Preparing for and Surviving Natural Disasters

[jfko6]

To All:

The damage was greater in some areas of NYC and some other parts of the State than others.

A Special NYPD Police force unit was sent around asking people to leave. This was observed in the vicinity of a 5 building housing complex. However, the entire Rockaway Peninsula was ordered to evacuate by Executive Order [Mayor Bloomberg] even if you were in the optional Zone B area. Zone A required mandatory evacuation. If you lived in Zone A, it was definitely more foolish to try and wait it out.

The rumor was that Bloomberg's handling of the bliazzrd snow storm earlier in the year, which prompted a city wide investigation into the Sanitation Dept., caused the cities Emergency Response to over react. But a look at a friends photo I borrowed bears a different story.

Update: The NYPD said that power would be turned off. But the ultimate decision would have been made by LIPA or Con Ed -- two separate utilities. This never happened. Traffic lights were affected. Potential for accidents was there --something to be careful of.

I heard that Waldbaums (a grocery market here in the States) had no more bottled water. But there were cases and cases of it in the back. That amount of water should not have been left in the back, regardless. I'm glad I had to use the bathroom and saw this hoarding.

That was a shameful thing to do.

Few shops and restaurants were open save for a pizza joint we found. The price seemed high. I asked for a special slice. The owner said: "Irene ate them all."

As far as gear is concerned. I did bring my military 5 gallon water container. http://www.lockergnome.com/jfk/files/20 ... 010002.jpg

Bags of pretzels came in handy. So did extra Gatored - chilled. Brought Ice as well and placed it in two coolers -- only because I had too. Ice was useful for transporting regular milk and creamer (half-n-half). Most people don't like powered milk.

GAS -- Most of the gas stations were out of gas or closed -- either one. This was true in a large vicinity of the affected area. Had a full tank of gas and luckily did not have to travel too far to safety. I guess a container designed for gas would come in handy though, I never faced that situation.

But I guess part of the lesson: Bring enough water though I had more than was needed, money, pogey bait, flashlights, batteries, chem lights, cell phone, cell phone charging equipment; but try to go light as reasonably possible -- not too heavy.

Try to plan that if you might need something that you'll be able to get it elsewhere and not overdo packing of gear.

[LogDayFreshHots]

jfko6-

I was at my Grandmothers house in Greenlawn when the blizzard hit and remember how all day, every day, the news reported nothing but the "scandal" concerning snow removal, trucks sitting around, guys collecting overtime pay, etc.

I remember watching reporters interview people in the burough's who complained and I couldn't help but wonder what happened to us? In the span of two generations we went from "grab the shovel and help the neighbors" to "when will the trucks get here?" When I was kid we all came out to help and spent the entire day shoveling snow, breaking ice, and throwing salt. If we all took a break and went our separate ways to dry out, get warm, and eat something hot we kept looking out the window as none of use wanted to be the last one to go back out for fear we might miss something. It was like a party!

But now it seems many have been conditioned to stand around and expect government to save the day.

I saw the news of Times Square looking like a ghost town. Any forums members in New England have any updates? The news just reported a million people alone on Long Island are without power. I know last night my Grandmother was still reporting the power is out. Millions from the Carolina's to New England are experiencing the same....

[jfko6]

This year saw many things that tend to test a man's metal. Blizzards, earthquake, record rain, injuries, unpresented damage. Exodus like in the Bible.

That's why you got to have some stuff to enjoy on hand.

[HungryMan]

"...But I guess part of the lesson: Bring enough water though I had more than was needed, money, pogey bait, flashlights, batteries..."

I'm embarrassed that I had to look the above up (from the "Urban Dictionary"):

1. pogey bait
The Marines in China before WW II were issued candy (Baby Ruths, Tootsie Rolls, etc.) as part of their their ration supplements. At the time, sugar and other assorted sweets were rare commodities in China and much in demand by the Chinese, so the troops found the candy useful for barter in town.

The Chinese word for prostitute, roughly translated, is "pogey". Thus, Marines being Marines, candy became "Pogey Bait".

Happy that you all made it through OK...

Seriously though...I am sincerely thankful that you are safe today and took the time to properly prepare. Thank you also for giving us all a first hand account of this trajedy and how you manged to work through it which was quite an interesting insight for me.

[jfko6]

Actually, I debated defining "pogey bait."

But now it seems you'll got it.

Excelsior.

[HungryMan]

Actually, I debated defining "pogey bait."

Excelsior.

Thanks for not taking my lame attempt at humor too seriously... (I've killed more threads than I can count on here and should probably regress to 'lurker' status for the time being...).

[biscuits brown]

The rumour was that Bloomberg's handling of bliazzrd snow storm earlier in the year...caused the cities Emergency Response to overreact

This is intereresting. I don't necessarily agree with it all, but its interesting...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14707462

[jfko6]

CNN iReport
http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2011/08/ ... ?hpt=hp_c1

[biscuits brown]

I think the issue is succesfully filtering out and seperating the OFFICIAL information from the hysterical media scare-mongering. Often the two streams of "information" get mixed up in peoples' minds.

The media should shut their big mouths trying to unnessessarily alarm people and going for maximum ratings when a major storm etc is approaching, and stick to reporting the official line, and maybe playing PRACTICAL AND USEFUL home preperation and first aid video clips advice. Maybe pre- prepared.

Its getting the same here. The media need to be way more responsible.

Jfko6 you did a great job to provide a diary thread with practical tips/lessons learned etc.

It should be people like you the media interview mate.

[jfko6]

Update: In NY we still have a least one million people without power. NYC residents were without power in some areas for 1-3 days.

At least 20 people died as a result of Hurricane Irene along the east coast and at least one man died trying to save a father and son.

Information travels faster than ever before. Good or bad? Probably more good than bad.

I surveyed the scene and saw that the boardwalk here in Rockaway split into two pieces and wiped out sections of the park.
We just haven't seen anything like this in a long time.

The media is certainly guilty of some things but no one can really ignore the lessons that were learned from Katrina
and procedures implemented as a result.

There will be another storm. We have to make sure that we ourselves parcel the information given.
Even word of mouth can many times be misleading.

This wasn't my first story on an actual survival situation on these boards. There are more topics within these forums.
E.G. viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1822&p=14385&hilit=survival#p14385

And I'm sure it won't be the last.

There is a place to go on mreinfo for some more information and topical links: http://www.mreinfo.com/links/ that may be helpful.

Until next time and a shout out to our brothers in the UK (Biscuits Brown) and in Liverpool.

Excelsior.

-JFK