Official Hurricane Florence Thread

[s0me0nesmind1]

I have to disagree here, (and Darwin333 will back this up), after the storm FUEL IS KING. Many people get lucky enough to score a Genny and think a 5 gallon jug is OK, it's NOT. Power might be out for WEEKS here not 3-4 days and that Genny will suck gas keeping your fridge cold or (even worse) a room AC going. For Irma I had just shy of 40 gallons plus a full tank and I felt like I needed more. A few more tips, trim ANY bush, tree, branch that's even somewhat close to your house, driven by 100+MPH winds these will damage your roof/home when they thrash wildly. Clean gutters, (obvious), and stock up with any and all meds possible, without power pharmacies cannot operate.

I really don't see the point of buying a generator. The only thing I need to ensure is that I have enough food and drink to last until most major flooding recedes, which is typically a couple days after the storm passes.

Hence also why my survival supplies are non perishable. Obviously I would clean out the fridge first anyways.

It might be perceived as gold, but that's just because people are so stupid these days the concept of surviving without a television is foreign to them.

 

[Darwin333]

Don't let social media driven panic set in. Stick to your usual gasoline-buying patterns (unless driving inland). No sense creating shortages for your neighbors. Resist the urge to fill the quads, RV, lawn mower, gas cans, etc.

Hopefully the supply chain has gone through the drill enough times to lay on additional delivery capacity. People may need fuel to leave town, but not to sit around the house jobless for several days.

Sorry but fuck that shit. Gas is absolute KING in the aftermath of a hurricane. The preppers can have all the gold in the world but they and everyone else forgets to stock gas. The gas that you NEED is all of sudden worth 10, 20, or even 50 times what you purchased it for because people are fucking stupid. Guess what, stupid hurts so if you have to part with some nice gold jewelry for a few gallons of gas because you bought a sweet generator and a single 5 gallon gas can then so be it, you get to pay what its worth for other people to part with a necessity that they can't replace when they need it the most.

I keep no less than 110 gallons of gas on hand throughout the hurricane season, constantly rotating it into my truck and refilling the cans which then go back into the barrels with stabilizer. I personally won't need that much but my business damn sure will and I have a system down that doesn't cost me much money at all anymore besides some inconvenience.

 

[Darwin333]

This is how people in Florida act during a cat 1 hurricane.

It's a friggen Cat1. We have parties for those, all of the meat was taken for big ass BBQs.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Sorry but fuck that shit. Gas is absolute KING in the aftermath of a hurricane. The preppers can have all the gold in the world but they and everyone else forgets to stock gas. The gas that you NEED is all of sudden worth 10, 20, or even 50 times what you purchased it for because people are fucking stupid. Guess what, stupid hurts so if you have to part with some nice gold jewelry for a few gallons of gas because you bought a sweet generator and a single 5 gallon gas can then so be it, you get to pay what its worth for other people to part with a necessity that they can't replace when they need it the most.

I keep no less than 110 gallons of gas on hand throughout the hurricane season, constantly rotating it into my truck and refilling the cans which then go back into the barrels with stabilizer. I personally won't need that much but my business damn sure will and I have a system down that doesn't cost me much money at all anymore besides some inconvenience.

You're obviously a good person to ask this: what is it about gas that makes it gold ?

For vehicles, presumably you can't go anywhere due to floods anyhow....

For generators, the majority can only work on a few major appliances - so aside from keeping food fresh what is the big incentive?

 

[Darwin333]

I have to disagree here, (and Darwin333 will back this up), after the storm FUEL IS KING. Many people get lucky enough to score a Genny and think a 5 gallon jug is OK, it's NOT. Power might be out for WEEKS here not 3-4 days and that Genny will suck gas keeping your fridge cold or (even worse) a room AC going. For Irma I had just shy of 40 gallons plus a full tank and I felt like I needed more. A few more tips, trim ANY bush, tree, branch that's even somewhat close to your house, driven by 100+MPH winds these will damage your roof/home when they thrash wildly. Clean gutters, (obvious), and stock up with any and all meds possible, without power pharmacies cannot operate.

Exactly. I made my post before I read this or I would have included it.

As for pharmacies, they are usually the first thing that is robbed in a serious SHTF hurricane so even after services get restored it takes them extra time to function.

 

[Chaotic42]

You're obviously a good person to ask this: what is it about gas that makes it gold ?

For vehicles, presumably you can't go anywhere due to floods anyhow....

For generators, the majority can only work on a few major appliances - so aside from keeping food fresh what is the big incentive?

Lights, entertainment, cold drinks, and the big one: air conditioning.

I'll never forget how absolutely brutal it was after Katrina. I moved outside and slept in the truck bed because it was just too hot inside. I've lost power in several storms and there is no greater moment than when the AC kicks on.

 

[Darwin333]

You're obviously a good person to ask this: what is it about gas that makes it gold ?

For vehicles, presumably you can't go anywhere due to floods anyhow....

For generators, the majority can only work on a few major appliances - so aside from keeping food fresh what is the big incentive?

The flood waters recede long before shit gets operational again. People will then start hearing rumors of gas at XYZ station so they will drive over there which takes 10 times the time because of all of the blocked roads only to find that they never had gas or are now out of gas. But by and large it is roughly 80% of people that purchased generators right before the storm hit. They got them a nice genny and a single 5 gallon can of gas and they ran that bad boy constantly until *GASP* it quit within 12 hours of first starting it, if that. Those are the real people that will trade you anything in the world for some gas, the are the Alpha males that promised their SO they could ride this shit out, don't you worry I got us the most expensive genny they sell!

Look up the manufacturers stats and see how long 5 gallons of gas, even if the tank is already full, will last you when you run it 24 hours.

 

[Darwin333]

I really don't see the point of buying a generator. The only thing I need to ensure is that I have enough food and drink to last until most major flooding recedes, which is typically a couple days after the storm passes.

Hence also why my survival supplies are non perishable. Obviously I would clean out the fridge first anyways.

It might be perceived as gold, but that's just because people are so stupid these days the concept of surviving without a television is foreign to them.

Umm, there is nothing on TV in the days following except them reporting on shit that you already know. Generators are used for fridges, lights and window ACs. It is generally fucking hot as balls where hurricanes hit and even muggier than usual. Generally the contents of your entire fridge and freezer cost more than the damn genny but I do invite you down to N'awlins to spend a week in a house with no AC and nothing more than what is in your ice chest in July or August down here.

 

[BUTCH1]

You're obviously a good person to ask this: what is it about gas that makes it gold ?

For vehicles, presumably you can't go anywhere due to floods anyhow....

For generators, the majority can only work on a few major appliances - so aside from keeping food fresh what is the big incentive?

You can help lower consumption by running the genny 4 hours on (then shut down for a few hours), the fridge will keep cold enough as long as it's not opened a lot. I can do OK without any AC in the day but at night, trying to sleep in a cinder-block home that's been baking in the FL sun all day is just horrific.Before I got my genny a power loss meant 84 degree temps at night with 90% humidity.

 

[highland145]

Mine is 10-12hrs on 6 gallons. Not very long considering...

 

[JoeBleed]

I have to disagree here, (and Darwin333 will back this up), after the storm FUEL IS KING. Many people get lucky enough to score a Genny and think a 5 gallon jug is OK, it's NOT. Power might be out for WEEKS here not 3-4 days and that Genny will suck gas keeping your fridge cold or (even worse) a room AC going. For Irma I had just shy of 40 gallons plus a full tank and I felt like I needed more. A few more tips, trim ANY bush, tree, branch that's even somewhat close to your house, driven by 100+MPH winds these will damage your roof/home when they thrash wildly. Clean gutters, (obvious), and stock up with any and all meds possible, without power pharmacies cannot operate.

good advice as i've seen people not think about it. And i'll add get enough oil and oil filters for your generator and don't skip the scheduled service. especially if you just bought it. I heard yesterday our local lowes has sold a few truck loads of generators. I was also told people were seen buying two to three. this bothers me because i expect those to be sold at a hefty markup after the storm.

 

[realibrad]

It's a friggen Cat1. We have parties for those, all of the meat was taken for big ass BBQs.

On the East coast where I am, that cat 1 did quite a bit of damage. Its been a while sense we were directly hit down here, and things have gotten relaxed. Had that last hurricane hit us head on, we would have been f-ed in the A really hard.

 

[tynopik]

 

[tynopik]

I really don't see the point of buying a generator.

to keep from having to replace everything in there fridge/freezer

Obviously I would clean out the fridge first anyways.

some people have enough in their fridge/freezer/deep freezer that it's not practical to 'clean it out' unless you mean simply throwing away food that is worth more than a generator

 

[Humpy]

The most important resource would seem to be a few of weeks vacation time to head to San Diego or wherever until the flood smell dissipates.

 

[K1052]

Yikes...new model runs have the eye striking and stalling around Wilmington then sliding down the coast to around Myrtle Beach SC to then turn hard east and tear through the length of SC.

 

[vi edit]

Yikes...new model runs have the eye striking and stalling around Wilmington then sliding down the coast to around Myrtle Beach SC to then turn hard east and tear through the length of SC.

Grand Slam on the Grand Strand. :/

 

[vi edit]

I actually bought into a still being developed vacation property near the Myrtle boardwalk earlier this year. Guessing this is going to slow down development a bit.

 

[K1052]

Grand Slam on the Grand Strand. :/

It's not even the worst one...there is another scenario that strikes Wilmington, stalls for a while, goes back out a bit where it will pick up more moisture, and rakes the coast before landfalling again in Georgia.

 

[highland145]

Yikes...new model runs have the eye striking and stalling around Wilmington then sliding down the coast to around Myrtle Beach SC to then turn hard east and tear through the length of SC.

frack

It's not even the worst one...there is another scenario that strikes Wilmington, stalls for a while, goes back out a bit where it will pick up more moisture, and rakes the coast before landfalling again in Georgia.

double frack.

Still gotta hit the beer store.

 

[Darwin333]

good advice as i've seen people not think about it. And i'll add get enough oil and oil filters for your generator and don't skip the scheduled service. especially if you just bought it. I heard yesterday our local lowes has sold a few truck loads of generators. I was also told people were seen buying two to three. this bothers me because i expect those to be sold at a hefty markup after the storm.

After Katrina I had people willing to trade me all kinds of things that were WAY above the value of the gas like gold rings, gold chains, etc for 5 gallons of gas. One guy even offered to allow me to bang his wife for 5 gallons of gas, that one I noped right out of but it wasn't the only "favor" that I was offered. Most people started with full tanks of gas in their vehicles but ran out driving around looking for gas. After a few days was when it really got bad and it was obvious that I had gas because I was one of the few still driving around. Even better I had a tier one pass so I could, and did make many a trips, to Baton Rouge to buy shit tons of gas. I had plenty for personal use but my crews were working around the clock, as was I but I wasn't busting ass on a hot ass roof all day, burning through gas in both gennies and vehicles. So I would take 4 55 gallon drums and as many 5 gallons as I could fit to Baton Rouge, fill them up, and drive back in. I-55 was shut down for "emergency" vehicles only which included power trucks, road clearing vehicles, etc and my tier one pass got me through all of the checkpoints so I didn't have to wait in the 8 hours of traffic on I-10 from people trying to get back in, most of whom got turned around. That was super sweet because other than when we were initially coming back in it was devoid of traffic and when it wasn't everyone actually knew how to drive like human beings! We now have more drums for gas and a small trailer to haul them back and forth.

If you have the gas to leave after the storm you won't be able to get back in and the gas pumps don't work with no power. A storm like this can easily knock out the power for a week or more.

What was weird was I could drive to within 3 miles or so of the Superdome before I had to turn around. A high water military type vehicle could have easily made it through, everything beyond was elevated, and a few small air powered pumps could have drained that spot so all vehicles could make the trip in less than a day, bigger or more pumps in hours. I have no idea why it took so long to help and rescue those people. People should have went to jail over that shit.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

frack

double frack.

Still gotta hit the beer store.

Dude, you hit the beer store AFTER the storm. That's when you get the best deals.

 

[vi edit]

After Katrina I had people willing to trade me all kinds of things that were WAY above the value of the gas like gold rings, gold chains, etc for 5 gallons of gas. One guy even offered to allow me to bang his wife for 5 gallons of gas, that one I noped right out of but it wasn't the only "favor" that I was offered. Most people started with full tanks of gas in their vehicles but ran out driving around looking for gas. After a few days was when it really got bad and it was obvious that I had gas because I was one of the few still driving around. Even better I had a tier one pass so I could, and did make many a trips, to Baton Rouge to buy shit tons of gas. I had plenty for personal use but my crews were working around the clock, as was I but I wasn't busting ass on a hot ass roof all day, burning through gas in both gennies and vehicles. So I would take 4 55 gallon drums and as many 5 gallons as I could fit to Baton Rouge, fill them up, and drive back in. I-55 was shut down for "emergency" vehicles only which included power trucks, road clearing vehicles, etc and my tier one pass got me through all of the checkpoints so I didn't have to wait in the 8 hours of traffic on I-10 from people trying to get back in, most of whom got turned around. That was super sweet because other than when we were initially coming back in it was devoid of traffic and when it wasn't everyone actually knew how to drive like human beings! We now have more drums for gas and a small trailer to haul them back and forth.

If you have the gas to leave after the storm you won't be able to get back in and the gas pumps don't work with no power. A storm like this can easily knock out the power for a week or more.

What was weird was I could drive to within 3 miles or so of the Superdome before I had to turn around. A high water military type vehicle could have easily made it through, everything beyond was elevated, and a few small air powered pumps could have drained that spot so all vehicles could make the trip in less than a day, bigger or more pumps in hours. I have no idea why it took so long to help and rescue those people. People should have went to jail over that shit.

Jeez. That reads like the prequel to the Mad Max movies.

 

[BUTCH1]

Mine is 10-12hrs on 6 gallons. Not very long considering...

Part of the problem is that a genny has to run at 3,600 RPM regardless of load to maintain 60Hz and if your running a 6.5-8.5 Kilowatt machine it will burn quite a it of fuel. Adding loads forces it to work harder of course, and consume more.

 

[Darwin333]

some people have enough in their fridge/freezer/deep freezer that it's not practical to 'clean it out' unless you mean simply throwing away food that is worth more than a generator

People have no idea how much it costs to replace everything in just the fridge much less the freezer.

Protip: If you evacuate and can't get back in for a week or more DO NOT OPEN YOUR REFRIDGERATOR. Just don't do it. Duct tape it closed, get a hand truck and move it to the curb for it to be picked up. Everyone thinks they can clean it out but you can't, that kind of stink permeates every orifice of your refrigerator. If you open it the most putrid smell that you have ever smelt will fill your home and if you still don't have power you will still be smelling it for days, if you do have power you will still smell it for a day or longer. Trust me on this one guys, I know most people won't listen but you are going to wish you had, there are no words that can properly describe just how awful that smell is, like it came straight from Satans ass. Buy a large cooler BEFORE you go home if you don't already have one.

If you have an insurance claim they will cover your fridge too.