Hurricane Rita

[gellor]

Just wanted to say, wish us luck. We're sticking it out in Houston during the hurricane. Since its now slated to go slightly east of here and we're not in any of the evac or flood areas, we shouldn't be getting the worst of it.

The roads are backed up that a 30 minute drive north of here is now about 6-8 hours, and my truck wouldn't make it anywhere near out of the threat area before running out of gas. There people on the freeway getting out of their cars and walking their dogs without needing to pull out of traffic.

Besides, I finally got a HDTV...I gotta protect it!

Just as an amusing POV on living in a hurricane target, going to the grocery store is an odd thing. No water, no bread, no peanut butter, no breakfast bars. People were coming out of the aisle after failing to get water and heading straight for the beer aisle. (including us)

 

[gene]

Good luck to you and all who will be affected by this hurricane. Unfortunately this may not be the last CAT 5 hurricane we will be facing. These type of hurricanes will likely be more commonplace in the future as ocean temps rise due to global warming.

 

[gellor]

Yup...although they're saying it could drop to category 3 by landfall.

Oh, here's a pic (more local POV) of traffic on the freeways headed out. (from the Houston Chronicle)

 

[majorloser]

GOOD LUCK!!!!!

The easiest thing to do is cover things with lawn and garden garbage bags. That way if you get a leak, the items won't get dripped on. Also, unplug the electronics. You won't need them without power anyway.

You'll be OK!!! As a native Floridian that's had my share of hurricanes, just sit back, secure your family and stay safe. There's nothing more to do now if you're staying. Material things are replaceable.

Piece of advice: Get all of your important papers together in a safe place and ready. If you have one of those 30 gallon large plastic containers or even a clean garbage can, they work well. You never know if you have to grab your stuff and leave. Your house may be OK after the storm but with no power, water, food or drink you may want to leave after the storm. Oh, and keep your wallet handy. ID and credit cards are always handy if you need to leave FAST. Granted, you may have to trade everything you own for gas.

 

[gellor]

Thanks for the advice, majorloser. I got cash yesterday (impossible to get today) and we have some good food supplies. We're filling the ice chests up with water tonight and duct taping them shut. IF we get power back afterwards, water isn't a concern due to the water softener and RO filtration system.

Good advice on the 30 gallon tubs. I think I'll pack the camping tent and sleeping bags in the truck (inside the garage) and keep a tub of everything "near and dear" in the master bedroom closet with us should we need to run.

Now, just hoping the dogs won't flip out too much.

 

[Bryguy]

Hey Gellor,

Good luck, I hope everything works out the way you want it to. My corp headquarters is in Houston and they've already shut down and evacuated.

If you're looking for supplies and food try a good outdoor or camping store. There, you can probably get a few self heating MRE and other dried meal pouches. You can also get water purifiers, water purifying tablets and portable stoves and fuel. If I was a looter in LA this would have been the first place I hit .

Keep safe.

Bryguy

 

[majorloser]

ALSO, place any plastic containers full of water in your freezer and fridge. The more thermal mass in the fridge the longer it will stay cooler. Some of those water bottles alos work great. They won't burst and they last for days. The bigger the block of ice, the longer they last. The Rubbermaid/Tupperware containers also stack up nicely.

 

[majorloser]

Thanks for the advice, majorloser. I got cash yesterday (impossible to get today) and we have some good food supplies. We're filling the ice chests up with water tonight and duct taping them shut. IF we get power back afterwards, water isn't a concern due to the water softener and RO filtration system.

Good advice on the 30 gallon tubs. I think I'll pack the camping tent and sleeping bags in the truck (inside the garage) and keep a tub of everything "near and dear" in the master bedroom closet with us should we need to run.

Now, just hoping the dogs won't flip out too much.

PLEASE REMEMBER if you are on city water (or even well) a RO filter is NOT a means of disinfection. Also, the softener will only soften, not filter. If you are on city water and they issue a "boil water" notice, follow the directions. The water left in those tanks is OK to flush toilet and wash, but not consume.
Save your bottled water for cooking and drinking until you know the storm has passed and the water is safe. If you are on a well and it goes under a flood the water can very likely become unsafe.

(I'm a manager for a water utility that serves about 250,000 customers)

 

[Rob Babcock]

Good luck to you. Hopefully the storm will peter out a bit before it makes landfall. It's a good idea to fill anything you can seal well with potable water, and of course bag up everything you need to keep dry. Sadly, the time to stock up on food and supplies is well before a crisis, as many are now finding out. I'm nowhere near hurricane country (I'm in South Dakota- it'll take a helluva wave to reach me! ), but we do get tornados. I try to keep my gas tank near full and some food, water, candles and cash on hand.

Last nite I topped off the gas tank of my car. $2.59 kinda sucks, but I figured it'll probably reach $3.00 or higher by tomorrow nite. I think 25% of America's refining capability has already been shut down, so the gouging is nearly inevitable.

Stay safe, everyone. I hope you all ride it out fine.

 

[Tomorrow]

Good luck to you. $2.59 kinda sucks.

Gellor....much good luck. I didn't see if you have kids...if so, keep them plenty busy with games and such...they're the ones that really need to keep their minds off the wind and water. Please keep us informed as to your trials and successes if you can. Hang tough!!

Rob...$2.59 most assuredly does NOT suck. Oregon = 3 bucks.

 

[Rob Babcock]

In Canada it's $5, so you shouldn't gripe, then, either. Just 'cause you pay $3 doesn't mean $2.59 doesn't suck! I can easily remember the days when you'd have been arrested for trying to sell gas for a buck a gallon, and I'm only in my mid 30's!

But I think the oil companies have you right where they want you. I've been wondering if secretly they're just jacking up the price to make us long for the days when gas was "only" $2.00 per gallon. Once you're used to it, $2.50 will seem like a really good deal! The "master plan" is succeeding...

 

[Tomorrow]

In Canada it's $5, so you shouldn't gripe, then, either. Just 'cause you pay $3 doesn't mean $2.59 doesn't suck! I can easily remember the days when you'd have been arrested for trying to sell gas for a buck a gallon, and I'm only in my mid 30's!

But I think the oil companies have you right where they want you. I've been wondering if secretly they're just jacking up the price to make us long for the days when gas was "only" $2.00 per gallon. Once you're used to it, $2.50 will seem like a really good deal! The "master plan" is succeeding...

I think you're absolutely correct about the oil companies.

The sucking thing...well that's a relative thing. I guess $2.59 sucks and $3 sucks more and $5 sucks a great deal!

 

[gellor]

More info...it looks like it might pass slightly east of here. we're looking at maybe 90-95mph winds at my house.

we've got the ice maker churning out ice nonstop and filling bags with it to keep in the freezer for when we lose power.

no kids, for those that asked...but i went ahead and packed some books and a couple of games. the wife has made us a nest in the bedroom closet for tomorrow evening on...all of our supplies are in there except a few things in the truck.

anyway...one more picture --- if it'll attach --- of traffic heading out of here on the freeway. people are reporting it taking 8-12 hours to drive 50-60 miles...pretty scary.

 

[majorloser]

More info...it looks like it might pass slightly east of here. we're looking at maybe 90-95mph winds at my house.

we've got the ice maker churning out ice nonstop and filling bags with it to keep in the freezer for when we lose power.

no kids, for those that asked...but i went ahead and packed some books and a couple of games. the wife has made us a nest in the bedroom closet for tomorrow evening on...all of our supplies are in there except a few things in the truck.

anyway...one more picture --- if it'll attach --- of traffic heading out of here on the freeway. people are reporting it taking 8-12 hours to drive 50-60 miles...pretty scary.

Hey, just remember, if the ice melts in the bags it make a BIG mess in the fridge and freezer. Transfer the ice cube to your cooler if you lose power. Or put inside Tupperware container. Freezer Ziploks also work well.

We're there for you if you need it!!!!!!!!!!

 

[gellor]

Hey, just remember, if the ice melts in the bags it make a BIG mess in the fridge and freezer. Transfer the ice cube to your cooler if you lose power. Or put inside Tupperware container. Freezer Ziploks also work well.

We're there for you if you need it!!!!!!!!!!

Okay...um...*gets out the hammer*...I just lost my speakers and receiver...anyone wanna donate?

Anyway, we're lucking out. It just started raining, and we're still only seeing maybe 45mph gusts...still have power and all. A few power "burps" but that's it. Of course, they're saying that peak wind speeds will now be between 2-5am, with sustained 65mph winds and 80mph gusts. so not too terribly bad. probably just a few downed limbs.

My neighbors were outside earlier drinking beer and setting off fireworks.

But you know what? I realized today that if you take one well-lit room with lots of windows and put plywood over those windows, you get a really nice dark room for HT. Is it wrong not to want to take them down?

 

[mulester7]

Anyway, we're lucking out. It just started raining, and we're still only seeing maybe 45mph gusts...still have power and all. A few power "burps" but that's it. Of course, they're saying that peak wind speeds will now be between 2-5am, with sustained 65mph winds and 80mph gusts. so not too terribly bad. probably just a few downed limbs.

.....hang in there, Gellor, your green porch light is on, and I'm up with you.....looks like Lake Charles is taking the brunt of it......

.....edit....aaahh, comes the realization Gellor has me on ignore, haha....oh well, my thoughts are with him anyway.....

 

[gellor]

.....hang in there, Gellor, your green porch light is on, and I'm up with you.....looks like Lake Charles is taking the brunt of it......

.....edit....aaahh, comes the realization Gellor has me on ignore, haha....oh well, my thoughts are with him anyway.....

Heh. Thanks. It ended up being awful. So awful that I slept through the entire thing.

We lost power for about 6 hours. No major limbs came down or anything...just leaves. I even took the dogs out in the "gusts" to run around a little.

So all in all, we're very thankful it wasn't bad here.

 

[majorloser]

GOOD TO HEAR YOU'RE OKAY

At least you have the whole weekend to get things together at home. The best thing is you came through it OK and still have power (I hope).

 

[gellor]

GOOD TO HEAR YOU'RE OKAY

At least you have the whole weekend to get things together at home. The best thing is you came through it OK and still have power (I hope).

Yep, power's back on. I just walked around outside and I'm incredibly glad that I put up the plywood now...there's a chunk of wood about 6" long and 4" diameter that is laying right below one of my windows. (the room that still has all of the unpacked boxes from when we moved.)