...
Under the circumstances, I think you did quite well and your post merely
jogs my memory in terms of reminding folks about a couple of things that
you obviously discovered for yourself.
Power Tools:
(a) Use what you have that works off of the "old fashioned grid" for as
long as that is possible ... a 100 foot cord and a conventional power tool
will do what you need to do as long as power is available to do it with.
(b) When you select a cordless, battery powered tool, make sure it comes
with a spare battery.
(c) When the power goes off, grab up the battery powered tool and finish
off whatever you were not able to complete with the conventional tool.
Theoretically, you may even have the spare battery left over for other
contingencies.
(d) When you buy a generator, make sure it has enough 110V outlets to
enable you to recharge battery powered tools while you are running your
fridge and microwave and freezer off the other outlets.
(e) After you have purchased the biggest generator you can afford to run
your household, consider (1) getting an even bigger one and using the one
you have to run power tools in order to make repairs (2) getting a smaller
one to use exclusively to run power tools in order to make repairs.
Food:
When disaster approaches, you should already be stocked up with your actual
years supply and other emergency foods ... perhaps some of those freeze
dried foods or MRE's in your bug out bags ... but consider buying a small
supply of non perishble foods to be consumed DURING AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER a
disaster. Things that need absolutely no preparation what so ever. This
will cut you some slack while you get yourself collected and thinking about
what you need to do next.
Could be its more important to start using perishable things in your home
than any of the emergency or year's supply ... depends on how you are set up
to cope with the loss of power.
Evacuation:
Don't wait to be told ... if you do you will be leaving an area wherein
everyone else has waited to be told to leave is now leaving in one large,
slow and vulnerable group.
(The last evacuation we experienced, the hurricane was bearing down on us at
a forward speed of 15 miles per hour ... traffic was moving at 5 miles per
hour ... do the math ! )
Those who leave early will have no trouble traveling, finding gasoline,
food, and shelter along the way... those that leave late will find nothing
but a long, slow, dangerous road all the way to their destination.
With regards to the "danger" part, note that hurricanes often spawn tornados
and vicious winds miles and miles inland from where the center of the
hurricane actually is... being out in this kind of weather on the road is
courting disaster ... LEAVE EARLY... better to be thought a fool for doing
so and have nothing happen, than to be a fool when you are caught out on the
road with your options disappearing in front of your eyes with every painful
foot you progress forward.
Depending on Others.
Remember that these "hurricane tracking abilities" of NOAH and others are
based on COMPUTER MODELS that say "if this does that, then something else is
MOST LIKELY to do either this or that"
Storm tracking is NOT yet an exact science ... so if anything is even headed
in your general direction, its time for COMMON SENSE to take over and you
can either leave the area or find the best possible shelter ...
Best Possible Shelter.
Home is not - Home is a place where you can survive in your hallway or
closet or bath tub while undergoing a period of sheer terror. If you make
it, they will call you a "survivor" on TV ... privately, you will call
youself one stupid but lucky fool.
Local Shelters - are the "best available" commercial buildings that have
been judged by engineers to be offer the best protection against storms.
Note that few of them were ever designed as storm shelters. Also note that
many of the ones where people have sheltered have sustained severe damage
where you are lucky to crawl out from under the building from a relatively
"safe area" within.
Best Possible Shelter: Lies either deep underground above a rising water
table, or completely out of the danger area. Anything else involves an
element of risk ... survivors do not take risks...they take precautions in
order to avoid risks.
The best place to be is always where the disaster isn't ... some of us are
fortunate to have relatives in other towns or states ... keep on good terms
with them
Papa
======================
These lessons may not translate to all emergencies but some of you
may be able to glean a nugget or two.We had been told the storm would
hit the Tampa area,but at literaly the last moment it turned and
headed straight for us.We would up with about 3 hours notice!
As soon as ANY possible threat is broadcastor or preferably at the
start of hurricane/tornado/blizzard/ice storm season:
1)Gas up all cars,gas cans,genset,anything to hold fuel!!!
it helps tremendously if you have a safe,easy way to get fuel from
your cars gas tank into a canister without siphoning by mouth.
2)Test genset under load before storm hits.Make sure you have all the
extension cords and special twist-lock plugs to connect various
appliances.A transfer switch previously wired into your houses load
center is even better.Northern Tool and Equiptment has several.Always
buy the biggest and highest quality generator you can possibly
afford,remember,you get what you pay for!
3)Get water jugs filled with fresh water.Trash cans with trash bags
in them will hold a lot of water for bathing and the animals.
4)Do all your laundry while you have city water and electric.
5)Run your water softener thru a re-generation cycle.
6)Get a new chain for your chainsaw.Then get another one,plus have
plenty of two cycle oil and bar and chain oil.
7)Get everything inside.Everything! We saw pictures of a 16,000 pound
RV blown over and pushed over 60 feet on it's side.And make sure your
neighbors bring in all their crap also!
8)Keep all trees trimmed way back and the tall ones way away from
your house.
9)Get all propane tanks filled.
10)Get lots of cash out of the bank.Small denominations.
11)Plenty of pet food.
12)use a label maker to label all your appliances with the watts
consumed in an easy to read place.Almost everything is labeled but
not always in a easy to find place.You don't need to be standing on
your head in the dark trying to read a nameplate on the back side of
the fridge!!!
These items are crucial!!!! you won't have time to do this later,and
after the storm,the lines to get gas,ice,water and such stretch for
miles.
Things you'll wish you had,or had more of:
*Bug Spray and fly swatters
*LED Flashlights(incandescent bulbs burn up batteries too fast)
*Battery lanterns(area lights)
*Short extension cords and three way plugs
*large coolers(the cheap foam ones will work fine)
*rabbit ears for the TV(cable goes out)
*small window mount a/c
*wide brimmed hats
*table fans
*Plastic cutlery and paper plates and cups
*lots of tarps-all sizes.
*a very small microwave,the smallest(lowest wattage) one you can
find,and a George Forman grill or electric griddle.These can run off
an inverter connected to your car battery.
*disposable cameras(for insurance documentation)
*several pairs of sturdy,waterproof work boots and gloves for
everyone.
*large spool of cheap 1/4" or 3/16" cord
*lots of gas cans
*at least 25' heavy chain with hooks and shackels(for dragging debris
away)
*a small color TV (my 13" only uses 54 watts) with rabbit ears.
*12vdc to 120vac battery inverter to hook up to the car and used to
run small appliances.At least 1000 watts.(keep car idling when in use)
*A two or three burner propane cook set.Your turkey fryer burner will
also work,but makes a big flame,good for boiling drinking water,not
ideal for cooking.
*Big coffee filters.Will strain the crud out of anything!
*Big honkin' gun safe to store your guns.In hot weather you'll want
to leave your windows open while you go stand in line to get ice.
Remember,always buy the highest quality items you can afford.You get
what you pay for and you'll be glad you spent the extra dollars later.
Good Luck!
Dave
=======================================
Immediately after the hurricane,my wife developed the annoying habit
of volunteering our supplies or my tools and my labor to virtual
strangers.Since we initially had no idea how long we would be
incapacitated,we had to sit down and have a little "come to Jesus
meeting".
I had to explain to her that I was 43 years old now,I wasn't 20
anymore.My energy and strength has it limits.Our supplies and
infrastructure(tools and equiptment) also have their limits and we
have to protect these as well.
I realize that helping out your neighbors in time of dire need is
the christian thing to do,but we also have ourselves and our family
to provide for.We live in a moderately affulent neighborhood and
everyone living here has the financial resources to make preparations
of their own.If these people choose to spend all their money on
luxuries then how can they expect me to bail them out WTSHTF???
The guy down the street can borrow my chainsaw to cut downed trees
away from his front door and driveway,but he can't use it to cut up
the branches to pile at the curb.He can hook up to my generator to
power his fridge and some fans,but not to run his pool pump and big
screen TV.
I hope I'm getting my point across without sounding too harsh.I'm
not physically capable of fixing everyone's roof when my own needs
work too.I can't save the world,but I can save my family.
Even the old people next door who eat out at fancy restaurants 7
days a week have no right to knock on my door asking to borrow food
because they have none in their house and are too lazy to go stand in
line.
I have helped many many friends and neighbors over the last
week,but their comes a time when you ask yourself why should I help
this person when he won't even keep his dog from crapping in my yard?
Or why should I cut this guys tree up when he won't even cut his own
grass?
Believe me,all these people are the type that,a month from now
won't even say hello to me at the grocery store.
I don't really want this to come down to a "what can you do for
me" type thing,but my southern upbringing to help people is in
constant conflict with their northern mentality of "it's all about me
and what I want"
Eventually,my wife and I came to the conclusion to consider
every "need" on a case by case basis, to start banking favors and to
make sure that everyone understands that; to borrow a line from a
gangster movie: "you can not deny me when I come to you for something"
This may sound crass or harsh,but I've spent literally my entire
adult life(including 8 years in the Coast Guard) helping other people
and have only on rare occasions even gotten a "thank you" in return
and frankly I'm tired of it.
The South ain't what it used to be,
Dave
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