QOTD; Mon 29 Oct - Storms

[FallenPixels]

Do you prepare when they forecast a bad storm?
Do you think that people no longer prepare because of so many forecasts that never really came true

[vesper]

I do. And is not wise to be caught unprepared because the worst storms, are the ones with no warning.

[danger_dan]

I'm always prepared.
My folks show up at my place, and always tell me that if there was ever a natural disaster, I'd be ready for it and prepared to stay hunkered up for a good 4 month

I'm sure people around here (GTA) may feel like that, but out east may be a different story.

[Patty Smyth]

I think their ability to forecast is so bad that it has led to loss of lives because people are fed up of them crying wolf. Almost seems like the more modern technology there is, the worse their predictions are.

How many times in the last few years in particular have they been VERY wrong on so many levels.

While I do believe this storm will be deadly I think there are lots of people who have not evacuated and may pay the price.

[Lynn49]

I'm always prepared.


My folks show up at my place, and always tell me that if there was ever a natural disaster, I'd be ready for it and prepared to stay hunkered up for a good 4 month

I'm sure people around here (GTA) may feel like that, but out east may be a different story.

And um...you live where?! ...

I agree with Patty...the predictions so often err on the side of worst-case-scenario that people become complacent when that "worst case" doesn't appear. It's always good to be prepared and to leave when given evacuation instructions, but watching tv this morning, there are those stubborn folks who "armed with duct tape", figure they can ride it out. I hope they can, but many in the past did not.

[alicia]

I always have the "basics" on hand, and full propane for the BBQ, just in case (I've cooked a fine pot roast with roasted veggies on that thing). I've been through a good amount of hurricanes and storms, but generally I'm sort of oblivious to them. The only thing I hate about storms is when the power stays off for so long at home, but you have to work where they do have power. Makes for some interesting getting ready (at least when I lived with my parents - the house is below street level meaning they need a sump pump to get all that stuff to the street... so no showers, flushing, etc). Thankfully they got a generator after the "big one" everyone in NS talks about (Hurricane Juan in 2003).

[TaraF]

I do prepare but really preparation for me is purchase water if I don't have some on hand. I always have candles, flashlights, canned food, etc on hand so to prepare for a storm I don't have to do much. I do think as others have said that so many "mega storms" are predicated that never happen and it does tend to make many complacent. At the end of the day however, we are all adults, make our own decisions and I hope that people have made the decision to take this storm seriously. Just incase.

[Natalka]

Because we're in the middle of the prairies, our storm danger is from possible tornadoes - and because of where we are they tend to skirt around where we are.
However, when there's a watch and a warning, we make sure we are ready.

I do think some people are taking warnings for serious storms less seriously - but that's to their detriment, because there's always 'what if'...

[annedougherty]

What storm? kidding

[vesper]

Did you see any tornadoes this summer? I got a few.

Because we're in the middle of the prairies, our storm danger is from possible tornadoes - and because of where we are they tend to skirt around where we are.
However, when there's a watch and a warning, we make sure we are ready.

I do think some people are taking warnings for serious storms less seriously - but that's to their detriment, because there's always 'what if'...

---------


the people of NOLA ignored the warnings in 2005. That even though they were aware the city was below sea level. They assumed it would be like all other hurricanes that miss the city.

Good thing my shipment of new flashlights just arrived this week (saw the ad on this site)

[Natalka]

vesper, no - but there were several just on the outskirts of the city.

[vesper]

Probably many of the ones I saw. Yahoo!!

[glowworm2k]

I don't do too much preparation for storms. Sure, I will move stuff around in my yard to make sure it doesn't blow away in a wind storm, but I see that as common sense, not as storm preparation. I grew up in a rural area, and power outages happened at least once a month in the winter (and generally much more often than that), lasting anywhere from 3 hours to 3 days (we lived at the end of a long concession road with one hydro line running down the side of the road) depending on how quickly a crew could get out to fix it. As we were rural, we were much less of a priority than the cityfolks. As I grew up with power outages, I don't think they are that big of a deal or worth worrying about.

All of that said, I do know what to do in a storm or other emergency. I always keep some canned foods around that can safely be eaten without heating. If the power goes out, I do fill jugs and pots and pans with water while the pressure in the mains remains good, but I don't go overboard and I know I can get water out of my toilet tanks (3.5L each) and hot water tank (another 120L) if I miss the window when the pressure remains, if necessary. Rain barrel (grey) water can be used for flushing the toilet, or we can just dig a hole in the backyard and not worry about the toilet to conserve water. There are always a few candles and flashlights in my house as well as a first-aid kit. We also have a barbecue and a campstove for cooking/boiling water or heating rocks to use in a steel bucket set on a few paving stones/slabs to provide radiant heat to a room in the house if need be.

And now that I re-read that, I realize that I do sound like one of those folks who does a lot for a storm!

[DaveP]

I don't do too much preparation for storms. Sure, I will move stuff around in my yard to make sure it doesn't blow away in a wind storm, but I see that as common sense, not as storm preparation. I grew up in a rural area, and power outages happened at least once a month in the winter (and generally much more often than that), lasting anywhere from 3 hours to 3 days (we lived at the end of a long concession road with one hydro line running down the side of the road) depending on how quickly a crew could get out to fix it. As we were rural, we were much less of a priority than the cityfolks. As I grew up with power outages, I don't think they are that big of a deal or worth worrying about.

All of that said, I do know what to do in a storm or other emergency. I always keep some canned foods around that can safely be eaten without heating. If the power goes out, I do fill jugs and pots and pans with water while the pressure in the mains remains good, but I don't go overboard and I know I can get water out of my toilet tanks (3.5L each) and hot water tank (another 120L) if I miss the window when the pressure remains, if necessary. Rain barrel (grey) water can be used for flushing the toilet, or we can just dig a hole in the backyard and not worry about the toilet to conserve water. There are always a few candles and flashlights in my house as well as a first-aid kit. We also have a barbecue and a campstove for cooking/boiling water or heating rocks to use in a steel bucket set on a few paving stones/slabs to provide radiant heat to a room in the house if need be.

And now that I re-read that, I realize that I do sound like one of those folks who does a lot for a storm!

Yes. You sound like one of those folks who doesn't need to prep at the last minute because you're already prepared. You have the basics on hand and you have the knowledge from having gone through it before. The people who have neither are usually the ones in trouble.

Stay safe, glowworm.

[princessjen]

All I do is make sure my watch alarm is set just in case the power is out so I'm not late for work. I always have extra food and water around all year anyways. Storms are never what the forcasters make them out to be.