I realized rather a lot about hurricane survival when I lived by means of three hurricanes in a brief two-month interval. A few of what I gleaned I used to be ready to make use of virtually instantly because the trio of storms swept over Florida. Because it was written in a diary format, some conclusions within the first half have modified by the point you get to the top. You’ll want to learn all three components of this text about hurricane survival and classes realized.
I realized rather a lot about hurricane survival when I lived by means of three hurricanes in a brief two-month interval. A few of what I gleaned I used to be ready to make use of virtually instantly because the trio of storms swept over Florida. The next account is compiled from notes that I, Stephen McGehee, took throughout and after–Charley, Frances, and Jeanne–went by means of my space in 2004.
Because it was written in a diary format, some conclusions within the first half have modified by the point you get to the top. You’ll want to learn all three components of this text about hurricane survival and classes realized. Hyperlinks are at backside of this submit. Elements 1 and a couple of deal primarily with Charley and Frances; Half 3 is a file of Jeanne, together with adjustments I integrated primarily based on the primary two storms.
My Hurricane Survival Notes
Some Background
Hurricane Frances got here by means of final weekend. Right this moment is Friday September 10, 2004, and energy was restored right here right this moment at 5:15 p.m., six days later. Hurricane Charley got here by means of simply earlier than this, and energy was solely out about at some point.
Take into account that though being with out electrical energy and air con is a serious drawback for us, that is how a lot of the remainder of the world lives day by day. The issue is that we’re not used to it and they’re. A useful purpose is to make the transition from having electrical energy to not, as easy as doable till it’s restored.
The storm
Frances was a gradual transferring storm. Excessive winds began right here on Saturday afternoon. The best winds had been on Sunday, with rain bands and excessive gusts persevering with into Monday. This location is surrounded by massive oaks which function a wind display – until they’re blown over. The best gust measured at 30 ft right here was solely 46 MPH, however it was apparent from the motion of the oaks, that the winds had been a lot increased above the timber.
On Sunday, a twister touched down a pair hundred yards from right here. I couldn’t see it, however I heard it. A twister sounds identical to what it’s described as – the sound of a freight prepare, solely with out the “clacking” of the rails. Once I first heard it, my thought was, “Why on the earth would they be operating a prepare in the midst of a hurricane?” It took a couple of seconds to comprehend that it was a twister.
After the storm had handed, I noticed the way it had shredded enormous oaks and destroyed the utility strains. The street was utterly blocked, and I couldn’t see the home that I knew was behind the particles.
Let’s again up: Hurricane survival begins earlier than the storm
Along with the same old hurricane preparedness stuff, flip the air con down as little as you’ll be able to to chill the home. For those who’re cautious, and you’ve got a shady location, you’ll be able to preserve the home moderately snug for fairly some time with the home windows closed. Maintain the shades drawn, cook dinner open air, and preserve issues as dry as doable.
In case your air conditioner fan unit will not be very nicely shielded from wind by the best way it’s positioned, make sure to anchor it down. They appear like they’re rock strong, however they’re truly very light-weight. If it will get blown from its place, it takes the coolant strains with it. That is very costly to restore, and you might be with out air con for a complete lot longer than it takes to get the facility restored.
Retailer extra water than you suppose you’ll want. Then retailer extra.
Within the film “The Matrix”, Neo is requested what he wants. He replies “Weapons. Numerous weapons.” After one thing like this, the reply can be, “Water. Numerous water.”
Having an considerable provide of unpolluted water could make an enormous distinction in consolation.
Having a minimal provide of unpolluted water is important.
Numerous water means you’ll be able to take a shower or bathe. Meaning greater than most folk will ever perceive till they’ve been in steaming scorching climate with no air con whereas doing heavy bodily work to clear particles and make repairs. You MUST have water, and many it.
Water is important to prime a nicely pump.
I realized that when my nicely pump is with out energy for some time it should lose its prime. That’s a scary feeling. Fortuitously, I additionally realized find out how to prime the pump. Do not forget that you need to have water to prime a pump (it might take a number of gallons), so don’t wait till you’re out of water to crank up the pump. I’m fairly positive the nicely may be fastened in order that it doesn’t lose prime like that, however that’s a topic for an additional time.
Additionally, know that when the water goes down, and inside components of the pump and nicely are uncovered to air, rust will type in a short time. Once I pumped water after dropping prime, the water was rusty brown for some time.
I’ve a hand pump nicely that I have to pay extra consideration to in order that it’s at all times in good working order. That’s one thing simple to place off, however essential.
Examine your bathtub stopper.
Everybody is aware of that you have to refill your bathtub with water. The issue is that the majority fashionable tubs have built-in stoppers which are OK for preserving the water in if you happen to’re taking a shower. They may NOT, nonetheless, preserve water in for the long run. For those who belief the built-in stopper, you’re more likely to have an empty tub the following day. Take away the metallic stopper and substitute it with an old style rubber stopper from the ironmongery store. They arrive in numerous sizes, so be sure you get the best measurement. You may substitute the flowery metallic one after issues return to regular.
Different water container concepts
A giant Igloo water cooler stuffed with ice water is extraordinarily helpful and retains you from having to open the fridge or get into an ice chest for chilly water. My sister used one for her household, and it labored nice. It’s on my listing of issues to purchase.
One other water container that I’ll attempt to discover for subsequent time is a 5 gallon container that has a valve that may be turned on and left on like a water spigot. Most water containers have a spring-type valve that you need to preserve holding to get water. I would like one thing to set on the toilet and kitchen sinks in order that I can have operating water when wanted. Once more, it’s on my listing.
My off-grid cooking expertise
Fuel grills and cookers differ rather a lot in how a lot warmth they put out, and a few may be slower than cooking on an electrical range. Lots slower. Take that into consideration when planning. I think about most folk already knew that, however I didn’t.
These little “George Foreman Grilling Machines” work nice when you have a generator. Attempt to use it outdoors so that you don’t warmth up the home any greater than crucial.
The primary evening with out energy, I grilled a steak. It was among the best I’ve ever had. I had deliberate to try this earlier than the storm hit, and picked up some potatoes to go together with it. Attempt to cook dinner some actually good meals like that every so often. It’s an actual morale booster. In addition to, you’ll want the crimson meat for all of the work that follows the storm. For those who’ve received them within the freezer, plan on cooking them instantly. (Additionally, taking that steak out of the freezer and sticking it beneath my shirt to thaw out was a good way to chill down.)
Once I tried cooking with a liquid gasoline backpacking range, I discovered that one thing had gotten gummed up, and it might simply barely preserve a flame going. Overlook about cooking on it. I took it aside and cleaned it. It fired proper up and boiled a cup of water in nearly one minute. Can’t ask for higher than that.
Hurricane Survival Continues When the Storm is Gone: Beware After-Storm Hazards
Except you are attempting to journey out a serious storm in a cellular house, or you might be in a storm surge or flood space, probably the most critical hazards are after the storm has handed.
Visitors Sign Chaos
Chief among the many hazards is the combination of working, non-working, and sort-of-working site visitors alerts. Many individuals don’t know to deal with non-working site visitors lights as a 4-way cease, they usually barrel proper on by means of. Others come to a sort-of-working site visitors gentle and deal with it as a 4-way cease. They cease, then when it’s clear, they undergo the intersection. I did that one time solely to find that I had simply come to a cease after which proceeded proper by means of a crimson gentle. Huge time silly, and virtually massive time deadly.
Downed timber, utility poles/strains, and miscellaneous particles
There’s additionally the hazard of timber and utility poles within the roads, or hanging simply above the street at windshield-level. Flooded streets can conceal all types of particles beneath water, so cross water with warning.
Accidents ready to occur
Judging from what I noticed and heard whereas shopping for some last-minute provides, there are lots of people making an attempt to wire mills who’re accidents ready to occur. There are additionally lots of people shopping for chain saws who hope to learn to use one whereas harassed about that tree fallen on their home. Unhealthy time to study. I additionally by no means noticed any of the chain noticed consumers getting any security tools on the identical time. I by no means use mine with out a helmet-hearing-protection-face-shield mixture, together with leather-based gloves and heavy pants. Once more – accidents ready to occur.
Beware the surprising however bizarre hazards
Watch out of bizarre hazards additionally. I tripped over a assist cable from a photo voltaic panel that I had taken down to guard from wind injury. I simply ended up with a sore arm, however might simply as simply have ended up with a fracture or nasty reduce if issues had been barely totally different. That’s the very last thing you need to need to cope with at a time like this. If an oz of prevention is price a pound of treatment throughout regular occasions, it’s price a ton of treatment throughout dangerous occasions. Watch out!
How I Slept (Fairly) Comfortably
After two nights to get used to it, sleeping in even the most popular climate may be moderately snug if you happen to can cool off with a bathe simply earlier than going to mattress, and when you have a fan operating. I used to be in a position to run a fan with the battery/inverter mixture (described later), and it labored very nicely.
My plan had initially been to sleep on my screened-in-porch, however I didn’t contemplate the truth that the ground can be flooded. I ordered a cot from Cabela’s, and it arrived on Friday – the day energy was restored. It is going to turn out to be useful the following time.
When there is no such thing as a energy, one rapidly will get into the behavior of going to mattress shortly after darkish, after which waking up at daybreak. Sleep patterns can change fairly rapidly beneath these circumstances. Having a wide range of emergency gentle sources can be helpful.
With out air con, and dealing outdoors all day lengthy, allergic reactions can act up and make sleeping even tougher than it already is. Nasal decongestant spray or Benadryl in your first assist equipment will make it simpler to sleep.
Showers and washing
The (virtually) outside bathe
I began to construct an out of doors bathe, however energy was restored earlier than it was accomplished. I discovered a sprayer within the backyard part of Lowes that would be the most important a part of it. It’s principally an adjustable bathe head hooked up to a pipe with a backyard hose connector on one finish and a gate valve within the center.
I had deliberate to run the generator to pump water, after which apply it to the backyard hose. Some 8’ posts planted within the floor with some 4’ huge black plastic would offer privateness. I purchased some 12” sq. patio pavers and laid them right down to type a 2’ x 6’ flooring so I wasn’t standing in mud. I believe it should work out nicely the following time.
Sure, I might simply as simply bathe inside, however with out air con, you find yourself with 100% humidity within the toilet. The secret’s to maintain something that produces warmth and moisture out of the home as a lot as doable.
Face-washing and shaving
For basic face-washing kind stuff, an everyday dish pan works nice. Subsequent time, I’ll have two of them in order that one may be for clear water to rinse with. They work a lot better than utilizing the sink. For those who’re brief on water, use the water for flushing bogs after you’re completed washing up.
Shaving is an actual ache if you happen to insist on scorching water. I gave up and simply shaved utilizing chilly water. It labored OK.
Clothes that helped with climate variables
A surplus solar helmet (pith helmet) labored very nicely to maintain the solar off whereas working outdoors; I’ve used them for years. It additionally labored nicely to maintain the rain off after I needed to exit in the course of the storm to decrease an antenna to maintain it from being destroyed when a department threatened to fall on it. It lastly fell about an hour after I lowered the antenna. I used a rain go well with with the pith helmet, and it allowed me to exit within the center the hurricane, do some work, and stay comparatively dry.
Carhart work pants aren’t very cool, however I’ll take the added warmth for the safety they provide from cuts and scrapes when clearing particles. Additionally:
- Leather-based gloves are an absolute necessity.
- Plain cotton gloves are cooler, and can be utilized for some issues. Nonetheless, leather-based is one of the simplest ways to go more often than not.
- A sweat band will make it rather a lot much less depressing working outdoors.
- Sun shades are a should, particularly when working round brush the place the potential of getting poked within the eye is fairly excessive.
Learn Elements 2 and three of my hurricane survival story…
Partly 2 of my hurricane survival diary, I share:
- sensible methods for mills,
- how not to get electrocuted, and
- ideas for sustaining as regular a life as doable with out electrical energy.
Partly 3: of my real-life hurricane(s) survival story, I share
- what I improved main as much as Hurricane Jeanne,
- what I modified, and
- extra classes realized from relying on a generator.
Do you’ve got hurricane survival story? Share it within the feedback!
Re-printed with permission by Stephen Clay McGehee who blogs at Adjutant Briefing and The Southern Agrarian.
