Emergency Management

[Jeff Higgins]

After re-visiting the whole New Orleans Katrina mess in the news recently, I found this rather refreshing.

http://www.villainouscompany.com/vcblog/archives/2007/01/george_bush_hat.html

This text is from a county emergency manager out in the central part of Colorado after today's snowstorm.

WEATHER BULLETIN Up here, in the Northern Plains, we just recovered from a Historic event--- may I even say a "Weather Event" of "Biblical Proportions" --- with a historic blizzard of up to 44" inches of snow and winds to 90 MPH that broke trees in half, knocked down utility poles, stranded hundreds of motorists in lethal snow banks, closed ALL roads, isolated scores of communities and cut power to 10's of thousands.

FYI:

George Bush did not come.

FEMA did nothing.

No one howled for the government.

No one blamed the government.

No one even uttered an expletive on TV .

Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton did not visit.

Our Mayor did not blame Bush or anyone else.

Our Governor did not blame Bush or anyone else, either.

CNN, ABC, CBS, FOX or NBC did not visit - or report on this category 5 snowstorm. Nobody demanded $2,000 debit cards.

No one asked for a FEMA Trailer House.

No one looted.

Nobody - I mean Nobody demanded the government do something.

Nobody expected the government to do anything, either.

No Larry King, No Bill O'Rielly, No Oprah, No Chris Mathews and No Geraldo Rivera.

No Shaun Penn, No Barbara Striesand, No Hollywood types to be found.

Nope, we just melted the snow for water.

Sent out caravans of SUV's to pluck people out of snow engulfed cars.

The truck drivers pulled people out of snow banks and didn't ask for a penny.

Local restaurants made food and the police and fire departments delivered it to the snowbound families.

Families took in the stranded people - total strangers.

We fired up wood stoves, broke out coal oil lanterns or Coleman lanterns.

We put on extra layers of clothes because up here it is "Work or Die".

We did not wait for some affirmative action government to get us out of a mess created by being immobilized by a welfare program that trades votes for 'sittin at home' checks.

Even though a Category "5" blizzard of this scale has never fallen this early, we know it can happen and how to deal with it ourselves.

"In my many travels, I have noticed that once one gets north of about 48 degrees North Latitude, 90% of the world's social problems evaporate."

It does seem that way, at least to me.

Maybe SOME people will get the message. The world does not owe you a living.

[Jims5543]

I have been through massive blizzards on Long Island where we were shut down for days.

I have been through 3 hurricanes now.

In neither instance did I ask for help from the government.

If I had to choose between the 2? I'll take a blizzard anytime over a hurricane.

We laugh at 90MPH winds in Florida its when they hit 130-150 that you stop laughing and start crapping your pants.

NO was unique because it flooded, look at a wall in your house right now and imagine water within a foot of your ceiling. Thats a little more intrusive than snow on your roof.

I am not making excuses for the debacle of leadership in NO. They screwed the pooch there. Even in Florida after the first hurricane I remember coming to the realization that after the storm passes, you are toatally on your own. I was well prepared but many were not having never been through a storm before.

Remember many places had not been hit in over 20 years many had no clue what was about to happen to them or had a sense of security thinking they can ride out a storm with little preperation.

NO was a perfect example, many chose to stay home (this is typical of many storms) and ride it out, they made it throught the hurricane fine it was the ensuing floods that did them in.

I can go on and on.

Once you have been through a hurricane you'll think a blizzard is fun and games.

[Jims5543]

Remember on TV after a Florida storm hit they would show the lines of people waiting for ice and water? Usually within the first 24 hours after the storm passed?

These people are loosers, neither my neighbors nor I ever needed a single hand out in any of the 3 storms. We had the sense to stockpile prior to them.

But I ask you, what do you do when your power goes off after a blizzard? How do you keep your perishables from spoiling? Oh, you put the stuff outside.

How do you keep warm? Fireplace, wood burning stove?

What do we do in Florida? Can't put our perishables outside its 100 degrees out there.

Cannot cool off its 100 degrees out there and it takes a lot of electricity to run A/C. The last a checked there were no wood powered A/C units.

Its apples and oranges.

[scottmandue]

I have told this story before but it bears repeating.
My friend moved to Kauai a short time before the big hurricane hit.
Everything was wiped out, no electricity, no water, windows blown out, roofs blown off.
The locals pulled together, dug each other out, shared food and shelter.
A year later everything was pretty much rebuilt.
All this on a tiny island two thousand miles away from the nearest continent.

[AFJuvat]

Another fun fact about Florida and Hurricanes.

Here, we have what are called "Barrier Islands" These are densely populated and some of the most expensive real estate. They are connected to the mainland of Florida by a series of causeways.

In the event of a hurricane, the barrier islands are evacuated. The public is then informed that all emergency services (police, fire, ambulance) are leaving the islands and the causeways are closed to all traffic. If you choose to stay and get in over your head (literally or figuratively) NOBODY is coming to help you until after the storm passes.

Amazingly enough, that seems to work - people actually leave.

Jim - I keep a large supply of 2 liter bottles and\or gallon milk jugs during the season, when a storm gets close, fill them about 3/4ths full of water and throw them in a chest freezer - keeps the food cold and it is clean drinking water.

Small generator will power a fridge, chest freezer, and a window AC unit (makes sleeping tolerable)- cook on your BBQ

AFJ

[Jim Richards]

IMO, hurricanes are much worse than blizzards. I've been through both and I'd take a blizzard anyday.

[JSDSKI]

Originally posted by Jeff Higgins
"In my many travels, I have noticed that once one gets north of about 48 degrees North Latitude, 90% of the world's social problems evaporate."

Nice. One tragedy better than another? One more "politically correct"? I suppose it's "those people" again. God must have really been pissed when he created them and had them born south of the magic latitude.

+1, Jim. A blizzard will never equal the power of a 100mph+ hurricane and ensuing flood thru lowlands. Imagine a tornado in the middle of a blizzard while your house fills up with slush - then you can brag. The guy in Colorado might need rotator cuff surgery with that pat on the back, tho.

[Joeaksa]

A bit closer and all you have to do is look at the way Houston handled a second hurricane a few weeks after Katrina. They did as they should and there were very few issues.

Believe that we all know where the problem is in NO. Now the stupid mayor is standing up and saying that the crime is down in the city. Doofus, majority of the criminals moved to other cities after the hurricane, thats why the crime in NO is lower now!

[gaijindabe]

If you aint been through a Typhoon or Tropical Cyclone you really don't know what a storm is.. There I was, sipping a G&T on the veranda when a wind blew up...

[Jim Richards]

The problem in NO is they never should've built below sea level, never should've screwed up the barrier islands, marshland, and they never should've let the Army Corp. of Engineers anywhere near a construction project so critical as the levees. Oh yeah, Nagin is a joke, too.

[Superman]

I'm pretty sure Denver is substantially south of the 48th parallel. Seattle on the other hand, is very close. But in order to be above the 48th parallel, you'd be in Canada. I'd agree that many of the social problems we wrestle with are avoided in socialist Canada.

[IROC]

Jeff - you may realize this, but that "bulletin" you posted is a hoax. Or at least was not written by "county emergency manager out in the central part of Colorado". It's been circulating the internet for years after each major snowstorm/flood/etc....they just change the location in the title...

Mike

[Jim Richards]

probably written by Ann Coulter.

[john70t]

Great, then we can shut down FEMA, the National Guard redundancy.
Seems like it only serves as an extra bank account for Bush's Department of Homeland Facism anyways.

[scottmandue]

Originally posted by Jim Richards
IMO, hurricanes are much worse than blizzards. I've been through both and I'd take a blizzard anyday.

Me too! I have never been through either but I'm pretty sure your chances of getting laid during a hurricane are very low.

[Jim Richards]

BEST RESPONSE, EVAR!

[gaijindabe]

Originally posted by scottmandue
.....your chances of getting laid during a hurricane are very low.

But the power was out and no TV for a while:

Hurricane Katrina prompts baby boom
NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- Medical professionals in New Orleans are blaming a local baby boom on Hurricane Katrina.

Figures show an increase this year of 8 births per 1,000 women even though the number of city residents has decreased by more than half, The Los Angeles Times reports.

Dr. Alfred Robichaux III, chairman of obstetrics and gynecology at Ochsner Health System, says last year there were 33 births per 1,000 women in New Orleans.

This year, with half the population of a year ago, the city has recorded 41 births per 1,000 women.

[legion]

Thanks Juvy!

My mom lives of Merrit Island...

[Jims5543]

Originally posted by AFJuvat
Jim - I keep a large supply of 2 liter bottles and\or gallon milk jugs during the season, when a storm gets close, fill them about 3/4ths full of water and throw them in a chest freezer - keeps the food cold and it is clean drinking water.

Small generator will power a fridge, chest freezer, and a window AC unit (makes sleeping tolerable)- cook on your BBQ

AFJ

I installed a 15KW Propane home generator with a switch box that monitors the public utility line. Power out generator switches on and I have my power restored in 10 seconds. Power back generator shuts down and switches me back over.

I have it wired to run about 1/2 my house and my central air.

Before that I had a gas powered 5550 watt generator and then I packed my freezer with water bottles like you do.

We have a water service so we always have 40 gallons on hand.

[Jims5543]

Originally posted by scottmandue
Me too! I have never been through either but I'm pretty sure your chances of getting laid during a hurricane are very low.

You are correct, typical home after a hurricane has minimal electricity if any, no a/c and ice cold showers do little for your libido.

Plus everything around you is destroyed and you usually have damage to your home, you not in too good of a mood and typically really tired after dealing with the heat all day long and all night long. The last thing you want to do is work up a sweat beating the brakes off it.

Its not as romantic as sipping wine by the fireplace catching up on conversation after an exilerating day outside in the snow.


I'll take 90-100 MPH winds any day over 150+ with gusts up to 170. Your butthole puckers up so tight you dont poop for a week.