Hurricane Florence

Yes, another hurricane. We got off easy last year in NC. Just checking all preps and checking all our friends' and neighbors' preps as well. Should not hit until late Thursday or early Friday. Current track is right over our roof, but we are pretty far inland, so nothing significant to worry about.

There could be a lot of rain. Check our this map of the estimated rainfall: https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wpc_qpf_168h_p.us_ma-1.png

I'm re-checking expiration dates on things...

There’s going to be a lot of rain with this one and probably some high winds depending on how far you are from landfall. You never really know what will happen once these storms cross the beach. Do they move on thru and just drop trees, or do they stall and then proceed to drop trees and lots of rain. All you can do is be ready for all of the above.

Fortunately, I no longer reside in hurricane or typhoon prone areas. When I did I was generally less prepared than I would be today. However, the one thing I always did was top off my car’s gas tank. Later, I expanded that to fuel for cooking — camp stove fuel.

Currently I live in an EQ prone area and rather than topping off the tank, I just reserve the lower half of the tank because EQ’s are much less predictable than the hurricane you track for days prior. Cooking wise I keep a full 20# propane tank to use with my Coleman camp stove, as well as a dozen butane bottles for my Gas One butane stove.

** A good amount (lots) of drinking water is always a good thing.

[Sarc on]
If you are near the beach, don’t forget to go surfing just before the storm hits. Awesome waves with plenty of news/weather reporters there to document your stupidity. I hear kite-surfing is the thing to do during the height of the storm
[Sarc off]

I am always intrigued by the different ways in which you can prepare for hurricanes (relatively predictable) vs. EQ (predictable only in a broad sense). Like Russ I keep gas in the tank, stove fuel on hand, as well as several stoves, and plenty of drinking water.

Stay safe and keep your powder (and other critical items) dry!

Another thing to consider is electricity after the storm passes. I see the NC stores are being cleaned out of all their batteries... rechargeable batteries are a wonderful thing, now would be a good time to top them all up.

My Goal Zero Yeti 400 has a 95% charge and AA’s/AAA’s are at the ready. The AA/AAA batteries are for flashlights, the Yeti is for our cell phones. Cell service may come back quickly, but you need a fully charged phone, so a power bank of some type that you like is also a good thing.

+1 to Russ's comments, especially concerning rechargeables, they are the cat's meow. I back mine up with a couple of solar panels ( GZ Nomad) and store in several smaller power banks. I should be able to keep some lights and cell phones operational. I suspect this is a pretty decent strategy for almost any sort of disaster.

Yep, that small Goal Zero battery charger is a nice little system. That was my first GZ unit and it will charge a cell phone easily if the sun cooperates.

Times like this I’m glad I picked up the second phone that’s not so smart but is rugged, waterproof and has a removable battery. I can charge the battery in the phone and then swap it out with a second battery and charge that one also.

Montanero, best of luck, Sir... rain in the mountains is something I have no experience with, I'm lucky to be at 32feet, inland 2 miles from the Gulf of Mexico... just a couple of thoughts from Irma last year... a generator reduces a lot of anxiety....in addition to water; tea, coffee, cold soft drink is very welcomed, along with some snacks... a way to cook and not need hot water for clean up makes a small tail gate propane grill look very appealing... cooking on bamboo skewers... 7 day coolers don't need to be roto formed to hold for multiple days, I transfer perishable food to them as soon as the power goes out... bagged ice for drinks in addition to solid frozen water jugs in case... second cooler to transport ice... non potable water to shower and flush... re chargable AA powered radios, headlamps, task and area LEDs....filled #1 propane cylinders and a couple of 25# bulk tanks...

small things... insulated beverage mug...battery circulating fan...trailer hitch ball on riding mower...utility trailer... chain saw...power strip to charge all batteries from the same wall outlet..quick dry nylon clothing if fire is not a potential

at my age a heart attack doing something foolish is more of a potential threat than the storm itself....

run from the water, and hide from the wind (Craig Fugate)

Several months ago I cleverly reserved a beach house for our extended family (5 groups from Georgia to PA) for a week in Corolla, NC starting this coming Saturday. The worst weather there should over by then, but the amount of rain still coming down and flooding the mainland may be daunting. Mandatory evacuations for all of the Outer Banks are in effect, after which the two bridges will likely be closed. If either/both of them are damaged by Florence . . .
And that's just the Outer Banks.
If bridges/homes further south are damaged after over a million coastal residents are evacuated . . .

8^(

In thinking about the force of wind and water Psalms 107:25 and 148:8 have come to mind.

Russ, what’s the rugged second phone you’re using?

It’s a Kyocera flip phone from Verizon. Kyovera DuraXV LTE

I decided, instead of getting a second phone, to get a pelican dry box, about six and a half by four inches, which will easily fit an iPhone seven, with a little foam padding. Roughly twenty bucks, and I’ll let you know how it works out. Wanted it for my phone when I go back into the woods, and am cutting some brush and small trees. May be a little more cumbersome.

I put an Otter case on my iPhone which saved it a few times from inadvertent falls; it also has covers over most of the water entry points. But the Kyocera is inherently tougher and ~half the weight. The iPhone is for work, the Kyocera is for contingencies.

Back to Florence...

Unfortunately some of what we’ve been discussing will soon be reality for many in NC.
'Monster' Hurricane Florence to pummel U.S. Southeast for days

Summarized, if you live on or near the coast, evacuate inland and good luck with what you leave behind.

If you are inland, get ready for high winds, lots of rain and extended power outages.

While based in WestPac I went through high winds and lots of rain with numerous typhoons as they passed through. The reef kept the tidal surge to a minimum so that was no an issue.
The winds though were serious and there was no inland which would slow them down. The island was like a speed-bump to a monster truck.
Extended power outages though are what warms up all your frozen food and shuts off your electric range so you can’t cook it. Hence, my thread on cooking when the lights go out.

The most recent forecasts are really ominous; inland, it is the rain that will cause problems, not so much the wind.

Stay safe out there!

Latest I heard is that it’s only a Cat.3 hurricane... Okay so the winds are down a bit, but doing the math: Storm surge + lots of Rain = Flooding

Do what you’d do for a stronger storm and feel fortunate if those preps weren’t necessary.

Just because Florence is weakening, doesn’t make it weak...

...Florence Weakens To Cat 2

In hurricanes, most fatalities occur from the flooding and storm surge, not from damage due to high winds.

After all, cat 2 is a mere 100 mph, something I have never experienced. I know it is hard to keep my footing in a 55mph "breeze."

Looks like the winds have mostly subsided to around a max of 80 mph - which can still cause damage.

Lots of social media vocalizing that the hurricane did live up to the big hype and are questioning the call to evac as many areas received very little to no flooding nor wind damage.

On the other hand,there were media reports of requests for rescue from people who stayed behind in low lying areas that were immediately flooded.

It is a matter of probabilities and there is no way, yet, to be extremely precise about when and where the maximum damage and disruption will occur. You must assess your situation, look at the possible consequences, and determine your course of action.

I experienced one hurricane years ago when I was in coastal Georgia on a training assignment. Our classes were suspended for a day, although we eventually had nothing more than heavy showers and moderate winds - nothing that kept from doing a six mile run while school was out.

As it turned out, we were on the edge of the storm, which passed rather quickly, but we were not square in the path nor in the NE quadrant.

Montanero has gone dark for the past few days (for some odd reason!). I hope that he will return shortly as the power is restored and the creeks recede, with a lot of positive, uplifting war stories about Flo....

Power just returned a few minutes ago. We lost it for almost 3 days, which is unusually long for here, but not bad considering.

The wind has lost strength but is still blowing, and there is more rain to come. Flooding has not reached its zenith as of yet.

Our efforts to help others prepare did pay off, and everyone was self sufficient during the storm. We did not lose water, so a lot of the problem from hurricane Mathew 2 years ago did not occur with this one.

We are still looking at helping evacuees, with more evacuations likely to come.

Now the water treatment plant is flooding, so now we could lose water. I have about 75 gallons stored, so we are good.

Ironic! Record setting floods, and water may be scarce.

"Water, water everywhere, and not a drop to drink...Water, water everywhere and all the boards did shrink..."

Glad you and your neighbors are getting through OK. It is calm, about 70 degrees here in la-la land, with no smoke in the sunny sky (yet...).

Thanks for the updates Montanero.

Flooding should crest within the next 24 hours, people still being evacuated.

I spent the day working in a Red Cross shelter for those who had already evacuated, and they are expecting more people tonight, though some have already left for other safe havens.

People expect too much from the Red Cross too fast, they need to be self sufficient for at least 72 hours; until the supplies begin rolling in.

Many (most) brought nothing with them to the shelter. There was plenty of warning and time to prepare, and those living in areas that flooded were the same ones who had to evacuate 2 years ago in hurricane Mathew.

The Red Cross could disseminate information on specific shelter needs more broadly and effectively. More could have been done sooner and alleviated many problems.

The community as a whole has been extremely generous with donations of all necessities. Businesses and community organizations brought large amounts of supplies to the shelters.

Just some observations.

Perhaps they could be introduced to the concept of a 'Ticket'.

Entry to many venues requires you to tender a ticket before entry, this may be bought beforehand or at the door.

In this case, and for people expecting to shelter with me, it means bringing something useful: food, drink, batteries, ham radio, whatever. It would be more acceptable if the 'Ticket' were enough to exceed their expected stay but anything showing an acknowledgement of their use of resources is acceptable.

Shelters are generally used by people who have no other option. So generally the poor or less abled people. So adding a requirement to those are defeating the point.

Donations (or tickets) of goods brings problems - what is donated is not necessarily what is needed and then you have the task of sorting, storing etc. Cash works best.

As pointed out, many utilizing shelters are doing so as a last resort. It is a bit surprising that, given the long lead time and the accuracy of the forecast, that many were as unprepared for what was coming.

Some people are passive, trust to others to help, or otherwise rationalize the situation. Circumstances do vary and what seems possible is not always the case.

Better to be outadere a week in advance. Oh, yes, and buy flood insurance...

And three cheers for those who work in the shelters to assist those in need!

Three cheers for this guy and his network....
Noah’s Ark except it’s a school bus: Tru...ricane Florence
...and none of these guys have a ticket.

and the Cajun Navy. I understand they came over and were involved...

my experience with evacuees to a shelter was completely different from Montanero's...the school I worked at was, prior to the building code change after Andrew, a designated evacuation center... we were the closest shelter to a trailer park near the prone to flood Anclote River....I learned a lot from the "regulars"... they arrived early, wore quick to dry clothing, many had Sears rolling tool boxes that they could sit on, brought folding chaise lounge chairs with mosquito netting, along with ice filled coolers, cold cuts, bread and cold drinks enough for 3+ days... most had radios and area and task lights to get to the rest rooms...

my classroom was a chemistry lab, and had 6 sinks and synthetic counter top around the periphery of the room...it was used as a baby diaper changing area...I had very good custodian cleanup crews, but the smell lingered for days