Huricane IKE Preps. What I Will do Next Time

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oldsaltgrassbear

Joined
May 22, 2007
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I am starting this thread in hopes of pulling much needed tips from people who like myself stayed for IKE.
1. If you plan on staying for a Hurricane start making preps. as soon as hurricane is headed for the Gulf.
2. If you don't prepare EVACUATE you will become a victim
3. Prepare a toilet system--I think people skimped on this one (I did)
4. A 3500 watt generator will run a freezer, a small window AC unit and a TV. You will need approx. 10 gallons of fuel per day to run 24 hrs. a day.
5. You will not cook as much as you think. Out of the 12 days without electricity we used 4, 16 oz. propane bottles. 7 people--I would still stock for 1 per day though.
6. Buy good battery lanterns and a good supply of batteries. When the electricity is off, propane lanterns emit too much heat. It's already hot enough.
7. Buy the best ice chest you can afford. your ice will last longer.
8. Buy all your perishable foods in small containers. This way you only have to keep one cold. It takes less space in the ice chest and the others can sit on the shelf. A little more expensive but worth it.
9. The mosquitoes will come out soon. Have plenty of fogger. The little devils were huge. Learn your generator cut off times to avoid refueling in the middle of the night. The little critters might carry you off.
10. Make sure your vehicle is full of fuel. You will need it to travel to the FEMA and RED CROSS pods.
11. Board your windows. It will keep the bugs out also if they are broken.
12. PLEASE THANK the volunteers, electrical people, military, Red Cross and FEMA personel, they showed up quickly and are still there helping out.
13. Hang in there GALVESTON you can make it.
14. I will stopp here--there is so much more--hope to hear from others.

SGB


SGB
 
Great tips !!!!

I would also add to invest in some good LED flashlights

I truly hope this thread helps people to see the light.... no pun intended

good job
 
You are right. I had a surefire Z2 converted to LED. I used it 24 hrs a day as needed. Lit up a dark room perfect to cook buy, cold shower ( this bring up another point. invest in a portable shower heater- the kind you can buy at Cabelas or Academy, all us tuff guys can take it ;) but it sure keeps the ladies and infants happy) outside generator work ect. and only used 3 sets of batteries. +1 for sure fire.


SGB
 
Marine stores- like Boat US or West Marine- stock the white marine grade coolers. You can get some really excellent ones, far better than what you can find at mall wart, big 5, or whatever. We noticed the difference when we lived on the boat.

I don't use TV, but a 12 Volt peltier cooler might be worth looking into. We ended up with one of those on the boat, too. could run for a day on the house battery (indefinitely with the 20 watt panel once we got that), but charging the house battery with the engine only took a half hour twice a day. I personally would hate to need 100 gallons ($350) of gas for ten days. when I used 1/3 gal of deisel a day to charge the house batteries on the boat. I also don't do the AC thing, even when it's 115 out here, but that's my peculiarity.
 
One of the 12 vdc coolers would work good but might be a little small for a large family. Would be a good option for meds. if needed. 100 gallons sounds like a lot, but considering a $250.00 a day average for hotel , food and travel it was quite a savings. Plus you have the comfort of your own home. Solar panels might have become airborn during the storm but could have been put out afterwards, this might be a good option for running electronics if needed.


SGB
 
Well, the 20 watt panel on the boat was pretty windproof. Never went through a hurricane but we did weather some 55 not winds out there. Not fun, but it held together.

We don't realy have a lot we need to keep fridge cold, stuff we learned on the boat about food storage- most veggies and even eggs just need cool, even 55 or 60 in a cooler is fine, you just don't want them to bake. (eggs have a time limit, but I'm not going to be going and buying them if everyone is without power). The only things we really need to keep in the fridge level are meat, beer, some sauces we make and juices. And some of the cheeses, I guess. I'd honestly be more worried about our freezer, but since that's all meat or fruit pate, it's not a huge deal- if the power goes out for more than 8 hours like last year when it went out for a week in the storms, we take all the meat (except hot dogs) and start making stew. We can keep a pot of stew/chili/soup going all winter and have, this one was 3 weeks. The fruit went into the cooler to defrost over days and get used in fruit drinks. Hot dogs just went in the cooler.
 
I stayed in Houston for the hurricane and we just got our power back yesterday (Friday) after being out for two weeks. We did not have any house problems other than no power. My wife and I survived just fine (no kids) at home. Here's what we had:

1000 watt Honda generator burning five gallons of gas in the two weeks. It powered a fan, fluorescent floor lamp, computer and cell phone chargers and cable TV. We did not use the generator at night, just slept with the windows open. Warm but not bad. We used the generator in the evenings only as we both work. The power company worked to fix power to businesses first so our offices were up and running two days after the storm.

Gasoline was available if you wanted to wait in line. I just filled up all vehicles before the storm. After a week gasoline was plentiful.

We have a gas water heater and gas stove. Gas has never been cut off in any storm as long as I remember. Heater is automatic but you need a sparker or lighter for the stove. Warm showers and hot food makes life more normal.

The first few days we barbequed steaks, ribs and whatever was in the refrigerator and freezer. After that was rice, top romen, can food but mostly out to dinner. We don't live in Galveston so many restaurants were open. This is the part my wife liked.

Water never went off but due to low pressure mayor suggested boiling water. We just drank bottled water and water stored in containers before the storm. I have a MSR water filter just in case but never used it.

We lost one tree and a lot of limbs. It just gave me an opportunity to try out all my edged tools and axes.

We had several LED flashlights with spare batteries. Only had to change a battery in one flashlight. We had UCO candle lanterns and spare candles. Surprisingly one candle is enough light to take a shower and shave (I use a safety razor). The candle lantern makes it easy (and safe) to move the candle from room to room.

As long as your house is intact, life is reasonably normal with a few preparations. The part I missed most is not having cold drinks. Ice was just not available. I have an ice chest that will keep ice for five days, but alas no ice.
 
right, candle lanterns! I keep forgetting- that was the one thing that really pissed me off last year in the storms- with 9 to 15 people around the house (we had plenty of guests for hot showers and meals since we have old style gas hardware- there's 9 every day, the 15 is extras) I didn't get to use any of the 7 candle lanterns I'd bought at Ikea to decorate my bar!!!! And this after having got crap from everybody about using canldes to light my backyard bar in the first place. I told them they'd be handy if the lights went ut. I told them....

Well, now we have 12 candle lanterns, dammit. I get one next time.

Tea light candle lanterns from ikea and 100 packs of tealights. we have 12 of one and at least 300 candles. If you aren't bugging out, it's cheap, easy and decorative.
 
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Regarding your generator: Secure it! The have-nots take to "foraging for supplies" very soon after their comfort level has been exceeded.

Also, a siphon hose is good for getting gas out of your vehicle should your gas supplies for the genny get thin.

After doing the whole generator thing after our numerous storms, I bought a permanent 16kW unit and buried a 250 gallon propane tank in the yard.
 
Honda generators are some of the best. Ice should have been available at FEMA and RED CROSS pods. Gas stations looked like bread crumbs on the beach with the seagulls flocking around. I too have been looking into a standby generator and will be going to n.g. for hot water heater and stove. Some candles are a good item to have and even make for a relaxing mood. An attic fan would also be a plus as long as you had a generator to run it.


SGB
 
The Honda 1000 is very quiet and has an econo mode where the generator slows down to match the load. Saves gas. I kept the generator inside when not in use (very portable). It was on the back patio in use so I doubt someone could steal it even if they knew it was there. The neigbor's 5 kw was very obvious and a more likely target, but there were never any suspicious characters about.

The Honda 2000 watt generator was not available when I bought mine. It probably would run a window A/C unit or small refrigerator and still be very portable.

I live in the Memorial area so no PODS in our area. I saw a POD down in Seabrook and the line was several hours long. I would rather buy a cold beer or coke at a supermarket or convience store than wait that long. One thing that dawned on me toward the end but did not use it, there is a deli in my office building that had an ice maker. I bet I could have bought a small cooler of ice when they left at 3 pm everyday. They would have all night to replenish their ice and I would have some at the house.

Another thing was the POD MRE's. I am sure most people had no idea how much those things cost. $75 a box. I wonder how many boxes showed up at the flea market. Maybe I ought to check for next year. :D
 
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I was down in Baytown last weekend running a chainsaw for people that needed it. What a war zone.

It was like a surreal movie. I was glad to help.

TF
 
There was a house that got it's roof lifted. Someone came in and installed some temp. plastic film that looked to be adhesive backed. Not sure what it was. Chainsaws are a must have along with fuel and oil.


SGB
 
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