Hurricane Dean

[wilebill]

Here it is.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/storm_graphics/AT04/refresh/AL0407W5+gif/145027W_sm.gif

[Fish-Bait]

Gas just shot up 2 bucks.

[wilebill]

I bought me a generator just last week. Hopefully I won't need it for disaster-related stuff.

[Fish-Bait]

What kind did you get?

[amanda]

It's Aaron's fault. :( He just had to ask where the Hurricane's were....now we know where one MIGHT be soon.

[wilebill]

What kind did you get?It was one of those Coleman's, 5500 Watts. Cost $600. Got it at Lowe's.

[aaron]

It was one of those Coleman's, 5500 Watts. Cost $600. Got it at Lowe's.

Party at wilebill's house if the power goes out.

[dream member]

We still had hot water during Katrina...although there were people taking showers at my house I didn't even know! So glad I moved back down here at the start of hurricane season...

[Natural Sunshine]

This is way out to think it may come this way yet....

[58ford]

For those of you unable to afford the shiny new Lowe's model generator I present:
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w293/58ford/generator.jpg

[Natural Sunshine]

I've been here most of my 33 years....Just try to be optimistic

[dream member]

This is way out to think it may come this way yet....

Last time I said anything about a hurricane - it was Katrina and I told someone it would probably be a cat 1 or possible thunderstorm! I was wrong. :smt118

[eyescene]

You must not have been here for Kate?

PS: ford, I wish you would learn to downsize.

My little waggly tailed puppy :smt022 or big huge writing which I ask, is the cutest!!!

[58ford]

Yeah, yeah, but who'll run your air conditioner when the powers out?

[Guru]

It's like anything else in life, hope for the best, plan for the worst.

[bpitt]

What' the Boy Scout motto? BE PREPARED. Then, after it occurs, what does the Marines say? ADAPT AND OVERCOME!

By the way, the redneck generator will work, and can be built for next to nothing.

[Sister Golden Hair]

and yet another system developing in the Southeastern Gulf Of Mexico-

[Hermione]

HUSH your mouf, girl!!

[Fish-Bait]

All of those "storm predictors" are high fiving and suckin' on cold ones right now cuz' somethin' developed. They are glad because last year mother nature made all of those computer models look like a joke.

[Hermione]

This stuff makes me think of Terry Steed talking to our neighborhood association last year about Katrina. He told us that he got up that Saturday morning to go out and do errands, but decided to just stop by the office and check the radar. He didn't get back home for three weeks. That little darlin' sneaked up on us for sure.

[dollfus46]

All of those "storm predictors" are high fiving and suckin' on cold ones right now cuz' somethin' developed. They are glad because last year mother nature made all of those computer models look like a joke.
Yep. I believe it was to be a worse year than before. I can't believe weathermen have the gall to cash their paychecks most of the time.:laugh:

[dollfus46]

I bought me a generator just last week. Hopefully I won't need it for disaster-related stuff.

Aw c'mon man. Don't tell me you can't wait to use it. Heh heh heh. I get a new toy like that and start praying for lightening.:smt118
Where did you get the map, wilebill? I use Weather Underground, but yours is much more clear.

[dollfus46]

It was one of those Coleman's, 5500 Watts. Cost $600. Got it at Lowe's.
Do you remember how to count the watts from appliances to determine what it will actually support. Or maybe it's converting amps to watts. I'm confused again.

[Fish-Bait]

Do you remember how to count the watts from appliances to determine what it will actually support. Or maybe it's converting amps to watts. I'm confused again.

It's funny you should bring that up. We had a Hobart gas welder here at work years ago. It was all bright and shiny and had 10,000 watts wrote across the side of it. I asked the electrician what all could be run with it being as it was capable of 10,000 watts....his reply was "it will run one hundred, 100 watt light bulbs"......so I called him an ass.:smt118

[58ford]

How to convert Watts to Amps

Basics
You cannot convert watts to amps, since watts are power and amps are coulombs per second (like converting apples to miles). If you have at least least two of the following three: amps, volts and watts then the missing one can be calculated. Since watts are amps multiplied by volts, there is a simple relationship between them.
However, In some engineering disciplines the volts are more or less fixed, for example in house wiring, automotive wiring, or telephone wiring. In these limited fields they often have charts that relate amps to watts and this has confused people. What these charts should be titled is "conversion of amps to watts at a fixed voltage of 110 volts" or "conversion of watts to amps at 13.8 volts," etc.

The Following Equations can be used to convert beween amps, volts, and watts.

Convert Watts to Amps (at a fixed voltage) (http://www.powerstream.com/Amps-Watts.htm?nowritefs#watts-amps)
Convert Amps to Watts (at a fixed voltage) (http://www.powerstream.com/Amps-Watts.htm?nowritefs#amps-watts)
Convert Watts to Volts (at a fixed current) (http://www.powerstream.com/Amps-Watts.htm?nowritefs#watts-volts)
Convert Volts to Watts (at a fixed current) (http://www.powerstream.com/Amps-Watts.htm?nowritefs#volts-watts)
Convert Volts to Amps (at a fixed wattage) (http://www.powerstream.com/Amps-Watts.htm?nowritefs#volts-amps)
Convert Amps to Volts (at a fixed wattage) (http://www.powerstream.com/Amps-Watts.htm?nowritefs#amps-volts)

Converting Watts to Amps

The conversion of Watts to Amps is governed by the equation Amps = Watts/Volts

For example 12 watts/12 volts = 1 amp
Converting Amps to Watts

The conversion of Amps to Watts is governed by the equation Watts = Amps x Volts

For example 1 amp * 110 volts = 110 watts

Converting Watts to Volts

The conversion of Watts to Volts is governed by the equation Volts = Watts/Amps

For example 100 watts/10 amps = 10 volts

Converting Volts to Watts

The conversion of Volts to Watts is governed by the equation Watts = Amps x Volts

For example 1.5 amps * 12 volts = 18 watts
Converting Volts to Amps at fixed wattage

The conversion of Volts to Amps is governed by the equations Amps = Watts/Volts

For example 120 watts/110 volts = 1.09 amps

Converting Amps to Volts at fixed wattage

The conversion of Amps to Volts is governed by the equation Volts = Watts/Amps

For Example, 48 watts / 12 Amps = 4 Volts

[wilebill]

Aw c'mon man. Don't tell me you can't wait to use it. Heh heh heh. I get a new toy like that and start praying for lightening.:smt118
Well, we did move all the furniture and appliances out in the backyard the other day to see if it would run all that, if that counts. :-D

Where did you get the map, wilebill? I use Weather Underground, but yours is much more clear.National Weather Service http://www.nws.noaa.gov/

[58ford]

Amps X Ohms = Volts
Volts / Ohms = Amps
Volts X Amps = Watts
The Amperage is the most important thing. Your appliance will draw what it needs. If it can't get what it needs it will draw what it can and this can cause damage to both the generator & appliance. (most are now protected from this but why take a chance)
Amps are the most important part of the equation. Appliances regardless of what they are rated at will draw more or less current from time to time. If you have several appliances running & they all sync up & decide the draw their max current at the same moment bad things can happen, flipped breakers & blown fuses being the least of which. So always add up the Amps (you can use the above equations to figure it out) and buy a generator that will supply 15 to 25% more than your projected needs. You can't go wrong buying the next size up. Also, the generators that can hook directly into your homes electrical system & sense when power is restored & shut themselves off are worth the extra money.
Also, Ford's redneck electricity makin' machine is a simplified sketch of an actual generator I built for my deer camp. It could run lights & either an air conditioner, or a 'fridge, but not at the same time.

[Pop]

For those of you unable to afford the shiny new Lowe's model generator I present:


PIC Too Big!!!!

I thought you had already built one in the back yard!!! For hurricane emergencies, right?

FY-AS13fl30

[Fish-Bait]

jeez....what the hell is that thing?

[aaron]

It's a tesla coil (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_coil)

[Fish-Bait]

That thing is wicked.

[No-Halo]

Thanks for clearing that up Aaron, for a minute there I thought it was some kinda Dream1 product. :smt103

[wilebill]

It's now Tropical Storm Dean.

[Conveyor Belt]

Do we still have a TS and Hurricane forum, or is it just weather now?

[Maggie-Doodle]

Do we still have a TS and Hurricane forum, or is it just weather now?

CB I think aaron just made it all into one....weather

[58ford]

PIC Too Big!!!!

I thought you had already built one in the back yard!!! For hurricane emergencies, right?

FY-AS13fl30
The one in the garage is a later model with only one alternator and no inverter and no fans. It puts out 13.8V DC (thats what this alternator is "should" put out at the RPM I guesstimated using my home made timing light & a chalk mark) and I think it puts out enough amps to power a small window unit and a few 12V DC lights. I have been planning on making a generator with ten alternators and a larger voltage inverter & hook it up to my house wiring, and crank it up whenever the power co. pisses me off. I know I'd probably spend more in fuel than would make it economical, but getting a check in the mail from MS Poser instead of a bill would be sweet.
I've got my eye on a used 20hp pug mill motor that might make the dream feasible.
(I've got to get a new multimeter & check some of my redneck 'lectrics. One of these days I'm gonna guesstimate wrong or mess up my math & things are gonna start smokin')

[wilebill]

I'm waiting for the day they name a hurricane "Eliot" so we can have a thread entitled T. S. Eliot. That ought to screw up some people.

[IBB]

Just Freakin Great!!

[wilebill]

They've adjusted the track more westward from yesterday. I don't like that.

[Baloo]

From the looks of Dean, I think that I need to just skip coming home to the farm this time and just stay in Alaska...

[Bahlk]

For those that haven't seen the latest

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m102/scoclay/083540W_sm.gif

[bpitt]

I'm waiting for the day they name a hurricane "Eliot" so we can have a thread entitled T. S. Eliot. That ought to screw up some people.
It appears that the Dumb Coyote ain't so dumb after all.

It looks like Dean might just be comin' right up the ol' poop shoot.

[dream member]

If we evacuate and go north- it'll probably be to Hburg! :)

[Hermione]

Last year, there was some discussion, at the disaster preparedness summit I think, that people in HB might not be allowed to evacuate, in order to keep the roads open for folks from the Coast. My family has tentatively decided to evacuate if there's a Cat 3 or higher. Any word on whether that evacuation policy is still in effect?

[Conveyor Belt]

Are the police going to pull you over and give you a ticket for evacuating? I'm sure if you explained to the officer manning the intersection that you were leaving Hburg, you could go... if not, there are plenty of ways to get around and out of Hattiesburg to other access points on the highways further north, south, east and west.

[dream member]

Last year, there was some discussion, at the disaster preparedness summit I think, that people in HB might not be allowed to evacuate, in order to keep the roads open for folks from the Coast. My family has tentatively decided to evacuate if there's a Cat 3 or higher. Any word on whether that evacuation policy is still in effect?

Not sure- but the drive through Hattiesburg is part of the reason we didn't go that way! We don't go unless it's 4 or higher. The evacuation for Katrina was a LAST minute thing...we couldn't leave until late because we had to close the casinos anyway- I was one of the last employees there...made the drive to Pensacola turn into 6 hrs! AHHHHH

[Hermione]

That's what I don't know, CB. How can they prevent you from leaving?

[dream member]

That's what I don't know, CB. How can they prevent you from leaving?

Blocking the on ramps?

[Hermione]

They could keep you off the interstate that way, but there are other roads out of town.
I can't imagine anything more fun than crawling to Olive Branch (where we have relatives to stay with) with two cats in the car.

[fuzzis]

They could keep you off the interstate that way, but there are other roads out of town.
I can't imagine anything more fun than crawling to Olive Branch (where we have relatives to stay with) with two cats in the car.

If I remember right, when the coast evacuates, then folks here in Hattiesburg can't get on or off 49, on or off 59 so as to keep that traffic flowing. But as CB said, there are plenty of ways around that. A couple of years ago when Ivan came through and 49 and 59 were messes, I headed up to the GrandSner's on the backroads. No traffic to be seen, just me and the two cats.

[Hermione]

For Katrina, my mom was out of town staying with a dying relative. Some friends from Mandeville stayed at her house, so I didn't even have to think about her or the house. This time is a different story and it worries me greatly about what to do about her and two houses.
And that reminds me that I never bought the walkie-talkies my family decided to buy. Add those to the hurricane-prep list.

[dream member]

They could keep you off the interstate that way, but there are other roads out of town.
I can't imagine anything more fun than crawling to Olive Branch (where we have relatives to stay with) with two cats in the car.

I think it's just to keep the major roadways clear for people on the coast- we don't know (well I do now :) ) all those back roads. So if you add the traffic from Hattiesburg and the traffic from the coast- wow...I can barely handle traffic in one or the other. :smt118

[dream member]

For Katrina, my mom was out of town staying with a dying relative. Some friends from Mandeville stayed at her house, so I didn't even have to think about her or the house. This time is a different story and it worries me greatly about what to do about her and two houses.
And that reminds me that I never bought the walkie-talkies my family decided to buy. Add those to the hurricane-prep list.

Cobra is pretty good

[Bahlk]

The main roads onto 49 from hattiesburg are blocked to keep the traffic from the coast flowing. I'm not sure if MHP blocks the entrances out in the county but there are lots of entrances that are out in the city. Backroads would probably make better time anyways.

[Bahlk]

It's increased 10 mph in wind speeds in just a few hours

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m102/scoclay/143525W_sm.gif

[Conveyor Belt]

From my amatuer meterologist standpoint, I'd say this one is either going to graze the Yucatan and hit the armpit of Texas, or make a big hook up and hit the pan of florida...

let's start a vbookie and everyone put their money on it hitting gulfport...

[dream member]

From my amatuer meterologist standpoint, I'd say this one is either going to graze the Yucatan and hit the armpit of Texas, or make a big hook up and hit the pan of florida...

let's start a vbookie and everyone put their money on it hitting gulfport...

Uh, I plan on buying a house in Gulfport in the VERY near future- and it's not far from the beach...this doesn't look promising.

[Conveyor Belt]

Make sure you got a few thousand dollars a year for insurance...

A guy I work with on the coast says his house insurance is about $4000 a year... and he lives in Vancleve.

[dream member]

Make sure you got a few thousand dollars a year for insurance...

A guy I work with on the coast says his house insurance is about $4000 a year... and he lives in Vancleve.

Did he flood? My mom's didn't and she's in Long Beach- went up about $3000.

[OLDLADY]

Just between you, me and the fence post....son-in-law called and told daughter that they are "in the process" of deciding to batten down the rig and evacuate either late Sunday or early Monday because of "Dean". Can we say as soon as this word clears the land...gas prices are going up!!!!

[dream member]

Just between you, me and the fence post....son-in-law called and told daughter that they are "in the process" of deciding to batten down the rig and evacuate either late Sunday or early Monday because of "Dean". Can we say as soon as this word clears the land...gas prices are going up!!!!

Just saw on CNN- Shell has evacuated 1400 employees out there.

[Bahlk]

Dean's stats as of 5 PM eastern time. Is it still 74 MPH before it becomes a Cat1?

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m102/scoclay/1700.gif

[XC9]

It appears that the Dumb Coyote ain't so dumb after all.

It looks like Dean might just be comin' right up the ol' poop shoot.

OH GOD! Let's all pray we do not have to meet DEAN!:smt086

[Elle May]

Be careful and have a safe trip Fotno. Glad you don't have to stay out.:clap:

[firefly]

I just hope & pray that Dean does not come near us. There are so many people STILL living in those dinky FEMA trailers! There are still many blue tarps on roofs in Hattiesburg & Petal! I don't know if we would stay here or not. We really don't have anywhere to go, except maybe B ossier City where my cousin lives. It we went north to TN or AR, we would have to find a hotel that accepts pets, because we would NEVER leave our furbaby Miss Weenie behind! I hope that this storn fizzles out & does not hit anybody!:smt118 VOTE FOR JOHN KLEM!:)

[Maggie-Doodle]

Well, if the storms heads this way we will be sitting right here. While it was inconvienent because of no electric for nearly three weeks, I am not going to walk off and leave all my stuff. IF I were on the coast, that would be one thing, but not here. IF I were to get damage (esp. major) I would want to be here to try and take care of things.

Staying can't be anymore inconvienent that packing up and trying to find somewhere to stay with a dog....and I certainly wouldn't leave BooBoo here...I will just put my prayers up to God and ask for his devine intervention to keep us all safe.

[Conveyor Belt]

it's a Hurricane (http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070816/D8R22GKO1.html) now...

[aaron]

The way we post those weather maps in the beginning of thread, they should stay updated with the latest information on the storm. So, to check where it's going, or max sustained winds, just click page one to take a look. I'm going to update the thread title now.

[proudtobefrompetal]

Right after Katrina, we decided we would leave if a Hurricane like that ever came back. But now that there's a *chance*, we won't leave. It's OUR house and OUR stuff and we should stay to protect it the best we can and repair it as quickly as possible.

[Fish-Bait]

If that thing strikes the Yucatan there is a good possibility it's gonna wobble North. It seems to me that whenever they make landfall they shear in a clockwise direction.
Sort of like it's traveling West and when it strikes land it will shear off or wobble in a Northwest direction.

[onlyme]

Well, if the storms heads this way we will be sitting right here. While it was inconvienent because of no electric for nearly three weeks, I am not going to walk off and leave all my stuff. IF I were on the coast, that would be one thing, but not here. IF I were to get damage (esp. major) I would want to be here to try and take care of things.

Staying can't be anymore inconvienent that packing up and trying to find somewhere to stay with a dog....and I certainly wouldn't leave BooBoo here...I will just put my prayers up to God and ask for his devine intervention to keep us all safe.

I have never been anywhere near a hurricane. Can anyone tell me briefly what it was like in Hattiesburg during and after Katrina? How long did the wind and the rain last? What was the city like after the storm? Looting? Any increased violence? Was it very difficult to get around?
We've lived through a blizzard that had us snowed in for 3 days but that was actually kind of fun. A tornado hit close to our house but electricity was only gone for 3 days and we still had water. I just have no idea what to expect with a hurricane.

[Baxter54]

Right after Katrina, we decided we would leave if a Hurricane like that ever came back. But now that there's a *chance*, we won't leave. It's OUR house and OUR stuff and we should stay to protect it the best we can and repair it as quickly as possible.

If I gave you my address, do you think you could drive out to Oak Grove and check on mine for me....because I am getting the heck out. Here I come Smokey Mountains!!!!! :-D

[ComputerDude]

If that thing strikes the Yucatan there is a good possibility it's gonna wobble North. It seems to me that whenever they make landfall they shear in a clockwise direction.
Sort of like it's traveling West and when it strikes land it will shear off or wobble in a Northwest direction.Rock 104 this morning said that if it strikes the Yucatan, there's a chance it'll break apart because of the mountains.

[ComputerDude]

I have never been anywhere near a hurricane. Can anyone tell me briefly what it was like in Hattiesburg during and after Katrina? How long did the wind and the rain last? What was the city like after the storm? Looting? Any increased violence? Was it very difficult to get around?
We've lived through a blizzard that had us snowed in for 3 days but that was actually kind of fun. A tornado hit close to our house but electricity was only gone for 3 days and we still had water. I just have no idea what to expect with a hurricane.It was fairly misserable after Katrina. We couldn't move up or down our street for several days because of fallen trees. Gas and water were the new gold for about two weeks. It's really hard to put into words how bad it was. I don't recall stories of looting though and we certainly didn't have it as bad as the gulf coast.

[onlyme]

It was fairly misserable after Katrina. We couldn't move up or down our street for several days because of fallen trees. Gas and water were the new gold for about two weeks. It's really hard to put into words how bad it was. I don't recall stories of looting though and we certainly didn't have it as bad as the gulf coast.

The possible water shortage worries me the most. How much is needed for 3-4 people for 2 weeks? A gallon a day per person? Sheesh, I am so clueless......

[Bahlk]

Onlyme, without power for 3 weeks...no traffic lights so traffic was miserable. The streets that didn't have trees across them were blocked with tree or power crews (which was a good thing). No water or gas either. Love bugs were unbearable like the hurricane sucked them up from the gulf and just dropped them in our laps. Since we didn't have any AC it was actually cooler outside than inside. Just be sure you have enough gas because you wont get any for awhile.

[ComputerDude]

The possible water shortage worries me the most. How much is needed for 3-4 people for 2 weeks? A gallon a day per person? Sheesh, I am so clueless......Well you know, never say never. But I don't think we'll see another storm like Katrina for awhile. I really have no idea how much water to recommend you store away. As much as you possibly can. If you have a gas grill, fill the tank that way you can cook-up all the food you have in your freezer before it goes all stinky on you.
And batteries.
Batteries
Batteries
Batteries
Then more batterries
Food you can eat right from the can is good.
And on a related note, a manual can opener (we learned the hard way last time)
Battery operated fans are a MUST if you don't have or can't afford a generator
And battery operated lanterns as well.

[Hermione]

onlyme, fill your bathtubs and washer for water to flush and sponge-bathe. Get a good supply of wipes, both personal and the cleaning kind. Have plenty of batteries, canned and packaged food that doesn't need refrigeration. You can make ice in tupperware, or even in freezer bags. Block ice lasts longer than cubes. My house sustained moderate damage; almost every house in Hb had roof damage, and many, many houses were severely damaged and some destroyed. However, when I want to complain, I remember my friends in Ocean Springs who swam out of their house, made it to a relative's house only to find them gone, took the relative's car as far as Brooklyn where the gas ran out, and ended up walking most of the 20 miles to Hattiesburg. That's one story of thousands.
It's hard for us to tell you about it, because I don't think we've really dealt with it ourselves.

[jmb]

If you buy bottled water, save your empties, fill them with water and freeze. That will help your frozen food stay frozen longer. When they thaw, you can use them for sponge baths. If you have room in your freezer, you could do the same thing with empty 2-liters.

[ComputerDude]

If you buy bottled water, save your empties, fill them with water and freeze. That will help your frozen food stay frozen longer. When they thaw, you can use them for sponge baths. You can uhmm...drink them too. ;)

[fuzzis]

I have never been anywhere near a hurricane. Can anyone tell me briefly what it was like in Hattiesburg during and after Katrina? How long did the wind and the rain last? What was the city like after the storm? Looting? Any increased violence? Was it very difficult to get around?
We've lived through a blizzard that had us snowed in for 3 days but that was actually kind of fun. A tornado hit close to our house but electricity was only gone for 3 days and we still had water. I just have no idea what to expect with a hurricane.

I'd never been anywhere near a hurricane either. I spent the storm out with my friends, and then on Tuesday came home to my little place downtown. I stayed Tuesday night at my house and went back to my friend's the next morning, just about in tears, and asked them if I could come back. I'm not sure I've ever been as afraid as I was that night I stayed by myself at the house. It was dark, and although I had my camping lanterns, I couldn't see the people milling around outside...and for some reason, there were a lot of people in my neighborhood, just wandering. Couldn't shut and lock the front door because the windows in my house don't open and the front door was the only way to get a minuscule amount of air moving. I didn't go back home for two weeks because my MS parents wouldn't let me until they felt like it was safe (and that was basically when the power came back on and I could lock the door).

There was the immediate aftermath, and then there was the more lingering effects. The shelves in the stores were bare for a LONG time. I remember about a month-6 weeks after Katrina, I went to Wal-Mart and wanted to make some red beans. Not a red bean to be found in the store. The things you could get and the things you couldn't get struck me was a little odd.

Having said that, my MS family has said if something wicked this way comes again, we're heading to mom's family in the Delta, who actually came down the Thursday after the storm with all of the supplies we didn't have because no one expected the destruction that we got here. With their delivery of canned goods, batteries, water, alcohol, gas, a generator, and other stuff, we were good until the power came back. My family (meaning my Sner and best friends) have made it clear that it will be unacceptable to them to not be able to get in contact with me or know how I am for a week.

[jmb]

You can uhmm...drink them too. ;)

IF you wash them out. I'm lazy and just use them for ice. :)

[aaron]

If that thing strikes the Yucatan there is a good possibility it's gonna wobble North. It seems to me that whenever they make landfall they shear in a clockwise direction.
Sort of like it's traveling West and when it strikes land it will shear off or wobble in a Northwest direction.

From what I know about it, it's all up to the jet stream. If the jet stream is low, then it could pull it east, if it's not, then it will continue along it's same path. From the path of Erin, it looks like it may continue to Texas, but if the jet stream drops, it will pull it our way. These things are just corks in a swimming pool when the Earth's climate is involved.

[jmb]

I'd never been anywhere near a hurricane either. I spent the storm out with my friends, and then on Tuesday came home to my little place downtown. I stayed Tuesday night at my house and went back to my friend's the next morning, just about in tears, and asked them if I could come back. I'm not sure I've ever been as afraid as I was that night I stayed by myself at the house. It was dark, and although I had my camping lanterns, I couldn't see the people milling around outside...and for some reason, there were a lot of people in my neighborhood, just wandering. Couldn't shut and lock the front door because the windows in my house don't open and the front door was the only way to get a minuscule amount of air moving. I didn't go back home for two weeks because my MS parents wouldn't let me until they felt like it was safe (and that was basically when the power came back on and I could lock the door).

There was the immediate aftermath, and then there was the more lingering effects. The shelves in the stores were bare for a LONG time. I remember about a month-6 weeks after Katrina, I went to Wal-Mart and wanted to make some red beans. Not a red bean to be found in the store. The things you could get and the things you couldn't get struck me was a little odd.

Having said that, my MS family has said if something wicked this way comes again, we're heading to mom's family in the Delta, who actually came down the Thursday after the storm with all of the supplies we didn't have because no one expected the destruction that we got here. With their delivery of canned goods, batteries, water, alcohol, gas, a generator, and other stuff, we were good until the power came back. My family (meaning my Sner and best friends) have made it clear that it will be unacceptable to them to not be able to get in contact with me or know how I am for a week.

You're always welcome here, too. :)

[ComputerDude]

Katrina from my front porch for those who have never BEEN in one.




<embed style="width: 400px; height: 326px;" id="VideoPlayback" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=-6848206805212298222&hl=en" flashvars=""> <embed style="width: 400px; height: 326px;" id="VideoPlayback" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=1665512860402124460&hl=en" flashvars="">

[Fish-Bait]

Let's all hope it's gonna be another 30 years for that scenario to play out again.

[Fish-Bait]

From what I know about it, it's all up to the jet stream. If the jet stream is low, then it could pull it east, if it's not, then it will continue along it's same path. From the path of Erin, it looks like it may continue to Texas, but if the jet stream drops, it will pull it our way. These things are just corks in a swimming pool when the Earth's climate is involved.

Yeah, I was tryin' to put emphasis on it actually striking land.
Go here (http://www.lets-go-dancing.com/hurricane.php?n=11&y=2004) and look at Rita,Katrina, Ivan,Ernesto...the more recent ones we have had and you can sort of see what I am talking about. Its a google map site with the paths from 2004. Pretty neat.

[Fish-Bait]

Cdude, I think I saw part of my shop fly by in that video.

[Hermione]

If you buy bottled water, save your empties, fill them with water and freeze. That will help your frozen food stay frozen longer. When they thaw, you can use them for sponge baths. If you have room in your freezer, you could do the same thing with empty 2-liters.

You can set some of those gallon bottles of water out in the sun and have warm water to wash with.
This morning, I was thinking about scrubbing out my rolling garbage can, filling it with water, and stashing it in the storeroom, if it looks like we'll be in the path. That would be useable for flushing or outside uses.
Filled up the car last night -- good idea to keep the tank topped off.
onlyme, get one of those big rolling "five-day" coolers. Mine kept stuff cold for - - - five days. Kept it covered with a down comforter, and the dead space filled with clean towels.

[amanda]

Man, anybody else out there currently suffering from PTSD? Watching those videos CD really brought things back. Hopefully, we won't have to relive anything like that again.

[Hermione]

CD, those videos were amazing.

[ComputerDude]

You can set some of those gallon bottles of water out in the sun and have warm water to wash with. Funny story. During Katrina we discovered quite accidentally that you can take a very warm, albeit QUICK shower using your garden hose so long as you make sure there's water in the hose and it's left outside in the sun.
Once you turn it on, the first few seconds of water that comes out has been nicely heated by the sun.
Wash fast otherwise the cold water that follows can put you in a completely different mood.

[58ford]

I've got batteries, I've got a generator.....sort of, I've got a half dozen of those kentwood water bottles full & I figure I can fill up the tub & the jacuzzi if things get bad, I've even got some MREs left over from the last time.
I just keep thinking, "I don't wanna do this again."

[amanda]

If you really want to have easy bathing - get a camping shower. It was so nice to lay the bladder out in the sun during the day and by that evening the water was VERY hot. I stayed fresh and springy with my camping shower. :) We got very lucky with the water situation, I have a friend here in Foxworth that has an artesian well and had all the fresh water we could haul back to the house. It was the waiting in gas lines to get fuel for the generator that really did me in. I had food stuff, but finding gas was a nightmare. Drove all the way to Natchez on less than a quarter of a tank of gas at one point, a very nerve racking experience. I won't get caught like that again.

[58ford]

After the gas got cut off I just broke up limbs laying on the ground to put in the grill & cook on. Save your grease, scrap paper soaked in grease will start a fire as well as lighter fluid.

[SoMissTV]

Hopefully, the water situation will be a little different in the future. The city bought generators for the pumps and lift stations, so I'm hoping that we won't have those problems again.

The power went out on my block the other night for about an hour. I heard someone's generator kick on shortly thereafter. Though I was tired, I couldn't sleep. I grabbed a chair and sat outside in my driveway at 3am, watching for the power company guy to show up and reset the transformer. I think it was at that moment that I realized how Katrina had affected me. I couldn't rest until I saw Mississippi Power swing through the neighborhood.

[dream member]

Did yall have city wide curfews and quite a few MPs up there after the storm?

[SoMissTV]

Did yall have city wide curfews and quite a few MPs up there after the storm?

Yes.

[58ford]

Yes, a friend of mine was actually taken to tent city one night because he was dropped off after work a block from his house & the cops picked him up before he could make it inside. Things got a little crazy after the storm. One friend of mine, a liberal pacifist, started wandering around with a Colt .45 in her waist band.
One of the most disturbing things to me was how dark the city was. I guess most of the time you don't realize that even at night you look around & you can see every thing. After Katrina no street lights, no house lights no nothing. You couldn't see the houe across the street, you could hear people talking but you couldn't see them. There was no way to tell what was going on around you. Creepy.

[dream member]

Yes, a friend of mine was actually taken to tent city one night because he was dropped off after work a block from his house & the cops picked him up before he could make it inside. Things got a little crazy after the storm. One friend of mine, a liberal pacifist, started wandering around with a Colt .45 in her waist band.
One of the most disturbing things to me was how dark the city was. I guess most of the time you don't realize that even at night you look around & you can see every thing. After Katrina no street lights, no house lights no nothing. You couldn't see the houe across the street, you could hear people talking but you couldn't see them. There was no way to tell what was going on around you. Creepy.

Yeah, even creepier when all the buildings are gone...