Skip to main content

This is a PLAN!
Son & Teammate went to Port O'Conner for Gustav, & got in a couple days fishing off one of the oil rigs in the Gulf. 40 lb. Pompano! and about 150 lbs of Red Snapper (maybe after baseball, he'll be a fishing guide!)
I'd would be grilling it, adding sauted artichoke, onion & garlic "salsa", and some grilled red peppers & mushrooms on the side. UMMMM!!!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3287/2842412169_3114a0a3ca_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3266/2843246992_bf6680ffe5_o.jpg
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

I received this today as a joke, but unfortunately most of it is true.

We are again in the hurricane season. You may soon be turning on the TV and seeing a weather person pointing to some radar blob out in the Gulf of Mexico and making two basic meteorological points:

(1) There is no need to panic.
(2) We could all be killed.

Yes, hurricane season is an exciting time to be in Louisiana . If you're new to the area, you're probably wondering what you need to do to prepare for the possibility that we'll get hit by 'the big one.' Based on our experiences, we recommend that you follow this simple three-step hurricane preparedness plan:
STEP 1 - Buy enough food and bottled water to last your family for at least three days.

STEP 2 - Put these supplies into your car.

STEP 3 - Drive to Nebraska and remain there until Halloween.

Unfortunately, statistics show that most people will not follow this sensible plan. Most people will foolishly stay here in Louisiana . We'll start with one of the most important hurricane preparedness items:

HOMEOWNERS' INSURANCE: If you own a home, you must have hurricane insurance. Fortunately, this insurance is cheap and easy to get, as long as your home meets two basic requirements:

(1) It is reasonably well-built, and

(2) It is located in Nebraska .

Unfortunately, if your home is located in South Louisiana, or any other area that might actually be hit by a hurricane, most insurance companies would prefer not to sell you hurricane insurance, because then they might be required to pay YOU money, and that is certainly not why they got into the insurance business in the first place. So you'll have to scrounge around for an insurance company, which will charge you an annual premium roughly equal to the replacement value of your house. At any moment, this company can drop you like used dental floss. Since Hurricane George, I have had an estimated 27 different home-insurance companies. This week, I'm covered by the Bob and Big Stan Insurance Company, under a policy which states that, in addition to my premium, Bob and Big Stan are entitled, on demand, to my kidneys.

SHUTTERS: Your house should have hurricane shutters on all the windows, all the doors, and -- if it's a major hurricane -- all the toilets. There are several types of shutters, with advantages and disadvantages:

Plywood shutters: The advantage is that, because you make them yourself, they're cheap. The disadvantage is that, because you make them yourself, they will fall off.

Sheet-metal shutters: The advantage is that these work well, once you get them all up. The disadvantage is that once you get them all up, your hands will be useless bleeding stumps, and it will be December.

Roll-down shutters: Th e advantages are that they're very easy to use, and will definitely protect your house. The disadvantage is that you will have to sell your house to pay for them.

'Hurricane-proof' windows: These are the newest wrinkle in hurricane protection. They look like ordinary windows, but they can withstand hurricane winds! You can be sure of this, because the salesman says so. He lives in Nebraska .

Hurricane Proofing Your Property: As the hurricane approaches, check your yard for movable objects like barbecue grills, planters, patio furniture, visiting relatives, etc. You should, as a precaution, throw these items into your swimming pool (if you don't have a swimming pool, you should have one built immediately). Otherwise, the hurricane winds will turn these objects into deadly missiles.

EVACUATION ROUTE: If you live in a low-lying area, you should have an evacuation route planned out. (To determine whether you live in a low-lying area, look at your driver's license; if it says ' Louisiana ,' you live in a low-lying area.) The purpose of having an evacuation route is to avoid being trapped in your home when a major storm hits. Instead, you will be trapped in a gigantic traffic jam several miles from your home, along with two hundred thousand other evacuees. So, as a bonus, you will not be lonely.

HURRICANE SUPPLIES: If you don't evacuate, you will need a mess of supplies. Do not buy them now! Louisiana tradition requires that you wait until the last possible minute, then go to the supermarket and get into vicious fights with strangers over who get the last can of SPAM. In addition to food and water, you will need the following supplies:

23 flashlights

At least $167 worth of batteries that turn out, when the power goes off, to be the wrong size for the flashlights.

Bleach. (No, I don't know what the bleach is for. NOBODY knows what the bleach is for, but it's traditional, so GET some!)

A 55-gallon drum of underarm deodorant.

A large quantity of raw chicken, to placate the alligators. (Ask anybody who went through the last storm; after the hurricane, there WILL be irate alligators.)

$35,000 in cash or diamonds so that, after the hurricane passes, you can buy a generator from a man with no discernible teeth.

Of course these are just basic precautions. As the hurricane draws near, it is vitally important that you keep abreast of the situation by turning on your television and watching TV reporters in rain slickers stand right next to the ocean and tell you over and over how vitally important it is for everybody to stay away from the ocean.

Good luck, and remember -- It's great living in The Sportsman's Paradise !
Here in the land of liquid sunshine, we get hurricanes, tornados and fires..the last "big ones" caused us to evacuate entire counties and don't let us forget the occasional rogue wave...the earth doesn't move for us though...most of us have been married way to long for that Wink..I'll never forget the year we had 4 canes plough through...washing generater gas off of my hands with rain water...and finding weather channel music the most hypnotic mind numbing drivel ever created..I still feel my bp raise at the sound..even in elevators and doctors offices. One thing is certain though..you get this unbelievable appreciation for having electricity.
Speaking of Hurricanes and Wild Fires....

My husband is still in Louisiana, he was activated by the Red Cross to supervise food production for the folks in the shelters. The medically evacuated people from Gustav are still being "sheltered," those responsible for them are still waiting to see what Ike does. (Can't move them around too much they're fragile)

A group from Oregon who usually fight Wild Fires out west have joined him to work in the shelters. I guess they like the "grub" cause they asked him to move to Oregon and join them on the fire lines. Big Grin They must do Seasonal work!? I have also verified that at least some of them are OSU Beaver fans!

They are restocked and ready waiting to see if their next "guests" will be arriving from Texas or Louisiana Confused


Baseballmom, I'll sacrifice myself and help you out with some of that 150lbs of Red Snapper if you would like Wink
Last edited by Still Learning
Still Learning,
I haven't even gotten any!! The guys took it all back to New Orleans with them!! opps, shouldn't have told tu that...now your husband will be "stalking" Tulane to sniff out the aroma of grilled snapper for all the evacuees!!

And I just got word that daughter is evacuating from A & M Galveston! Man what a start to this school year!! Eek
My parents live in Corpus Christi and are determined to ride out this hurricane, which REALLY frightens me. Currently, Ike is predicted to be a Category 4 storm when it hits. I grew up in Corpus and remember Hurricane Celia in 1970, a Category 3 hurricane which left us without power for about 10 days and caused untold damage to numerous homes up and down our street (thankfully, ours had only one broken window). My parents were in their late 30's back then and it scares the bejeebers out of me to think what could happen to them should a window blow out, now that they are in their late 70's.

Believe it or not, if the hurricane lands where predicted, San Antonio will be receiving 100+ mph winds this coming Saturday -- equivalent to a Category 2 hurricane -- even though we live about 150 miles inland.
Last edited by Infield08
quote:
Originally posted by louisiana09:
TPM,

Do you have a regular home owners deductible and a separate hurricane deductible? I think I would have to lose my whole roof to reach the hurricane deductible, I pray I never have to find out.


I live in a community where it's all covered by collective monthly payments. If insurance doesn't cover costs, then we are assessed. Maintenance is high. Unfortunetly lots of folks here don't have full coverage for their roof repair. And insurance costs have forced people to lose their homes and move out of state.

I have been here 30 years, been through numerous Cat 1,2 hurricanes, and Wilma the first one that destroyed us (3). She actually came from the west and picked up speed after she left the everglades and that is where my community sits so we got it from the back end (they usually come east) and sat on the "dirty" side of her. We missed direct hit by Andrew of about 50 miles, and I have never seen anything like it in my life down south, so if a cat 4 comes I am leaving (friends up north make room).
We've been through 75-100mph force winds and didn't have any major destruction, Wilma I think was up to 120-130. It wasn't the wind or rain but the tornadoes being on teh dirty side of the storm.
As jd suggests, the biggest fear is loss of power. Fortunetly Wilma came and the next day it was in the 60's and we managed, we lost electricity for only a few days but most of our family was out for about 2 weeks. The scariest feeling was going to the store and there was NO FRESH FOOD for days and days. Now most of the stores have generators, as well as gas stations. I feel for those in the poorest of countries that have to go through this weeks on end.
Last edited by TPM
Baseballmom,

You haven't any Red Snapper!?! Eek I guess that means Baseballson will just have to go out and get some more! After everything blows over of course.

While I was typing, Hubby called and they are "on Alert" the busses are being lined up and the guests will be arriving...

As Infield08 notes Ike is to remain strong well inland...Katrina did that, causing damage all the way up in Memphis.

I lived a little while in Baytown, TX (1961 Carla) and spent many years living in Miami, FL (too many Hurricanes to list)and have had lots of experience with these storms and as TPM and others have shared they are no fun and must be respected. Thoughts and prayers for everyones safety including IF08 parents and Baseballmom's daughter & friends as they travel.
Last edited by Still Learning
About two months ago I moved to the coast of NC and went through my first "hurricane" last weekend. I believe Hanna ended up officially being a tropical storm but I was pretty nervous over that. I actually ended up sleeping through it because it hit land about 15 minutes south of me at around 2 am. It woke me up and my trailer was shaking from the wind blowing. If it was shaking that much just from a TS I don't want to try and tough out a real one.

I ended up rolling over and going back to sleep though.
quote:
Believe it or not, if the hurricane lands where predicted, San Antonio will be receiving 100+ mph winds this coming Saturday -- equivalent to a Category 2 hurricane -- even though we live about 150 miles inland.


Say WHAT?! Come again??!! I had read they were evacuating people TO San Antonio, so was thinking the folks in SA might get their hair mussed a bit, but no idea it could possibly get hammered. Hmmmm..., well my son loves storms and rain, so I guess it'll be an interesting experience for him!

IF08, ya sure you can't convince your folks to bail out?
Last edited by Krakatoa
Yall can watch progression on www.wunderground.com. Go to Computer Models for track changes. Public advisory is posted every 4 hours.
or KHOU for Houston weather...

My mom lives in San Antonio, too. Weather folks are saying 65-75mph winds & lots of rain Sat-Sun...
I'm in Dallas, so we are looking at 45mph winds & rain...

Big if...is the landfall & how it hooks after that.

Daughter has just left Galveston at 5:30AM, boarded up her apt windows & loaded her car. She's in a ground floor apt. & I fear she's going to be flooded. Should be home about 10:00 this morning, unless she hits the evac caravan's...I just want her home NOW! Please pray...Thanks!
Last edited by baseballmom
The news shows the freeways are still moving so that's good! Houston's Mayor moved his news conference up to 7:00 so have to wonder if they're going to start having evacuations in parts of Houston. Your daughter should be through before that starts so it's good she left so early this morning. If she should get stuck-we're on the north side of Houston on her way home if she needs anything. The memories of 3 years ago and the panic on the freeways when traffic just stopped are still very fresh in everybody's minds here...As the storm strengthens, pray we don't see that again-I've never seen anything like that...We dodged the bullet last time when the storm turned, but doesn't look like that's going to happen this time.
ORmom,
Thank you for the offer. Casey got home about 10:30 this morning. She is (now) very thankful she left before sun-up...avoiding being in the middle of millions of drivers/cars.
We have so many family members down there...from Corpus Christi all the way up the coast to Beaumont. Everyone that needed to get out, did, and Storm Shutters or boards put up!

Yall stay safe!! talk to you on the other side of this thing.
Scary days! It's hard to imagine having to drive away from your home and hope that it will be intact when you return.

Our friends in Texas, and those with loved ones in Texas, please let us know how you are doing over the next few days. Prayers for your safety, and for minimal loss of property and possessions.

Julie
baseballmom, I don't know how much news y'all are getting but Galveston is already flooding and the storm is still 200 miles away. Water's coming over the seawall-West End's already flooded-and it's low tide. Storm surge hasn't started either! This was not expected this early and it looks like it's going to be worse than expected for Galveston. Breezy and sunny in Houston-wouldn't have a clue what's headed this way. The anticipation is terrible.
ormom,
Yes, I've been watching TXCN since 4AM..couldn't sleep. Daughter's apt & all belongings will be gone, I'm sure. My homeowners "said" she's covered 100%...we'll see if they fight this as a "flood issue". I'll fight for wind driven...we'll see!
Several of my neices, nephews, husbands' cousins have had to flee...One nephew works on a platform...very concerned till he got back to land!

I imagine Galveston campus will finish out the semester in College Station. Waiting for word early next week.

I've been taking steps to downsize & move to the coast in a couple years...Grew up in Corpus & love it...went thru Carla ('61).

Are you safe? Dry? Will ya'll flood?
PLEASE take all precautions!
My father and a couple of his old cronies have a house on Bayucos Island across the bay from Port O'Connor (about 1/2 way between Galveston and Corpus). I was there yesterday helping them board up and secure everything for Ike's visit. The only way to get to the island and the house is via boat. Since they are all in their late 60's, and I have a truck, tools, strong back and weak mind, I had the privilege of driving all the materials from Ft. Worth to Port O'Connor while my father and two of his fishing buddies flew in to meet me.

After spending the better part of Wednesday ferrying materials out to the house and working non-stop through the night, we finally got everything secured, reinforced, locked down and water tight about noon yesterday. By 2:00, my dad and I were pulling out of Port O'Connor with boat in tow, headed north for Cowtown. It took me about 6 1/2 hours to get there on Wednesday and 11 to get home.

It will be interesting to see how the old place, (and my engineering) stand up to Ike. I've got my fingers crossed!

Add Reply

Post
.
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×