TEOTWAWKI !!!!

[TwinOaks]

Howdy from the 'Bama coast. I was just wondering what all our Gulf Coast members are doing to prepare for our suddenly active hurricane season. I keep a somewhat stocked pantry anyway, so I'm not really sweating it, but I did have to do regular shopping yesterday. When I went in Wally World, I thought the place had been hit by a tornado! There were whole aisles completely stripped of their merchandise- things like water, canned meats, canned veggies, common sense......Meanwhile, it took me a little over two hours to get a few things on the weekly list. For the first time in my life, I actually encouraged the kids to scream, cry and run amok. I heard on the news that 'emergencies' are being declared in most if not all the coastal states, and EMA folks are setting up shop already. I can understand that after Katrina, everyone wants to be prepared, but I think they've gone a little punch drunk. Then again, it IS an election year, and appearances must be maintained.

So far, I've fueled up two vehicles, checked the batteries, made sure the generator still runs, and bought some material to make a transfer switch for a well pump. So, if any of y'all are around Mobile and need some water, lemme know 'cause I'm on a well and I can make it work. This also applies to folks in southeast MS. presuming you can get over here. Just bring a little gas with you for the generator, because the lines here are ridiculously long.

Y'all have a great Labor Day,

Mike

Edited August 30, 2008 by TwinOaks

[Wolfsax]

I'm about three hours from the coast (in the Jackson, MS area), but right now I'm just waiting to see if my Gulf Coast relatives come up or not (they're in Bay St. Louis). Fortuently we did most of our emergency prep shopping a few days ago (well, more like mom sending me out to go do it). I also bought gas that day (good thing too, I paid $3.36/gal, Dad bought it today at $3.60+/gal when he went to fill up the lawn mower). Got water, paper plates, filled up a propane tank, all that good stuff. Spent the morning trying to clean out the garage to prepare for aunt/uncles' pack of big dogs to be housed in there.

Now it's a matter of sit and wait and clean. And keep The Weather Channel on. I'll start worrying big time when the send Jim Cantore out.

[TwinOaks]

Last I heard they sent Mr. Hurricane magnet to Shreveport. I think that he might be in danger of locals shooting at him.

[Crystal]

We don't have to worry about hurricanes here, thank goodness. I don't know how you all deal with that kind of situation on a yearly basis.

The hubby and I were on vacation in FL in '99 when they evac'd the Miami area for hurrican Floyd. We were in Ft Myers. Seemed like everyone came west. I went "hurricane" shopping at the local Publix and had a hard time trying to figure out what to buy. Here in PA we occasionally get some blizzards and ice storms. We don't have to worry about keeping anything COLD. Just put it outside in the snow. Made for an interesting grocery run. (Of course, a weather call here for some snow and the stores are all picked clean of all the bread and milk.) We drove home to PA and were in the empty lanes of I-95. Looked like bumper to bumper in the south bound lanes clear to Charlotte. I can't imagine having to evacuate from my home.

I wish everyone along the coast the best of luck. You all will be in our prayers.

One of the things I was trying to figure out at the Publix was - if you have no power and no way to heat or cool anything - what is the best soup to buy? Couldn't decide so bought PB and J, crackers, bread and water, a flashlight and batteries. Just call me "rookie".

Crystal

[TwinOaks]

Which soup indeed...

Down here, you really become part of the community during a hurricane. When Ivan hit, there were several communities cut off by debris on the road. So what do you do when you have a bunch of people, lots of frozen food, and a limited supply of gas for the generators? You have one massive block party. As people ran low on fuel, they'd thaw everyting they had and send the remaining fuel down the street to keep that food frozen. As the 'freeze line' retreated, you'd have a family's entire freezer worth of food out on the grill. Everyone pitched in, everyone ate. They kept this up for nearly two weeks before the clean up crews could section and remove the massive trees that caused the blockade.

Some of the better foods to keep on hand are grains, like rice, and dry beans. They keep forever if stored properly, and can be 'cooked' by just adding water. It isn't as good as some things, but lots of people live on rice and beans. Since I'm out in the county, there's no problem with outdoor cooking. And if it gets really bad, the neighbors won't complain at all about shotguns going off at night. They'll just expect a little portion of the deer. I stated before that I'm on a well, but I've also stocked up a bunch of 2 liter bottles.

Instead of me typing a short book here, I'll just refer interested parties to check out M4040 (dot)com. The guy's got a pretty realistic outlook on things, and a common sense approach to solving problems.

[Wolfsax]

Last I heard they sent Mr. Hurricane magnet to Shreveport. I think that he might be in danger of locals shooting at him.

Hehe. I know when he was in Biloxi, everyone was like "Jim, we love ya, but could you go somewhere else."

Seriously, if you want to know where it's going to hit and get bad, find Jim.

[tonyc1]

Hehe. I know when he was in Biloxi, everyone was like "Jim, we love ya, but could you go somewhere else."

Seriously, if you want to know where it's going to hit and get bad, find Jim.

Fortunately, we never experience hurricanes or tornadoes down here. I am wondering what precautions you can take or do take with large livestock like horses in these areas?

Tony.

[carr52]

I know what its like. I live in South Carolina We've been hit hard a few times , I too have a generator and am on a well. I was with the National Guard and let me tell you those things (Huricanes) can really make a mess of things. Ya'll be careful out there.

Tom

[Denise]

Give me -40 and a blizzard over a hurricane any day. At least I know how to handle those! Take care.

[TwinOaks]

Fortunately, we never experience hurricanes or tornadoes down here. I am wondering what precautions you can take or do take with large livestock like horses in these areas?

Tony.

Funny (not) you should ask. My wife and her best friend are in the process of starting a riding/training/breeding/boarding stable. The facility is a 40 stall barn, with various arenas, and lots of pasture land. Last weekend I was up there helping prep for a tropical storm, tomorrow, I'll be there doing my electrician thing and installing a x-fer switch to hook my generator up to the well. The whole place is primarily steel construction, but if things look REALLY bad, we have an evac plan for the show horses. Other than that? Well, my wife's friend has run through a lot of diesel fuel going and getting horses that will be boarded for the duration of the storm. Her husband's a welder and has been doing little discreet things like welding the previously bolted connections to awnings and such. After that? Your guess, my friend, your guess. By tomorrow PM, the stable will be able to operate for about a week, completely independent of city power, the feed and hay is secured as well as we can, lockdowns will be installed, and security arangements will be finalized ( Security? For horses worth 6 figures before the decimal...you betcha. ).

There's only so much you can prepare for, and if the situation gets worse than that, you improvise.

Cattle owners have notified of a post hurricane barbeque for this side of the county....

[TwinOaks]

Well, here it is Monday morning, about 0530, and we're fairing quite well. Unless we get a twister through here, it looks like it'll be business as usual.

Offer still stands for folk passing through.

[tonyc1]

Well, here it is Monday morning, about 0530, and we're fairing quite well. Unless we get a twister through here, it looks like it'll be business as usual.

Offer still stands for folk passing through.

That's good news for you then.News footage we are seeing is pretty wild! My wife would like to know what sort of horses your wife trains? Mine is a keen horsewoman and my daughter.

Tony.

[TwinOaks]

My wife is training several types, primarily Arabians. However, since she is still working on her Pro card, everything is done under apprenticeship to her friend (who does have a Pro card). They train for all the standard events,-English pleasure, Western pleasure, dressage, hunter/jumper, etc... and have several horses on site that are titled. The biggest thing is that my wife's horse Khleopatra's Gold, and her full brother Tekhela Gold, are direct decendants of Khemosabe, and have his color and markings.