What we learn from sailing - hurricane prep for home

[Parsons]

We're expecting (little) Hurricane Nicole this morning in central Florida, and I took a walk through my neighborhood. It seems that no one bothered to take in their porch furniture and decorations, secure trash cans and other lawn equipment. Has no one thought about what a 60+ kt wind will do? Perhaps it is just that I grew up in the area, but I think some of my shock comes from years of sailing. Do you find yourselves thinking ahead about weather and preparing contingency plans for emergencies in your land-based lives?

 

[kappykaplan]

Do you find yourselves thinking ahead about weather and preparing contingency plans for emergencies in your land-based lives?

Yes.

 

[jssailem]

Yes I do. It had been ingrained as a result of sailing. When alone on the water you learn to rely on your own skills. The firemen, plumbers, electricians, etc are not a phone call away.

 

[dlochner]

Yes. That comes not from hurricanes but from snowstorms. Back in March 1993 I lived in a rural area after some 60" of snow it took three or four days before the plows came through and we could get out of the driveway. Now, I have 2 sources of heat, one is independent of the grid and a gas cooktop, I can stay relatively warm and eat hot meals even in the dead of winter.

The upside is keeping beer cold is easy.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

While sailors are generally aware of wind direction, that doesn’t mean others are not. Most of my neighbors aren’t boaters yet understand quite well the direction from which storm force winds come and therefore what side(s) of their home is exposed vs. shadowed from the wind. And they also understand how wind direction can change as a storm passes.

All this means is most people around here understand the wind will come from the north and the “back side” of their property will largely be uneffected by this storm.

 

[Thaniel]

It seems that no one bothered to take in their porch furniture and decorations, secure trash cans and other lawn equipment.

I used to live in Kansas where it is often very windy and the above mentioned items could never be left out or they'd go flying. We'd watch the news showing footage of high winds in some other state and they'd show that type of stuff flying around and we would wonder why it was left out in the first place as no one around us ever did.

 

[JamesG161]

Do you find yourselves thinking ahead about weather and preparing contingency plans for emergencies in your land-based lives?

yes and the reason we have this forum.

Weather and Forecasting

It does not matter what Season, to stay informed about the Weather.

Preparing on Land or Water is important.

Feel free to post any information about Hurricane Nicole here. Pictures are welcome.

TS Nicole - Every time a bell rings a storm is named

Jim...

PS: @Parsons start your own post in W&F.

 

[rgranger]

Hahaha... my wife complains that I talk about wind all the time...

 

[Timm R Oday25]

As a sailor and a person who lives in the land of the perpetually frozen ,I concur about always keeping an eye on the weather . This past fall southern Wisconsin had 6 very small huricanes in one day . No one was at least concered. Why? Because they had never experianced one here .
We have propane for our furnace and stove. We mostly heat with firewood . We also have a large clear stream running through the back of our property . If we were to lose power ,we'd lose our well . No showers ,but we could still flush the toilets . Occasionally we will get a snowstrom that delivers a substantial amount of snow . Living on a dead end road miles from town,we just put our trucks in 4 wheel drive and carry on..

 

[SailingLoto]

Hahaha... my wife complains that I talk about wind all the time...

My boss is always amazed by my wind and weather forecasts . He's yet to correlate the relation of fair north or south winds to days I take off though.

 

[jssailem]

There is an excellent book about wind...


" And Soon I Heard a Roaring Wind "
A natural history oof moving air.
Streever, Bill.. Little, Brown and Company.

Told by a sailor...

 

[BigEasy]

We're expecting (little) Hurricane Nicole this morning in central Florida. Do you find yourselves thinking ahead about weather and preparing contingency plans for emergencies in your land-based lives?

Absolutely. Been dealing with hurricanes since I was a kid . Even with a cat 1 hurricane, need to remove canvas & sails and rig additional lines for storm surge. We were fortunate this year with no storm threats; unfortunately, Florida is having a bad year.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Absolutely. Been dealing with hurricanes since I was a kid . Even with a cat 1 hurricane, need to remove canvas & sails and rig additional lines for storm surge. We were fortunate this year with no storm threats; unfortunately, Florida is having a bad year.

Here's a song for you! hurricane band of heathens youtube - Bing video

 

[BigEasy]

We're expecting (little) Hurricane Nicole this morning in central Florida, and I took a walk through my neighborhood.. Has no one thought about what a 60+ kt wind will do?

Just goes to show that even a cat 1 storm can do lots of damage. Pictures & reports coming out of Daytona & surrounding areas show that surge caused lots of damage on coast. Always be vigilant and prepared.