First day of hurricane season

[Texashiker]

June 1 = the first day of hurricane season.

If you live in a hurricane prone area, what kind of steps do you take to get ready for the season?

Get the generator out and make sure it will crank
Get the chainsaw serviced, and buy an extra chain or two
Fill up the gas cans
Check AA battery stockpile
Check the flashlights and radios
Have some bottled water on hand
Update family contact phone numbers
Review homeowners insurance
Buy some 1 pound propane bottles for the coleman stove

Just some of the things I will be doing over the next few weeks.

 

[ViRGE]

The NHC's prediction for the year:

Across the entire Atlantic Basin for the six-month season, which begins June 1, NOAA is predicting the following ranges this year:

*12 to 18 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which:

*6 to 10 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including:

*3 to 6 major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of 111 mph or higher)

Also, hurricane/tropical storm warnings and watches were extended this year. A watch is now 48 hours, and a warning is now 36 hours. This is due both to the additional time needed to evacuate large cities, and because forecasts are becoming increasingly accurate.

 

[Anubis]

i love living in an area where there are no seasons named after natural disasters

 

[bobdole369]

We have enough stockpile to last a few days. Lots of water, flashlights, canned foods, coolers. A shortwave radio (battery), a ham radio (2m/440/1.25m), mother in law still has a landline phone (doesn't need power), and once the warnings issued do the usual things, fill up the tub, throw gallon jugs full of water in the freezer, turn it down to coldest. Have a coleman stove and a few bottles, means to make coffee over a fire, and of course we will fill up the cars. In the event of a major from the west or a 2+ from the east, our plan is to get out of Broward and go elsewhere before the fact. I have family in Tampa area, and if you can't find a hotel room in orlando, something is really wrong. Thats pretty much the plan for the aftermath if there is extended power outage. (recall a CAT1 Wilma took out everybodies power for at least 2 weeks, we had it back in 3 and my mum in 4 weeks.)

The county doesn't plan on distributing water or ice this year in the aftermath of any storms, as they have done in the past, so without power and a diabetic mom, its hard to justify not going elsewhere that does have power.

 

[gophins72]

battery powered gps is nice when there are trees everywhere and things aren't as recognizable as before.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Measure your windows for plywood covers.

If you can get the plywood, drill holes for the anchor bolts and verify that you have the proper corners marked.

Trim deadwood.
Any wood fences - fix loose slats or cross braces.

If you are targeted for a storm;

• Strip off nuts larger than a softball from the coconut tress - those can whip out like a 16 lb bowling ball and damage anything it hits
• Pick decent size fruit that are hard (mango and papya) that are growing above your waste
• Lower your pool water by at least a foot
• Toss in any patio furniture that is not going inside a building.

Above is from experience with a direct hit by Andrew

 

[bobdole369]

They say not to lower your pool anymore. It might actually pop out. I suspect it doesn't matter either way, your either gonna have it totally filled with water OR debris so I don't get why you should worry.

Picking up the coconuts, fruit, and other debris is a very good idea. Anybody who's seen the video from the Joplin tornado should know the danger:

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=708_1306863507

Now granted those are 200mph+ winds, but the idea is the same. As tater salad once said: "It ain't THAT the wind blows, it's WHAT the wind blows". Things turn into missiles literally (by definition even) in a strong cane. 100+mph wind for 4-8 hours straight will blow around EVERYTHING, so do your part and secure your stuff!

I hope that everyone has proper aluminium shutters or similar, but definitely prep your home now because it SUCKS having the storm bearing down and waiting in line for wood, or having not enough tapcons for the windows or your drill breaks.

Taping your windows is retarded. It does nothing but make the glass stick to whatever is inside when the windows go.

I've also always identified a saferoom in whatever dwelling I live. Thats the room of last resort. Should be window free and in the middle of the house. Its usu a bathroom or a closet. You take the family and throw them in the bathtub and bring your heavy mattress or coffee table, or big plywood and hide underneath it all when the roof starts to go.

Measure your windows for plywood covers.

If you can get the plywood, drill holes for the anchor bolts and verify that you have the proper corners marked.

Trim deadwood.
Any wood fences - fix loose slats or cross braces.

If you are targeted for a storm;

• Strip off nuts larger than a softball from the coconut tress - those can whip out like a 16 lb bowling ball and damage anything it hits
• Pick decent size fruit that are hard (mango and papya) that are growing above your waste
• Lower your pool water by at least a foot
• Toss in any patio furniture that is not going inside a building.

Above is from experience with a direct hit by Andrew

 

[ElFenix]

should probably buy new bottled water, my stash is now 4.

 

[DrPizza]

That reminds me - busy hurricane season predicted. The U.S. got lucky last year, really lucky, that weather patterns steered the majority of storms away from making landfall. I need some plywood for a project coming up later this summer. I better buy now, before the price skyrockets.

 

[ViRGE]

That reminds me - busy hurricane season predicted. The U.S. got lucky last year, really lucky, that weather patterns steered the majority of storms away from making landfall. I need some plywood for a project coming up later this summer. I better buy now, before the price skyrockets.

Aren't you in upstate New York, DrPizza? Is there really much of a risk of significant damage from a hurricane?

 

[Freshgeardude]

June 1 = the first day of hurricane season.

If you live in a hurricane prone area, what kind of steps do you take to get ready for the season?

Get the generator out and make sure it will crank
Get the chainsaw serviced, and buy an extra chain or two
Fill up the gas cans
Check AA battery stockpile
Check the flashlights and radios
Have some bottled water on hand
Update family contact phone numbers
Review homeowners insurance
Buy some 1 pound propane bottles for the coleman stove

Just some of the things I will be doing over the next few weeks.

of that list:

Have some bottled water on hand
Update family contact phone numbers


Im moving to college in 2 weeks up in gainesville, which is pretty far north florida.

its pretty rare for hurricanes to get up there, usually fighting through enough land to weaken them already

 

[dmcowen674]

Looks like Arlene is born in the Carib moving north

 

[guyver01]

Looks like Arlene is born in the Carib moving north

Except they haven't even forecasted it.


http://www.stormpulse.com/atlantic

Sat, Jun 4, 2011, 6:28 AM EDT
No active storms at this time.
Potential Storms: #1: Medium, 30%

 

[Chaotic42]

should probably buy new bottled water, my stash is now 4.

Heh, I have twelve gallons in storage. I'm hoping that this summer is similar to last. It's already started off that way, with June being really hot down here (we've already broken 100). If a high pressure area stays over the gulf coast, it will prevent storms from hitting here, probably driving them all into Mexico.

Hopefully they're prepared.

 

[LegendKiller]

Except they haven't even forecasted it.


http://www.stormpulse.com/atlantic

Sat, Jun 4, 2011, 6:28 AM EDT
No active storms at this time.
Potential Storms: #1: Medium, 30%

Who are "they"? "They" cannot even begin the compare to the magnitude of Dave's predictive power. His mind is slower than the speed of stupid, his predictions better than a $5 NYC fortune teller, his computational power equivalent to a abacus, his prognostications of doom ($5 gas, $10 milk, earthquakes shattering bridges, earthquakes in CA, stock market crashes) are second to all, but 3rd to Harold Camping.

Who are "they" to dare stand before Dave and utter a single pontificating prediction? We should all spit on "they" and listen only the Dave.

 

[DrPizza]

Aren't you in upstate New York, DrPizza? Is there really much of a risk of significant damage from a hurricane?

No, no real risk of damage, although I'll be smiling if the remains of a hurricane make it up here mid-summer. I like unexpected whitewater kayaking trips.

But, if part of the country gets pummeled with a hurricane, it seems the the price of plywood up here goes up about $10 per sheet. Hmmm... I wonder if the same happens to roofing shingles?

 

[Chaotic42]

No, no real risk of damage, although I'll be smiling if the remains of a hurricane make it up here mid-summer. I like unexpected whitewater kayaking trips.

But, if part of the country gets pummeled with a hurricane, it seems the the price of plywood up here goes up about $10 per sheet. Hmmm... I wonder if the same happens to roofing shingles?

Yes. If you're planning on building something this summer, I'd stock up this weekend.

 

[guyver01]

Who are "they"?

"They" would be the NWS National Hurricane Center.. but you're right... they cannot compete with made up bullshit.

 

[BUTCH1]

June 1 = the first day of hurricane season.

If you live in a hurricane prone area, what kind of steps do you take to get ready for the season?

Get the generator out and make sure it will crank
Get the chainsaw serviced, and buy an extra chain or two
Fill up the gas cans
Check AA battery stockpile
Check the flashlights and radios
Have some bottled water on hand
Update family contact phone numbers
Review homeowners insurance
Buy some 1 pound propane bottles for the coleman stove

Just some of the things I will be doing over the next few weeks.

Good list, let me add a couple more:
Several quarts of 30W motor oil, genny's need oil changes frequently, during 2004 some folks got a genny and tried to run it 24/7 for weeks without changing the oil, a lot wound up with ruined units.
Trim any trees, bushes that might come into contact with a home
Make sure any prescription meds are filled, if power is out it might not be possible to refill them.
Get some cash from an ATM, some businesses opened after some storms in 2004 but were unable to process credit/debit cards, cash only.
Beer....if you want beer get it early, when Charley was rampaging (unexpectedly) through I went to the store for more ice, ect. I saw a LOT of people in the beer aisle, pushed my cart through after it was empty and the only thing left was a 6 pack of Schlitz, minus 4 beers..

I have a bad feeling about this season too, really warm April and may is sure to have the ocean temps warm already...

 

[amdhunter]

I bet the gas mob is drooling already. Hurricanes = profit!

 

[MovingTarget]

Good list, let me add a couple more:
Several quarts of 30W motor oil, genny's need oil changes frequently, during 2004 some folks got a genny and tried to run it 24/7 for weeks without changing the oil, a lot wound up with ruined units.
Trim any trees, bushes that might come into contact with a home
Make sure any prescription meds are filled, if power is out it might not be possible to refill them.
Get some cash from an ATM, some businesses opened after some storms in 2004 but were unable to process credit/debit cards, cash only.
Beer....if you want beer get it early, when Charley was rampaging (unexpectedly) through I went to the store for more ice, ect. I saw a LOT of people in the beer aisle, pushed my cart through after it was empty and the only thing left was a 6 pack of Schlitz, minus 4 beers..

I have a bad feeling about this season too, really warm April and may is sure to have the ocean temps warm already...

Beer is especially useful to have a stash of when a 'cane comes.
1) Who couldn't use a beer during/after a big fuck storm?
2) Calories..you will need them during the cleanup
3) Currency...you can get your neighbors to do your cleanup work for you in exchange for beer

 

[BUTCH1]

Beer is especially useful to have a stash of when a 'cane comes.
1) Who couldn't use a beer during/after a big fuck storm?
2) Calories..you will need them during the cleanup
3) Currency...you can get your neighbors to do your cleanup work for you in exchange for beer

LOL, I mean they were JAMMED in the aisle, so much so I was able to navigate the rest of the store with ease, luckily Vodka is my drink of choice and I already had some at home. Oh, and one more thing, get the lawn mowed (time permitting), makes the inevitable clean up that much easier after it's gone through..

 

[Chaotic42]

Well, it's 104.4F (40.2C) with no signs of slowing down. Water temps are awesome too:

Man, 105.4. If this holds up as official, it will be the hottest day on record down here.

 

[BUTCH1]

Well, it's 104.4F (40.2C) with no signs of slowing down. Water temps are awesome too:

Man, 105.4. If this holds up as official, it will be the hottest day on record down here.

I thought so, probably lots of early-season Caribbean storms this year. The warmer air is also playing a big part in the heavy tornado activity as well as huge masses of gulf air merge with the colder air from the north, they even had an F3 tornado in Mass 2 days ago, kinda rare..

 

[preslove]

of that list:

Have some bottled water on hand
Update family contact phone numbers


Im moving to college in 2 weeks up in gainesville, which is pretty far north florida.

its pretty rare for hurricanes to get up there, usually fighting through enough land to weaken them already

The only real danger in gainesville comes from all the oak treas. They have really shallow root systems and can fall over after a little flooding.

<-- grew up in g-ville.