Hurricane Doom. . . . I mean Florence

originally posted by: howtonhawky

Think about all the people in nursing homes people that will be effected.

No class

You do understand that many people on this forum, are first responders. Many here are trades-people, law-enforcement, medical professionals, goodwill type groups, and ex-military that have, and will continue to help disaster areas out.

Although many joke, they are first on the scene when it really matters.

Most were already buckled-up, the jokes are just to pass time, until they are needed. I've worked disaster areas before, and although professionalism and decorum are needed, we also need to keep our sense of humor.

As long as there is no loss of life, things can be replaced.

I get what you all are saying.

I am just saying that perhaps the jokes forum would be a more appropriate place for jokes in every post.

Some people expect to have a more serious discussion in the face of danger and perhaps some tips on how not to die during a hurricane could help.

As far as first responders let us just hope they can reach the area and are not cut off by flooding or downed trees.

From what i remember the first thing to go is the communication and the roads.

Did they even evacuate the nursing homes?

It is kinda a big deal cause moving then always comes with great stress and loss of life when you wait until after the storm.

Is there a large presence of military in the area that will be hit?

How are the procurement procedures going for the folks there?

Are the stores still stocked with provisions.

Will there be tornadoes with this one?

What type of trees cover the landscape there? Are the right of ways cleared in a manner that will cut down on road closures due to fallen trees?

How is the ground saturation at this time? Is the moisture levels such that allows the trees to be blown over easily?

So many questions gone unanswered in the fragile earth joke forum this round.

Ok so i woke up on the wrong side of bed this morning. Is there a fix for that?

How many people are prepared to survive for at least two weeks after this storm hits?

Sure it may not do damage but it is adding up to being a big event and just last year we seen what happens when people are unprepared.

Is it just me or does the alarm bells being sounded over this one seem... a bit off from the past.

Things could still change between now and land fall, yet they are already acting like they know for a fact it will be a Cat 5 on landing and are hitting the panic button on it.

I mean odds are a strong hurricane will make landfall in the Carolinas, but its still a question mark till it does. So sure buy extra water, make certain you have the ability to make food, and if you are in a flood prone area get out ahead of the rush.

But the panic I have seen doesn't seem to fit the situation at this moment, or maybe I am jaded having grown up in hurricane alley.

originally posted by: howtonhawky


Ok so i woke up on the wrong side of bed this morning. Is there a fix for that?

Yes 2 more cups of coffee.

And start an Hurricane Florence preparedness thread, suggestions for before during and after. And tell Augustus, and DBCowboy they'll get time-out's, if they make jokes.

Wait on the other-hand they like time-out's and punishment, so scratch that idea.

P.S. Here is a starter link for you, or some ideas. Also invite others opinions, wisdom and experience on your thread.

www.directenergy.com...

Good-luck!

originally posted by: Irishhaf
Is it just me or does the alarm bells being sounded over this one seem... a bit off from the past.

It's not you.

Most people's spidey-senses are in high gear.

This one is going to be bad, no matter how it makes land-fall.

The flooding will not be as big an issue, as all the tornado's that are produce by Florence.

a reply to: Realtruth

It's funny you say that. I said something similar yesterday. I live in Baltimore, and I have a feeling this thing is going to shift north and put us in a mess of trouble. Just a weird "gut" instinct.

originally posted by: howtonhawky
Why is this not in the jokes forum.

120mph winds 30+ inches of rain and it is all funny.

Think about all the people in nursing homes people that will be effected.

No class

seriously this is much better than the doom and gloom of the normal doom porn and hysteria from such storms. damage will be done. people will get hurt and some might die. and yet when you think seriously about it, a hurricane or typhoon for all of it's power can actually be prepared for. unlike almost every other type of natural disaster, with a hurricane or typhoon there is plenty of warning. earthquakes and tornadoes you get very little if any warning, they just hit. same with volcanic eruptions, although they are getting to the point of having some early warning that it might happen, and thus can prepare and evacuate. yet with the typhoon bearing down on the Philippines, expected to hit on Saturday, and likely be a super typhoon. just like there has been almost a weeks warning about the hurricane heading towards the east coast. there is a lot of time to prepare and evacuate. in fact you might have even noticed that people who have been through such storms are rather calm about it. and why not make jokes about something that you have no real control over, yet can prepare for?

you can prepare your home to lesson the damage. things like covering the windows. removing things from possible flooding to where it is better protected. cut down bad limbs and old trees likely to cause damage. and trees are one of the most destructive aspects of such storms. almost all the most serious damage from the last typhoon in my area was due to trees. and interestingly enough mostly trees that are not actually native to the area. trees that unlike things like banana (yes i know it's not technically a "tree", but for size and shape it might as well be one), palm trees, bamboo, ect. do not easily stand up to strong winds. where those trees can bend and sway to a phenomenal degree, other trees break and fall over and in doing so do most of the damage. you can make sure your roof and gutters are in good shape. another cause of damage being leaking roofs and loose roofs that can get ripped off in the wind. there are even ways to protect homes and businesses from the worst of the flooding. and of course not only is there plenty of time to prepare, there is also plenty of time to leave the areas of likely flooding and storm surge. you can also ensure that you have food and water available, and ways to cook it. you can easily prepare to be without power, by setting yourself up with a generator and fuel. or just ensuring you have things like coolers and ice to keep fresh foods cool for a couple days, so you can eat them. i have even heard of people storing medication such as insulin that need to be kept refrigerated in toilet tanks, where the water there keeps them cool enough.

and even things like nursing homes and hospitals should be no problem. they should be set up for things such as this pretty much every day. with things like generators to keep needed power going. and food/water stocks, just as a matter of course. and with all the warning they can easily move people off of ground floors and such where there is a possibility of flooding. and again can even prepare such buildings to limit any issues flooding might cause. both by moving at risk things, as well as using things to stop the worst of the flooding from even entering the buildings. and for things like staff abandoning their positions, they need to be criminally charged a prosecuted for doing so.

Some of these forecasts are getting quite ominous...

Dangerous Category 4 Hurricane Florence likely to stall and pound Carolinas, Virginia for days


www.accuweather.com...

Hope they're wrong here.

a reply to: ausername


Really bad storms are good for ratings and clicks.

People were beating the danger drum for this one before it hit Cat 1, years ago you would hardly get a mention until it was at least a Cat 2 that was still strengthening. (in Florida at least)

I remember working at a theme park during cat 1 and 2 hurricanes, its Tuesday the leading winds are not projected to hit till Thursday morning (last I checked) and folks are acting like its mins from landfall.

If people are going to evacuate earlier is better than late no doubt.

Well it is a bit late for attempts to stock up for an emergency since people have reported in this thread that shelves are empty of critical supplies.

Does anyone have any good suggestions as to how to prepare when the stores are out of stock?

The only thing i have come up with so far is homemade water filters.

I say get out if you can but even then many peeps do not have funds to survive a couple weeks out of place and as we have seen in the past often these events become life changing and many people simply never come back from their retreat.

I remember when i went through it i was able to get a case of girl scout cookies and that was a highlight.

Well they have issued a mandatory evacuation for my area. I mentioned that the river is 800 feet away and it has never reached my house. When I closed on this house back in 1991 they told me that my house was on the highest point in my city. I have an underground basement where 99% of the houses around here do not have. But I have had floods in that basement over the years. Not from the river but from heavy rain and its been raining heavy here for days. Today is the first sunny day we've had since last Friday. There is no water down there yet but the ground is saturated and it will seep in.
We have a pump but if the power goes out we won't be able to use it.
Now I'm wishing the storm out to sea. This is the first time in 28 years living here and I dont know how many hurricanes that they are issuing an evacuation of any kind.

a reply to: Sillyolme

Get out of there if you can silly! Better safe than sorry, I don't think this is one anyone would want to ride out if you're in a mandatory evacuation area.

Be safe, good luck. Hopefully it isn't as bad as they're predicting.

a reply to: wasobservingquietly

Pine trees? I'm surprised. I had four ancient pines removed two years ago. I kept wishing that a storm would take them down but no luck. I had to pay a grand each to get them removed.
Pines have deep tap roots. I watched them sway fifteen degrees and not fall over or break during storms.
I am expecting that there will be a lot of upended deciduous trees. They are all still full of leaves and the ground is already soaked. Broken trees can indicate a tornado.

a reply to: ausername
❤
Thank you for your concern.

I am staying. My house is over 100 years old. The beams are twelve inch by twelve inch mahogany. I just put a new roof on in 16. I think we will be okay. I have a cat and a bird and no nearby relatives. My closest sister lives in the bulls eye of this storm on the southern north Carolina coast between cape fear and Myrtle beach. So I cant go there. If you guys dont hear from me for a while the power is probably out or a big wave has carried me out to sea.
I will post for as long as I have power and internet service.

originally posted by: howtonhawky

Does anyone have any good suggestions as to how to prepare when the stores are out of stock?

You won't need supplies if you are able to help out, after the storm. You'll actually get taken care of by volunteers, and the supplies coming in as relief.

First responders, are the ones they keep rolling, in chaotic times because they are such a vital part in keeping things stable, and reporting issues that need to be taken care of first.

People don't need to have skills, just need to be able to donate their time.

Something to consider Brunswick nuclear plant is on the coast, right in the projected path of this storm.

Hopefully they're prepared.

Yikes

a reply to: Realtruth

We drove for twenty miles after Isabel just looking for ice. No one was delivering to the area because there was no power from North Carolina to Maryland. I got my power back on pretty fast because I live on a main road where the fire dept. is. They restore my street first every time we lose power.
I made ice for other people after I got my power restored.

a reply to: Realtruth

lol

lol

lol

Pretty please save me uncle sam!

Well that is if the supplies arrive before the storm.

In past storms people were on their own for long amounts of time.

What was the excuse for the territory we own called Porto Rico?

I have seen a bit in my day and fema is not to be counted on for survival.

What happens when the damage moves hours inland?

Often first responders sitting around laughing in the face of danger get caught with their pants down.

Should we even mention katrina in this discussion?

Just when you think you are prepared ma nature throws the world an unexpected curve then we hear "we had no way to know the extent of the damage that would occur".

That's right still no coveffe.

a reply to: ausername

Turkey Point survived Andrew in Homestead Florida. They build those things like bunkers lol.