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Wednesday,
September 21, 2005
Hurricane
Rita is currently a Category
4 storm. Presently, it is
in the very warm waters of
the Gulf of Mexico and is
strengthening. As a survivor
of Hurricane Katrina, here's
my advice to everyone in the
USA: Get Ready!
If
you live in the projected
storm path...
1. Determine
where you will go to shelter
from the storm for at least
5 days.
2. Call ahead to make sure
that your intended shelter
will be available for you.
3. Have a place to go if you
cannot return home after 5
days.
4. Photograph your home &
possessions to document their
pre-storm condition.
5. Secure your home. I used
plywood secured by storm clips
to cover windows; it worked.
6. After securing it, photograph
your preparations to assess
the results for the future.
7. Follow steps 1-6 below.
8. Pack your car & be
ready to leave.
9. DO NOT WAIT TO THE LAST
MINUTE TO GET OUT. If you
do, you may never leave.
If
you live on the Gulf Coast
west of Mobile, Alabama...
1. Gather
important papers. We did but
forgot some & this caused
us undue trouble.
2. Buy
basic disaster supplies (like
fuel) now. If you wait, stores
may be out of stock or closed.
3. Get
refills now on vital medications;
finding a doc when you evac
is no fun.
4. Get $100-250 in cash to
take with you; some merchants
wouldn't take credit/debit
cards.
5. Pack
enough clothing for a stay
of 5 days. We didn't &
wore the same clothes for
days.
6. Check
weather reports several times
over the course of the day
as storm paths do change.
If
you live anywhere else
in the USA...
Prepare for a change in lifestyle.
80% of domestic oil &
gas production comes from
the Gulf of Mexico. Work crews
that were repairing rigs in
the Gulf have already been
evacuated and the storm will
cause additional damage to
production facilities. The
region from the Houston Ship
channel to Lake Charles, La.
is a vital refining/production
center; these areas will incur
damage and production will
be adversely affected regardless
whether the storm changes
course slightly. Gas prices
will increase nationwide,
further cutting into discretionary
spending. Government will
be forced to tax our nation
even further to speed recovery
of the disaster.
Hurricane
Katrina was considered a wake
up call and many people are
more aware that regional disasters
affect the entire nation.
Frankly, the freedom of jumping
into our cars to drive off
as we please is part of the
American psyche. What we must
ask ourselves is whether perpetual
suburban sprawl has outlived
its usefulness. Can we as
a nation continue to afford
commuting an average 15 miles
a day plus drive the kids
to extra curricular activities
like karate or dance class
and run errands? The taxes
we pay to support our addiction
to the automobile are enormous.
Let's begin looking at alternative
means of transportation before
it is too late.
Peace
and best wishes,
Larry
Lagarde
Read the current storm info, why
to prepare & how
to prepare for this disaster.
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