Posted on 10/28/2017 7:13:31 PM PDT by aMorePerfectUnion
There is a parallel between the core basics of survival and those things that nature takes from us in one of these powerful hurricanes. When I think of survival and the very basics, there is shelter, water, food and fire. As the powerful winds and punishing rains of Hurricane Harvey approached Texas people were most concerned with these survival basics.
It was immediately apparent that there were many people unprepared to deal with the aftermath of this storm. Most resources were gobbled up in storm prep and no one really knew when trucks would return to Houston to restock shelves.
The struggle to find resources immediately after Harvey was no surprise to many. Al Green, a Texas congressman, made these comments about the state of Houston from information he gleaned from constituents.
QUOTE:"The thing that people most need is security. And when people are not being rescued — people are still waiting to be rescued — that is an immediate need. Just having security. We also have people who have been out in the weather for some time and they need to get themselves properly warmed in a place so that they can have food and proper clothing. So, when people go to shelters, we’re trying to make sure that they get the food and the clothing that they need. People also need to know that at some point we’ll start a recovery, and when that recovery starts, that there will be resources available to help them get housed immediately. I remember going through this with other storms, and sometimes the housing can become difficult to acquire. But housing is important, short-term and long-term housing. Those who have had their property damaged, they need to know that there will be the resources available to them to get repairs."
#1: Food
Whether people were evacuated from their homes and forced to leave their pantry’s behind or if they were hoping to fill their pantry after the storm, the hurricane cleared shelves of most basic food staples. Many supermarkets were left bare by those preparing for the storm.
The trucks could not traverse the flooded streets of Houston and some stores were suffering from flood water damage. This meant the shelves would not fill anytime soon.
There is no greater challenge when it comes to hurricane relief than clean water and sanitation. The back-flow of black water as well as the toxic mixture of waters flowing into homes as well as up and down streets. Without proper water storage survivors were left to that which could be found, scavenged or brought by those providing aid.
Many stores were out of water before they were out of food. I talked to one man in Texas who told me that people were buying water before the hurricane and they had no idea why! It was this lack of understanding that just blows me away.
With water you have but three days. Drinking the toxic sludge in the streets could be more of a death sentence than waiting out the dehydration. If your tap is producing water after a powerful hurricane there is no guarantee that it is safe. Shelter
Following the evacuations, many people were immediately without shelter. Their privacy was taken from them and they were left in a high school gym to contemplate their future. Shelter is always the first thing to go for those who must be evacuated.
For those who dared not evacuate, many ended up alongside those who had following rescue. You cannot will your home to stay on its foundation or not to succumb to the rising flood waters.
Nearly 80,000 homes were affected by Harvey. Along with the damage that was done on the wood and nails of these structures, the Houston area has also taken a severe blow when it comes to real estate prices. Fuel
The nation took a deep breath when we realized that oil production was impacted by Harvey. There were incredible pictures of gas lines. Cars in four lanes that spanned 20-30 car lengths. This was a gamble in itself because there could be the instance of these pumps running out of fuel before you were taken care of.
Fuel for cars was not the only casualty. Stores that sold 2 cycle oil for things like chainsaws were also swallowed up in flood waters. This meant access to lubricants and mixed fuels was also jeopardized.
[rest of list at the link. good website]
Well BEFORE Katrina the Walmarts were looted of everything except workout equipment, country music and books. Kneelers can’t read.
Ping.
Trash bags, and bleach.
Good suggestions.
(from the list)
Any more, it is hard to find bleach that hasn’t been adulterated with scents and other junk.
Does anyone have an up to date link on current pool shock that can be used to make bleach? Along with appropriate mixing measures? It’s a lot easier to store.
Liquid bleach expires quickly. Powdered bleach lasts a long time.
What is it with the marmalade and monkeys? I don’t want to know what fetish includes that combination...
I never stock up on toilet paper. If the bad stuff goes down, there’ll always be copies of What Happened at any local bookstore.
What is the takeaway from all this? Don’t live on the seacoast during hurricane season.
Pool Shock – The Boilerplate When I started doing research for this article, I visited some of the most respected survival and preparedness blogs and forums for background material. After all, pool shock is pool shock and there must be some standards for use, right? With just one exception, all of the sites I visited included this boilerplate from the EPA: You can use granular calcium hypochlorite to disinfect water. Add and dissolve one heaping teaspoon of high-test granular calcium hypochlorite (approximately ¼ ounce) for each two gallons of water, or 5 milliliters (approximately 7 grams) per 7.5 liters of water. The mixture will produce a stock chlorine solution of approximately 500 milligrams per liter, since the calcium hypochlorite has available chlorine equal to 70 percent of its weight.
I found this as well:
http://selfrelianceclub.com/Make%20you%20own%20Full%20Strength%20Bleach%20from%20Pool%20Shock.pdf
Also, this old Chlorox service bulletin is like 101 things you can use bleach for. Removed from the Chlorox web site, the WayBack Machine has it:
https://web.archive.org/web/20131028194844/http://www.clorox.com/pdf/5813-100_service-bulletins.pdf
Download both, and if you’re really serious, print them out and store with your pool shock.
We stayed at home through Harvey (south of Houston). We never HAD to leave the house. But we sure wanted to. Didn’t run out of anything.
Contined...
The mixture will produce a stock chlorine solution of approximately 500 milligrams per liter, since the calcium hypochlorite has available chlorine equal to 70 percent of its weight.
To disinfect water, add the chlorine solution in the ratio of one part of chlorine solution to each 100 parts of water to be treated. This is roughly equal to adding 1 pint (16 ounces) of stock chlorine to each 12.5 gallons of water or (approximately ½ liter to 50 liters of water) to be disinfected.
To remove any objectionable chlorine odor, aerate the disinfected water by pouring it back and forth from one clean container to another.
This din’t post with the first part...
I keep one in my camel back with a compass, lighters, and a letherman.
Most stores (W Coast) seem to be carrying a more concentrated bleach, even a house brand, that is unscented. I never buy scented bleach or ammonia. Buy a couple gallons of unscented bleach each year, don’t open till you replace it and rotate your stock.
This is really good w/ great links. Thanks. Someone also mentioned gallon freezer bags for documents, photos & electronics. Would never have thought of that. I’m not a prepped, but definitely feel like I need to do some preparedness things.
Prepper
plus, doesn’t bleach deteriorate over time?...need to use and restock periodically....
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