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)
What is the takeaway from all this? Don’t live on the seacoast during hurricane season.
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.
I keep one in my camel back with a compass, lighters, and a letherman.
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.
I know a guy with family in Puerto Rico, so I get a pretty good accounting of what’s happening, at least with his family.
Bottom line: TOTALLY UNPREPARED. It wasn’t that they couldn’t prepare - as they do have plenty of money (and being ready is not very expensive)...it’s just that there was no reason to prepare - since it never happened before (you know, like an EMP from the Norks - we’ll take it seriously once they prove how destructive it is to this country).
One thing that was funny was his crazy mother-in-law. You know, the type of person who doesn’t trust banks and kept her money under the mattress. She is VERY POPULAR with her family, as pretty much everything there is still cash and ATMs which do work will only give you something like $40 per day...and with very long lines.
But other stuff, it’s just sad. Virtually everything they’re doing now (water collection and purification, running around trying to find food and fuel, obtaining generators and solar panels, and other stuff)...capabilities that I’ve had for years, and, again, not very expensive if you don’t want it to be (but yes, very expensive if you choose to go that way).
I’d rather see better disaster prep by our cities than throwing money away on NFL stadiums for the billionaires and their multimillionaire pets...
Thank God we have a cesspool system, as much as that pisses off tree-huggers. No contamination worries.
Sewers make sense in dense urban areas, I love this semi-rural living.
Bttt.
5.56mm