"20 foot waves, massive mudslides, flash floods inundate Northern California"—
Storm of the Decade arrives Thursday, December 11, 2014!"
Believe it or drown in it!
Below, I offer you my priceless storm preparation advice— speaking as a baby who's been woefully unprepared in past.
Are you ready for the “atmospheric river” that approaches Northern California tomorrow? The MOTHER of all rainstorms?
I know what to do, and it will take you about 2-3 to get it together if you have nothing ready.
Most of you can fill in the gaps in about an hour.
Number 1:
Read the best weather reporting, they can tell you what is going to happen within an hour of landfall —Winds up to 50 mph starting by nighfall are predicted by Thursday, 10pm, for instance, in my zip code.
The North Bay and Santa Cruz Mountains will have it the worst, (we expect six inches) but there’s no part of NorCal that won’t be knocked on its ass.
The End of Innocence
You will not be able to “Call PGE and ask them when the power will be back on.” —Or call an officer to get the tree out of the road. Not only is our infrastructure a joke, even in the decades when we had sufficient funding, our region isn't prepared for climate like this.
Nope. It’s time to get your Jeremiah Johnson on!
Who to appreciate:
If you are a First Responder, an emergency worker, a medical care worker— I want you to know I love you, I hope you have all the chocolate pudding you can stand today, and that your family is all safe and sound while you are “gone” and sleepless for the next couple days. I know you don't have even half the staffing you need and the triage situation is going to be hideous. Come over for a strong drink when this is over.
Plan a Sleepover
If you have dear friends in the mountains, and you’re in a safer area, call them up and offer them your couch and extra room for the next couple days.
Get them out of there.
Meanwhile, get to know your neighbors if you aren’t already tight.
Power, Power, Power
Get an Powerpack ($100) —
These are those breadbox-size bricks of power. These will jump start your car, but they will also keep your computer and phones going, any small appliance.
Share or Purchase a Generator —
These can range from a couple hundred dollars to a couple thousand. Gas or I don’t know have a generator myself, but I know which of my neighbors do and we’ve talked about it, which is the main thing.
Old School Phone with a Cord —
Locate who and where has a telephone land line, make sure it’s plugged in, or the nickels work.
Gas Up Your Car The Day BEFORE the Disaster —
I hope you will not be driving anywhere during storm, but it will be difficult to get gas during the storm
Heat, Cooking Heat —
If your heat supply or cooking heat supply depends on an electric spark, you may well be cut off for a day or more. If you have a gas or propane cooking source, get ready to use and share.
Internet
Forget about it.
The cable and telecom lines are likely to be down or interrupted, so don’t count on having access at your fingertips.
Set up an automatic message today, telling your mates that the power is likely to be down, but that you’re physically preapred and will put up a “all-clear!” message when everyone’s back on line!
*Portable Battery-Powered Old School RADIO*
Wow, do you still have one of these? Or a weather radio? The other thing you can do is get in the car and listen to the radio. Forget your elecric-power TV, and don’t rely on having Internet connection
Staying Warm
What’s your blanket and wool situation? It’s going to be in the low 50s, so the rest of the country will laugh at our chills.
But you know that it’s tiring being cold in our un-insulated California yurts and you move a little slower.
If you have a fireplace, call me and invite me over.
Cash
Credit card machines and ATMs may well be inoperable.
Medicine
Get all the prescription or needed medicnes you use, a couple days supply. Once the pharmacies re-open, they wont be able to get all the supplies they need immediately.
Do you have enough booze, pot, and painkillers? Let’s get real here.
Food
Grocery Shopping
The storm will be bad Thursday and Friday. There’ll be a reprieve on weekend and everyone will be storming stores for what’s avaialbel, which won’ tbe great because deliveries will have been stalled. Then the rain begins again for four days next week. Get your food today.
Bring a Camp Stove Inside?
GREAT idea, but it has to be operated in VENTILATED area or you’ll be killed by carbon monoxide fumes. No big deal, just crack a window by the set-up.
Your Fridge Will Probably Be Down, Get Out Ice Chest
If you fill plastic bottles with clean water today, you can freeze them, have them be your “ice chest” and also a clean water supply
Clean Water Supply
If you’re in an area with a flash flood warning, inundated with flooding, clean water will be an issue.
Critical Supplies
Rubber Boots and a Rainsuit
Non-electrical Can Opener
Batteries, Batteries, Batteries
Flashlights, Headlamps, Candles, More Flashlights, Matches, Lighters
Battery-operated clock or watch
Toilet paper — You never realize how much you need toilet paper until you don’t have any.
Chainsaw — do you have one? Blades sharpened! You might be the hero that gets the tree out of the road.
Your Immediate Outside
Sandbags, anyone?
I’m sure your neighbors have talked if it’s an issue. Your town is issuing sandbags to citizens, all you have to do is call 911 and they’ll tell you where to pick them up. Get them today if you need them.
Protect any vulnerable plants, tie shit down, bring it into protected area.
Street drains, check them—- should be monitored to keep water flowing
Less loose leaves, less street flooding
Obviously, no Xmas decorations outside
Tree limb trimming—- last chance, today.
Keep your pets inside the whole time
Travel
Don’t.
You can expect that the arteries out of town will be dangerous, closed, or at a standstill. Mudslides, blinding rain, flashfloods— it’s a guaranteed mess.
Airports and public transit stations — just cancel that, too.
Medical Procedures, Various Appointments You thought were so important? Do I have to spell this out? NO.
Your Two Cents?
Please add, in comments below, anything you'd to add! I learned all my "tips" from neighbors who helped me out when I was naive. How I treasure their experience!
