Hurricane Michael Prep- 8-10 October 2018

by MHM
18 October 2018

  The devastation caused by Hurricane Michael to Panama City, Mexico Beach, and other Florida communities has been a wake up call. I happen to know a few individuals who resided in those communities, with one deciding to stay in Mexico Beach and ride out the storm (he survived, barely).   Unfortunately, one family I know had their home destroyed, however they wisely decided to evacuate before the storm hit.
 

  Given the fact that warnings to evacuate were broadcast days before the storm hit with projected wind speeds of 145 miles per hour (233 kmh), there really isn’t any excuse for not evacuating, especially since a one hour drive to the west would have put anyone out of harm’s way. In my locality 45 miles to the west of Panama City/Tyndall AFB, we endured 50 knot winds and driving rain, but no tornadoes. Even a two or three hour jaunt east towards Jacksonville or Gainesville would have placed residents far out of danger.

 

  Looking at NOAA satellite footage, the extent of the damage is unbelievable, with devastation from Panama City to Mexico Beach, and far inland due to high winds. It’s interesting to note that the eye of the hurricane caused the most damage, approximately 20 miles in diameter. NOAA photo’s show that damage to buildings and trees is relatively light to the west of the eyewall in eastern Panama City from the western edge of St. Andrews Bay westward, while everything east was severely damaged. This is one aspect of hurricanes which should be taken into consideration when evacuating (the most intense part of the storm is near the eyewall and right hand quadrant).

 

  As the storm intensified and Hurricane Michael’s track was more certain, we checked updates on an hourly basis. On the day of the projected eastern turn, I woke up at 0400 and checked the storm track. By this time, it had not shown any movement to the east; on the contrary, its course was 360 degrees with speed of 12 mph, sustained winds of 140 mph (National Hurricane Center Advisory 15, 10 Oct 2018).  I informed my relatives and made preparations to get the hell out of Dodge, planning on stopping in Pensacola, Mobile, or a location to the northwest. The main problem was leaving before the roads became congested, and bridge closures when winds reach a sustained 40 miles per hour. 

 

  As I was preparing my gear, we received a National Hurricane Service update at 0600 hours that the storm was indeed turning ever so slightly to the east. Subsequent reports by NOAA P-3 Orion aircraft which penetrated the hurricane, and NHS updates showed an increasing change in direction to the east (10 degrees, 13 mph, 145 mph winds- Advisory 16). Fine for us, not so for Panama City and its inhabitants.

 

  While I had filled up my gas tank days beforehand, just before the supply of gas at the stations ran out, I didn’t fill up a five gallon gas can (I can make about 335 miles on a full tank). Additionally, I made sure I had a good stock of fluids for the vehicle, and checked all the tires. I also prepared food for at least ten days, and had sufficient funds for an extended stay out of town (during a previous storm, canned goods at Walmart were quickly depleted). My pitfall was not having my gear previously loaded into B4 and duffel bags ready to go; I spent an hour collecting items while also reviewing NHS storm data. 

 

  The disaster is certainly a wake up call, and we should have been prepared to leave at a moments notice. With hurricane season waning, I hope complacency will not set in for those in the path of such devastating storms.

  The following list is from a Florida county disaster prep website, feel free to modify.    

 

Hurricane/Disaster Preparedness List

Water Have one gallon of water per person per day (2 quarts for drinking and 2 quart for cooking). If you don't have the storage available purchase collapsible water containers and fill when they are needed.

Food Store non-perishable foods- canned meats, vegetables, and fruits. Store canned juices, milk or soup Sugar, salt, pepper Energy foods- peanut butter, jelly, crackers, granola bars, trail mix Vitamins Infant, elderly or special diet foods Comfort food- cookies, candy, cereal, lollipops, instant coffee, instant tea

First Aid Kit
Have one kit for your home and one your car. There are many pre-made kits available but these kits can be expensive. It would be more cost effective to build your own kits and place them in a good sturdy bag. Below is a list for building your own kit.

Sterile adhesive bandages (assorted sizes) 2" sterile gauze pads (4-6) 4" sterile gauze pads (4-6) Hypo allergenic adhesive tape Triangular bandages (3) 2" sterile roller bandage (3 rolls) 3" sterile roller bandage (3 rolls) Scissors Tweezers Needle Moistened towelettes Antiseptic

Tongue Blades (2) Petroleum Jelly Thermometer Safety pins assorted sizes Cleansing agent/soap Sunscreen Aspirin/non-aspirin pain reliever Anti-diarrhea medicine Antacid Laxative Activated charcoal First-aid book

Tools and Supplies

Disposable eating utensils Emergency Preparedness Manual Battery operated radio & batteries Flashlight & batteries Cash or travelers checks, change Non-electric can opener, utility knife Fire extinguisher (ABC type) Tent Pliers Tape Compass Matches in a waterproof container Aluminum foil Plastic storage containers Signal flare

Paper, pencil Needles, thread Medicine dropper Wrench to turn off utilities Whistle Plastic sheeting Map of area Toilet paper, towelettes Soap, liquid detergent Feminine supplies personal hygiene products Plastic garbage bags Plastic bucket & lid Disinfectant Household chlorine bleach

Clothing and Bedding
Include at least one complete change of cloths per person. 

Sturdy shoes or work boots Rain gear Blankets or sleeping bags

Hat and gloves Thermal underwear Sunglasses

Special Items
Remember family members with special needs, such as infants and elderly or disabled persons. 

Baby Formula Diapers Bottles Powered milk Medications		Adults Heart or high blood pressure medication Insulin Prescription drugs Denture needs Contact lenses and supplies Extra eye glasses
Pets Food and Water		Entertainment Games and books
Important Documents Wills, insurance, contracts, deeds, stocks, and bonds Passports, social security cards, immunization records Bank account numbers Credit account card numbers and company contact numbers Inventory of valuable household goods, important telephone numbers Family records (birth, marriage, death certificates)

SUGGESTIONS AND REMINDERS

• Store your kit in a convenient place known to all family members. Keep a smaller version of the Disaster Supplies Kit in the trunk of your car.
• Keep items in air-tight plastic bags.
• Change your stored water supply every six months so it stays fresh. Rotate your stored food every six months.
• Re-think your kit and family needs at least once a year. Replace batteries, update clothes, etc.
• Ask your physician or pharmacist about storing prescription medications.

mhm
19 October 2018
Old School Survival (OSS) blog