There's plenty of thundering, blowing, raining and hailing going on all over the country--though some areas sure could use MORE rain. I don't know about you, but I look at such instances as if they are giving us a much needed "trial run" to test out our level of preparedness amidst a "surprise" situation that Mother Nature likes to throw at us. And there are plenty of "trial runs" available. As we've already seen played out in the national news, the storm and tornado season is in full swing--not to mention the lightening strikes that are causing so many fires. Each year, the U.S. gets an average of 5.9 hurricanes, 1,000 tornadoes and 10,000 severe thunderstorms! But you and I both know that there are a lot of folks doing some CRAZY things and appear to have more spit than sense when it comes to being ready for a severe storm.
You know who I'm talking about. Perhaps it's one of those crazy people who get within 100 feet of a huge tornado just so that they can post the footage to YouTube. Or maybe you're familiar with those folks who go and purchase tons of batteries, beer, and band-aids at the last minute and THEN, after the storm has passed, they take it all back to the store for a refund. (Well, less the beer, I suppose.) I actually remember that happening after Hurricane Sandy--all of the city folks going crazy and buying all of the things that they should have had on hand in the first place, taking it all back the next day for a refund! That's just nutzo!! I don't know about you, but I'm looking at that scenario and shaking my head thinking "Hello! Mother Nature just gave you a dress rehearsal so you're not caught so vulnerable the NEXT time--and yes, there WILL be a NEXT TIME--and yet you're going to negate what little bit of preparedness you accomplished as a result of this experience and return it all??!" Yes, I truly did yell that at the TV one night.
Then of course there's the situation in which a hurricane is predicted in an area that we all know is prone to hurricanes--and yet when the forecast comes, everyone is freaking out, going to the hardware store and buying up nails and plywood and such. I still don't understand that one. It's not like these folks woke up one day and realized that they were IN a hurricane prone area, right? So why in the world don't they just keep the nails and the plywood and such on hand in the first place instead of subjecting themselves to the craziness that goes on in the hardware store right before a coastal storm?? My husband would call that "dumb squared".
And then, of course, you've got the people who JUST buy the beer and the cigarettes and decide that they're just going to party their way through the disaster. *Sigh* Such persons give me the greatest angst as they later risk the lives of good men and women who have to RESCUE their behinds from off the top of the roof! (That one makes me grrrr...)
How about the folks who play in flood waters that are moving fast? How about the woman who says she's going to stay put because she doesn't want to miss the latest episode of "Honey Boo Boo"? (True story!) How about the folks who think that they're actually going to be ABLE to find food and batteries and such in the stores or the folks who say "FEMA will rescue me!" --as if it absolves them from taking any responsibility for their own safety and well being? I won't share any more with you because in doing so I might just ruin YOUR CHANCE to win a great giveaway we've got to share with you.
You see, today the good folks at STA-BIL and Start Your Engines! have a little giveaway that they are going to give to one of YOU who makes a comment below and shares an example of what NOT to do when faced with a severe storm warning. That's right! You just might be rewarded with $90 worth of prizes, as well of some great storm preparation education, just for sharing some of your "shaking your head" moments. (Let's face it. There aren't a lot of audiences who will actually GET the "dumb squared" part of your scenario. So now's your chance to unload! :-) And I'm even going to let you "unload" as many as three times. That's right. You will be entered to win each time you comment BUT--you can only comment a maximum of 3 times and each time you comment it MUST BE A DIFFERENT scenario of what kind of dumb things that people do amidst a severe storm warning.
Just to be clear--each time you comment ON THIS ARTICLE you'll be entering to have your name drawn in this STA-BIL/Start Your Engines! Giveaway, but each comment MUST have a different scenario. Got it? Good!
This special Storm Preparation Giveaway Prize is provided by the makers of STA-BIL and Start Your Engines! which helps keep small engine equipment like generators and chain saws 
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So go down below and share with us some of your experiences with the dumb things people do amidst a severe storm warning--posted by midnight on July 12th, 2013, and you just might find yourself a benefactor of those crazy things that people do. After all, it's about time, right? *grin* (The winner will be announced the following week).
Disclaimer: The items featured in this giveaway were provided by Gold Eagle Co. and will be sent to the winner directly by Gold Eagle Co. I have not been compensated for this post in any other way. I'm just doing this because the nice folks at Gold Eagle Co. put together this nice opportunity for one of you. *grin*
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Comments
One Winter when we were living in Montana, we had a freak Winter storm That ended up dumping several feet of snow. At our church, we had a weekly gathering of ladies who got together for a quilting class. We lived in a heavily wooded area and I decided to make the venture out to attend the quilting class. As I drove down the road, there were fallen trees over the road way. There was no way to get through. So I had to back all the way up to our driveway (which was about a mile away) on a one lane road. There was no way to turn around because the road was too narrow due to the heavy snow fall. So instead of going back home and staying warm inside, I decided to go the alternate route to the church praying the whole way. Looking back now, it was a very stupid and dangerous idea to even leave the house. We ended up with a record of 17 feet of snow fall that Winter and were stuck in our house for two weeks until a neighbor kindly brought his CAT tractor with six foot tall tires up to plow us out. I was never so happy to make a trip to the grocery store in my life. Talk about cabin fever!!!
I live in the Columbia Gorge in Washington State. Several years ago we had a main gas line break in the mountains three miles west of my town. The flames were so huge we could see them from my house. Hundreds of feet in the air. People drove up to the disaster to "see" it! The roads were so congested that the firefighters couldn't get through!!! So..........stay out of the way!!
After one of California's earthquakes (I lived there during a bunch of them) a man in our ward said he went to the grocery stores right after to stand in the lines because he thought it was exciting to be part of it all . . . even though he had plenty of food and water to last weeks. He even stood in the lines for several hours the next day to get a free case of water. Yes, he also had plenty of money and didn't need "free" anything.
We moved to the Gulf coast a year and a half ago. Hurricane evacuations are new to us, so we listen closely to those who are experienced. Last year someone asked on Facebook what kind of food people put in their evacuation kits. One mother responded that she just packs enough snacks to keep her kids happy until they get to the evacuation spot (a church about an hour north). I just keep wondering what she thinks her kids are going to eat once they get to that church?
My husband and I are over the road truck drivers. This past winter was a doozy for snowstorms all across Interstate 80 from New York to Idaho. We were shut down numerous times when the highway was closed. I couldn't believe the number of drivers who don't even carry an extra bottle of water in their trucks. They say they'll just stop at a truck stop and eat. This winter we saw truck stops and service plaza restaurants that had run out of food. The shelves were cleared and the coffee pots were empty. These guys just stood around complaining that the stores were stupid for not planning better! We always carry water and food for at least a week in our truck. We even have emergency bathroom facilities with a 3 lb. coffee can and gallon size ziplock bags. How can anyone travel the northern part of this country in the winter without provisions?
This is about my own idiotic and potentially dangerous mistake--I'm just relieved that no harm was done. In the early spring of 1991 we had just moved to Rochester, NY. The city experienced one of the worst ice-storms in east coast history. We were renting an old brown-stone home with super thick walls so we didn't hear the storm raging through the night. A third of the city trees fell, taking down power lines. 200,000 families were left without power for weeks. I got up and readied my daughter for first grade and sent her out to wait for the bus. Some time later, I happened to look out the upstairs window. There she stood, backpack and lunch bag in hand, patiently waiting for a bus that would not make it down our street for several weeks. Broken limbs were blocking the road and our yard as far as the eye could see--higher than a man's head. Power lines were down and still hot. Additional limbs were falling as I watched. As I ran out to grab her, the sounds of the disaster hit me. The tinkling of ice-covered twigs and leaves filled the air, with occasional crashes from heavy limbs. Homes and vehicles were crushed by falling trees, and people were seriously injured. We learned several lessons during the weeks that followed, and actually brought two families into our home who were not as fortunate or prepared. But I never forgot that I sent my six-year-old out into a very dangerous environment that day.
We are having a terrible rain storm with wind and mega lightening. The phone rings, a friend calls and wants to talk about the storm. Not smart! A Very dangerous place to be is on the phone during lightening, we know someone that when lightening hit it blew their phone right off the wall.
at a little league baseball game, starts thundering and lightning, and instead of packing it up, they keep playing, swinging metal bats, sitting on metal bleachers, etc.
going out to see a storm damaged area and causing road blockages for emergency personnel trying to reach the scene is a "what not to do in a storm".
I hope I haven't already made this comment. I'm a techno tard and so sometimes....
This wasn't a dumb thing done "amidst" a severe storm warning. In fact, the weatherman said the snow flurries would dissipate quickly and that there'd be no accumulation. What was dumb was believing the weatherman and not being prepared "just in case."
I'm from Louisiana. This was my first snow storm in Manassas, Virginia. My boyfriend had scraped the ice off my car and had the engine and heater running so that my car was nice and toasty when I ran out of my apartment, jumped into the car and drove to the train station at Vienna WITHOUT a coat or even a jacket. I had on tennis shoes and not the dress shoes that went with my skirt and blouse, not because of the storm but because I drove a stick shift and didn't want to scuff my good shoes. I changed into dress shoes when I got to the office.
So, I rode the train into D.C. to work. and it turned out that the storm didn't blow over and by noon the state police had closed the interstates.
I had been holed up in the law library at work - no calls, no contact with others and didn't get the word that we were to evacuate until late. By then, there were long delays in the trains which usually run every few minutes. I had to huddle with complete strangers on an outdoor platform while waiting for the train.
It was a nightmare! I swore to myself that winter wouldn't catch me in that city again and moved within a year.
During severe storms with dangerous (any) lightening, I've seen people stand under awnings, trees, park shelters, etc. thinking they were safe from the lightening.
As a former paramedic, having untrained, unaffiliated, & uninvited people "respond" to disasters in an attempt to help. It just adds to the chaos and adds to the responsibilities of law enforcement & those in command. I've also seen it add to the number of injuries that needed attending to.
Again, as a former paramedic, I've seen a lot of dumb things that have been done in disaster type situations. This one occurred during an MCI (mass casualty incident). During the first moments of an MCI, command has to be set up and triage has to begin. It was during triage that this comes to mind. I saw people/patients that would get upset when responders didn't immediately treat their friends or loved ones. It made it difficult for other responders who were tasked with triaging and those tasked with treating & moving to do their job. Chaos makes it difficult for most people to deal with disasters but if they are mentally prepared, it makes everything to much more smoothly. It also frees up law enforcement who may otherwise be needed to calm down irate persons who want their loved ones treated immediately.
Here's one of my stupid acts. Back in February 2001 I was living 30 minutes north of the city. We had a blizzard hit central Virginia. We were told it was bad, and not to drive unless an emergency. Dummy me thought "I was born in raised in Pennsylvania...I know how to drive in the snow." I had a video that needed to be returned to Blockbuster, and didn't want to pay the late fee. So I got in my Chevy S-10 pickup truck (that had NO weight in the bed) and left for the video store. Heading down I-95, traffic was at a snail pace. I made it to the video store, but heading home traffic was rerouted to RT 1 because they closed 95 down. It was bumper to bumper traffic...cars, trucks, and big rigs. About halfway home I went over a bridge and my truck fishtailed. Although I would have been able to correct it, a semi truck was right on my bumper, too close to stop in time, especially travelling on snow and ice packed roads. I was T-boned, pushed into the oncoming two lanes of traffic, up an embankment, and into at tree. The driver's side door frame buckled on impact from the semi, the metal slamming into my head rendering me unconscious. Although I was wearing my seat belt, when I slammed into the tree I was passed out and sideways on the seat, and that second impact flew me forward into the tall gear shift. I am lucky to be alive but suffer permanent memory loss from the accident. I had a cracked skull, needed 7 staples in my head, my pelvis was broken in two places, a collapsed lung, and plenty of bruises, cuts, and scrapes. It took me a few months to be able to walk without the use of a walker or crutches.
So what do I do now when they issue a storm warning? I stay put. I don't go out. If the news says to stay home, I listen. I definitely learned my lesson.
A lesson earned is a lesson learned. :-)
Local fire departments got called out for co detector going off in a residence in the middle of blizzard that power was blinking off and on and home owner was using a outdoor heating unit indoors without proper ventilation the family was huddled in car waiting for fire department to inspect what was wrong ! Have a proper and safe heating unit or back up plan for warmth in winter.
When we had flash flooding where we live the high road had water rushing over it so a gentlemen went to the lower end of town with his truck thinking he could drive right thru mind u there is a maybe 45* degree difference from high road to low road and he proceeded thru water immediately went up to truck windows and had to be rescued by rescue boat the fire department has . His truck WAS a nice truck and he couldn't believe it was that deep! Know your evacuation route or lay of land to escape and find those roads. They shut down a major highway cause of the flash flood
I have been an over the road trucker for a few years and what I wish everyone with a SUV would understand is hydroplaning. In a heavy storm, water will puddle in the wheel tracks of a well worn road. When this happens, slow down. You will loose control of you top heavy vehicle. Every time, and I mean every time (not sometime) there is a heavy rain, I will see a SUV on it's side or on its top in the median or on the shoulder of the road. Slow down..
I had just moved to Ky during the blizzard of "78". The snow had started before Thanksgiving and was still on the ground in the spring. Me having a 4 wheel drive truck (and my family safe) volunteered to transport hospital workers from the hospital to their homes. The volunteer organization I worked with would only allow you to leave if there were 2 vehicles to travel together.
I remember this one big storm and two of us picked up this nurse that had to get home to her "baby". She wanted us to stop at a grocery store, then drive her 20 miles to her home. We stopped at the store. There was only 3 gallons of milk left, and she took all of them. She took all the bread still on the shelves, instead of leaving some for the next people.
On the way we hit snow drifts 4 to 5 feet deep. Our trucks couldn't plow though snow that deep, so we had to shovel a way through. Very exhausting and hard work. Hours later we arrived at the nurse's home to rescue "baby". When we got there, "baby" asked us to go back to the store and get her some cigarettes.
Yes, I was disgusted. Why did the nurse have to lie? We would still have driven her home. Why did she have to clean the store of what little food the store had left? Makes me think of the saying, "you cant fix stupid".
I too would be at least modestly disgusted with a woman who puts the life of others at risk for a charade like this. In fact, I'd be inclined to document the event and require that person to PAY, out of her own pocket for the emergency services that were performed on her behalf under such false pretense.
However, as for purchasing what was left at the store...It's important to prepare in all things based on principles as principles never change and they make tough decisions simple and clear. Based on principles, I'm not fond of "leaving some for the next people" mentality, just FYI. If it's something that I legitimately need, and I put forth the effort to purchase it, then I buy it. And I do so without even the slightest concern that I'm guilty of any sin. That "leave some for others" mentality takes into assumption so many hypotheticals when I'm dealing with present facts. I need it. I can pay for it. I'll purchase it while it's here. And Lord knows I've prepared extensively specifically TO help others. If I don't get what I can get when I can get it, then there's a majority chance that the next person who might take "just because" won't be anywhere near as accessible or charitable as I would be. It's dangerous to get into a mindset to villify others who have in a crisis just because one finds themself in want. It's very dangerous to think that way as it leads the way for a person feeling justified to help themselves to that work product and preparation of others. Just my two cents.
Tornado warning for your area? Do NOT open the door and look outside to see if anything is going on. I heard wind whipping around and opened the back door to see what was happening. Looked like weather was going to get nasty (well, duh?). Heard the sound of a train - up in the air. Oh, that's not normal. OH, that's a tornado close by! Quickly shut the back door and headed to the interior hall. Thankfully the worse damage was a block east of us.
I live in a Western State where wildfires are frequent in the summers. The authorities constantly encourage homeowners to have a defensible space around their homes...cut down trees touching the house, etc. I'm always amazed at the number of homeowners who ignore this advice and do things like put cedar shingles on their homes for aesthetic purposes.
you should never wait til the weathermen says huricane is coming this is a great giveaway
always have some food and drink in the car never know whenyou may get stuck because of flooding or ice and snow. arry extra clothes too
if electricity goes off you will need to be able to cook food we have charcoal and propane to cook or canned food
i have friends who let their kids play in the rain and storms i told them there is a difference in the 2 she laughed it off until she read about a person getting struck by lightening now she is more protective of the kids when there is a storm
I was living in OKC at the time, and hubby was out of town for business trip, leaving me and my 4 year old and newborn alone. For some odd reason, my sister and step sister came to visit (I say odd because they only come around once a year or less). So that evening, tornado alarms start blaring and the sky is pitch black. The news says an F 5 is about a mile away from my house and moving extremely fast. I had an emergency bag already packed and grabbed it and the newborn while my step sister grabs my 4 year old. My sister puts on her flip flops and follows us to the neighbors storm shelter as the storm moves closer. We are going down the shelter steps, and I can hear the train sounds not too far off in the distance, when my sister turns and runs back to my house to the backyard to get my dogs. She then lectures me when she returns, after barely missing the tornado, about forgetting my dogs. Apparently she thought that the emergency bag and my two children weren't enough for me to worry about and try to rescue. And apparently my dogs were worth her risking her life to go back for. *sigh* I'm not saying if I had a shelter in my own home and had my whole family safe, and the tornado was still far away that I wouldn't get my dogs, I'm just saying in that specific situation, she was crazy for doing that!
:-) I'm afraid that I would likely risk my life for my dogs (and cat) too--but of course not at the risk of endangering a person's life. But they are very much a part of our family. Some people have a VERY strong attachment to animals to the point that it's just as excruciatingly painful to lose a "furry" family member as it is a two-legged flesh member. Sounds like their "instinct" to come visit you was a blessing though--you probably saved their life.
Many, many years ago we had moved to Phoenix AZ. I stayed at the home we rented while my husband went to pickup dinner, so that I could continue to unpack boxes. During the time he was gone a monsoonal rain hit(scarey), I kept unpacking boxes, and then after an hour still no husband or dinner. Finally, after about 2 hours he came dragging in looking like a drown rat with the coldest, greasy chicken I had ever seen and refused eat.
He explained that a car went through one of the areas that had flooded and a young couple were inside the car. The lady was terrified calling out for someone to pull her out of the vehicle, you guessed it. He waded out into the water and pulled her out. According to the lady they were on their first date and the man refused to leave his vehicle, you see it was brand new, and someone would come along and save it and him. After my husband put her on dry soil he went back to try and convince the man no vehicle was worth it. Unfortunately the man and his car were swept away before my husband or the rescue squad could get back to him. It was not a good outcome for the man in the vehicle, they never found him to my knowledge. Taught me a healthy respect for those monsoonal rains during the time we lived there.
While driving around with severe thunderstorm warnings, we casually drove down a road in a lovely neighborhood lusciously lined with trees. I exclaimed to my husband, "stop the car!" Stupid as it gets, I leaped out of the car with my precious little granddaughter in tow, and plopped her, to her ultimate delight, in one of the metal-chain swings hanging in the trees along the roadway. Distant thunder coming closer should have been a clue that it wasn't safe. So what did I do? I walked her down the street to the NEXT beconing swing to give it a try with less gooey mud beneath our feet. Then we sat on the METAL bench by that tree. FINALLY, sanity returned and I heeded the intensifying promptings I was receiving all along to get out of there! We did...immediately!
Why are your articles such that they cannot be copied and pasted into a word processing document so they can be filed and saved. I like to separate preparedness articles into general cateagories and then add files as I get good ones. I sure would like to do this with your articles also.
My favorite are those that rush out and buy nothing but perishables then say "if my power goes out, I am ready" ... good grief.
Now I know none of "us" would do this, but there ARE folks who go sit outside and "watch' a big lightning show as if it were a fireworks display. Not if you would send me the kit, I would be set as I sit inside.
I once saw a lady buy 20 cases - the ENTIRE stock that was left of water, about 5 days before a hurricane hit. Three days after the hurricane, she was in line to return it all. Mind you, they can't resell this water, so all of it got wasted. Right when people wanted water too! COMPLETELY ticked me off.
Lived in St Bernard Parish for Katrina. A lot of people stayed, made sure they had their beer, but not much else. Then it flooded, and they had to be rescued from their roofs.....If you are going to stay, make sure you have supplies!
My kids knew a boy who was flying his kite when the winds picked up, it started lightning, and got a lot worse. His girlfriend begged him to go home and stop, but he didn't, got hit by lightning, and died.... This was about 2 years ago.
Another idiot I had the pleasure of watching was going to fill their vehicle with all of their canned food. Then, when the sirens came on, they left the vehicle in the garage, and left with another vehicle. When we returned, we noticed their garage had suffered significant tornado damage. All the food was smashed everywhere, the car was at the neighbors tossed over on it's side, and their garage was gone. Their house, was fine. Why they didn't leave in their "food car" is beyond me, or leave their canned food in the house even........Surely a house would have been a safer choice than a light weight car!
Some people just don't get it. Common sense is becoming a luxury now-a-days. Once, when we were camping, my husband was spraying our tent with water proof sealant, and letting it air dry. Then while doing a second coat, the "neighbors" came over and told us that stuff never works, and it's a waste of money. That night it rained. BAD. We were all dry, and they were camping in their little 4 door sedan, after being soaked to death in their tent. LOL
Tents that are water repellent are not water proof. The water proof sealer will hurt the breathing ability of the material, but you will remain dry.
While working at a gas station years ago I had to manually shut down the gas pumps during a tornado warning because people would not quit pumping gas. They literally just stood by their cars and watched the wall cloud come towards us.
Drive through the flooding waters to go to Ingle's to buy a loaf of bread! Ha Ha!
You forgot those kids on the east coast that go out surfing when a hurricane is coming because the waves are great to surf in!
my mom is also one that thinks we are not supposed to prep but to rely only on God. good thing i take a bit more initiative than that. her town's water lines had a break and were out at least 2 days. the restaurants and all water reliant facilities were shut down, even the hospital moved the people out. bottled water was hard to come by but i keep many cases of it. i just had to load it up and take it over.
we had wildfires thru here last fall and i did get hit. thank goodness for my insurance man and my cellar where we threw a bunch of stuff down in. i also had items in a storage building some miles away so we were not completely left needy. there were many people afterwards sleeping in tents, etc in the august heat.
The day before Superstorm Sandy hit, I went to my small engine repair shop to buy some oil and he had about 100 small engine generators there.I asked him what was up? He said everybody was bringing in their generators because they would not start. STABIL, people!!! This is not a worthless product. Use it on your generator, snowblower, leaf blower or lawn mower. This is a must have item!!
My old neighbor, in the week of last year's hurricane that hit us in Richmond, waited until the storm was upon us to go buy a generator. We had warnings a week prior. The sadder part was that he wasn't the only one scrambling to find one...but everyone was sold out. He told my husband that the places he went were packed with people trying to find generators. Not smart.
Living on an island at the East coast in the south, we get a lot of practice in hurricane evacuations. There used to be an older couple down the street that would never leave on mandatory evacuations. They didn't want looters to take their antiques! The bridges are closed, and guarded by National Guard, so no one goes back until the order has been lifted. The only ones left on the island are those who refuse to leave. I'd rather save lives, than save antiques!
There would be no EMS, no doctor, no utilities ( they are turned off at evacuations), no services. If something happened, they would be on their own for days. No antique is worth that risk.
In the event of hurricane, and no mandatory evacuations, being prepared is essential. Water, food, methods of cooking, lighting, tarps for covering roof damage, etc., are all needed. The utilities turn off the services and then turn them back on after evacuations. The water has to be flushed through the utility system , so it is not contaminated from their origin to your home through the pipe system.
Water has to be stored for a few days. One can use the water heater as a source, but that is not the best answer. We have "WaterBob" bath tub water bladders/ bags that fit in the the bath tub. they are filled in place in the tub by the faucet, then capped. There is a siphon that can be used to get water for drinking, flushing, cleaning, etc. Two tubs with the "water Bob" will be more than enough for a family. I also have Fusti(s)- used for storing olive oil, but I use them to store water in emergency. They are stainless steel and have carry handles, so portable. They have spigots for easy dispensing. This is much easier than cases of water bottles.. and then the plastic bottle trash to deal with.
The water bladders are temporary water containers, and require a small amount of pre-planning ( 30 minutes) to fill prior to leaving, or staying in place.
It is not permanent water storage, but better than nothing - fast, efficient, doesn't require a lot of storage space ( a few inches long and maybe 3 inches wide on the shelf of a closet).
Generators are never available just prior to storms or bad weather. Everyone has the same idea! I know people that had very large ones put/built on a slab to feed the entire house. During the storms, they are the only ones in the area with power. neighbors/ friends go there to cook dinner or visit during the storms... knowing it is lit and safe. They put it in during the calm season.
I hope to get one, as well. I have a solar oven, and camp stoves... but during a storm and subsequent power outages ( not as frequent where I live, vs where they live- a frequent event). I am also considering a wood stove that bakes/ cooks as well.
The generator for the house is the best solution during power outages and bad weather.
The idiots that go out in the worst of it to get somewhere else or fruitlessly try to get supplies instead of doing that before it hits, or just hunkering down somewhere safe.