- Oct 20, 2013
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California will exprience its first real landfall hurricane since 1939 (possibly downgraded to tropical storm status) this coming Monday morning. Being inexperienced with hurricanes , Californians could benefit from the advices of Floridians who have seen a few in our time. Here are some tips:
- If streets are flooded, and you still have electric power, and water levels rise the height of your indoor electric outlets, before this happens, turn off all power to your whole house.
- Most deaths from hurricanes occur from people electrocuted in their own homes, from water levels getting into electric outlets.
- Before the storm hits, get lots of water stored (bottles). Electric power could be out for a week or more. While humans can live for weeks without food, they cannot live for more than 3 DAYS without water. If store shelves are empty of bottled water, try collecting rainwater during the storm. A 55 gallon barrel can fill up during a hurricane or tropical storm in a few minutes.
- Storms could last anywhere from 3 hours to about 4 days (if the eye settles and stays in one place)
- Hurricanes in California are likely to be far more dangerous than in Florida. This is because of California's hilly topography. Hillsides denuded from summer fires, do not have the vegetation that can soak up the rain, and land without vegetation can soil erode quickly, causing flash flooding, mudslides, rockslides, and washed out roads. Sinkholes can also appear quickly. Stay off the roads.
- Although it is predicted that the 130 MPH hurricane force winds blowing just before reaching southern cal will diminish to about 70 MPH (weak category 1 hurricane), theses predictions don't always hold up. If the track of the storm moves slightly west, and the eye is over the Pacific, the storm could remain at over 110 MPH.
- If the storm is at 100 MPH or more, it is essential to remove, all things that the winds coukd easily pick up and toss around patio furniture, bicycles, trash cans, etc. If this flying debris hits and breaks your windows unprotected by protective film, and the hurricane force winds get inside your house, they will tear apart the inside of your house in one minute. Cover windows any way you can.
- Be up to date on frst aid supplies. You may not be able to get to a medical facility, and paramedics may -not be able to reach you.
- Sandbags can help to keep water from getting inside your house.
- Battery, crank and solar powered radios can help keep you in communication.
- small camping wood stoves can give you cooking capability'
- without power and ability to drive, you will be instantly tossed into the the 19th century.
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