This hurricane Helene was a tough one for a lot of people. Add an economy and inflation that makes preparedness difficult and that increases the challenges big time. It's tough to live without the comforts and conveniences of normal life when you never expected to. Having been through a bunch of hurricanes, Ive learned to focus on priorities "first things first" (survival rules of three)- finding solutions and getting done what needs to be done. Little victories stacked one on top of another 1 day at a time.

 

My heartfelt sympathy to those who perished, lost loved ones and homes, etc..

There should be a lot of good learning experiences from this. Looking to hear what people say. Obviously don't build in the bottom of narrow valleys. I think we learned that one.

 

Lessons

Even if the hurricane has decayed to a 45 mph Tropical Storm, even if you are 200 miles inland, even if you are 100 miles from the track, even if you are in an area that is elevated, the storm can cause widespread death and destruction where you are. Mostly it seems from massive amounts of rain, but also still from the wind. Flooding is the main one, also landslides and sink holes. People thought they were safe in NC. The track only just went through the corner of the state, which is mostly forest. 47 dead and 600 missing. It didn't even go through SC, 30 dead.

 

Yes, do not assume that because you live in location [x] that event [y] will not affect you.

Terrible event and Kamala's Katrina.

 

I am pretty close to the main damage path. Luckily we were spared more than a minor disruption just by chance. There are staunch preppers in the damage area that were not even close to ready. Buildings that are no where close to a flood zones got wiped out. Asheville, NC was cut off by road completely even though I-40, I-26, and I-240 pass right thtough it. I understand at least some smaller roads are clear now.

The lesson here is to expect the unexpected. Also, to head evacuation warnings. There is no way you can bug in with 20 foot of water in your house. have multiple layers of planning. Bug in, bug out, bug out expecting to come back to nothing, etc.


Just to understand the sheer power of this, look at this pic. That white building is a hotel and next to it is a full size gas station. Freak of layout that saved them but the volume of debris shows how much force was being exerted.

For perspective, here is a Google maps of that same area. Where it says Amigos is that same gas station and hotel. Notice it is no where close to 'river-side"

An industrial manufacturer close to this pic lost 5 of 10 employees because this moved so quick that they could not evacuate the site quick enough. Their truck got flipped and the group seperated. The 5 only were saved because they ended up close to an elevated train track that stayed above water. One poor lady I know had an aunt in the lost 5. She called to say she was on stuck on top of a truck and that is the last they heard from her.

Some people are being told weeks to get power back on. It will be years before some bridges are rebuilt. For some cut off from ways out, it will be a long haul unless they just leave. Living off a generator for an extended peroid is a hard thing to do for most people.

 

I am pretty close to the main damage path. Luckily we were spared more than a minor disruption just by chance. There are staunch preppers in the damage area that were not even close to ready. Buildings that are no where close to a flood zones got wiped out. Asheville, NC was cut off by road completely even though I-40, I-26, and I-240 pass right thtough it. I understand at least some smaller roads are clear now.

The lesson here is to expect the unexpected. Also, to head evacuation warnings. There is no way you can bug in with 20 foot of water in your house. have multiple layers of planning. Bug in, bug out, bug out expecting to come back to nothing, etc.


Just to understand the sheer power of this, look at this pic. That white building is a hotel and next to it is a full size gas station. Freak of layout that saved them but the volume of debris shows how much force was being exerted.

View attachment 586479

For perspective, here is a Google maps of that same area. Where it says Amigos is that same gas station and hotel. Notice it is no where close to 'river-side"

View attachment 586480

An industrial manufacturer close to this pic lost 5 of 10 employees because this moved so quick that they could not evacuate the site quick enough. Their truck got flipped and the group seperated. The 5 only were saved because they ended up close to an elevated train track that stayed above water. One poor lady I know had an aunt in the lost 5. She called to say she was on stuck on top of a truck and that is the last they heard from her.

Some people are being told weeks to get power back on. It will be years before some bridges are rebuilt. For some cut off from ways out, it will be a long haul unless they just leave. Living off a generator for an extended peroid is a hard thing to do for most people.

I've seen pics of what appears to be a big lake full of bits of wood, and I mean full. But when the camera zooms in you can see things like boats, some quite large. The fact that you don't notice a large boat until it zooms in shows the immense scale of the debris as it completely covering this lake or flooded area.

Camera zoomed in....

 

Following.

 

Chimney Rock, Ashville, after and before Helene

 

 

The Unicoi Co. Hospital shown above, the place where they had to evacuate patients and staff via helicopter, was opened less than six years ago. Now, who knows how long to get it back in operation.

 

I live in upstate of SC, below Greenville. Our home is in the middle of 10+ acres of hardwood forest.

The morning the storm came through, we were awakened to the sound of heavy rain and howling, loud winds. And thumping.

At daybreak, I looked out patio doors and saw 5 red oak trees down in my small back yard and 2 trees hung up in edge of woods. Could see multiple root masses of other fallen trees in woods.

Upon inspection of property, realized there is a swath of trees down from rear corner of property to the front. The line of downed trees actually curved around my home then back to it's path towards the highway.

Our power line, as well as our neighbors are all down. Thankfully my company gave me a generator as a retirement gift several years ago. I am able to keep freezers, fridge, lights, fan, wifi, charging and well running.

We are on the end of a line and do not expect power back on for awhile. There was a lot of damage in our community, but not like NC.

 

View attachment 586489

Looks like someone needs a new treestand..

 

Here's the weird thing: that new hospital was built in a known flood zone (+3 ft of water).
When it could have been built just a quarter or half a mile away in a safe zone.
Go figure.

X marks the spot where it was built.

 

I can guarantee it was because that land was cheaper.

 

I have family in western NC in the same situation. All roads supposedly closed, no power, all water shut off, no gas anywhere. Their situation has definitely made me reconsider a thing or three. Best of luck to you and yours.

 

I have family in western NC in the same situation. All roads supposedly closed, no power, all water shut off, no gas anywhere. Their situation has definitely made me reconsider a thing or three. Best of luck to you and yours.

If you have never been through something like this, take a look at the stories and the photos coming out of these areas. This is the best conception of SHTF most of us will see or even live through. I like many others here have been through this type of situation more than a few times. It makes you take stock of what you have and what you need to do to be prepared. It affects every aspect of your daily life and what you need to survive, not only in gear, but knowledge on repairs, and also in how to prepare meals, make clean water, restroom usage, daily hygiene, and everything else. I know society as a whole is mainstreaming debit/credit card usage, but it is worthless in a situation like this. Always have some cash stashed somewhere. I will look around for my suggestions after Ian and try to post here later.

 

I have many friends in Ashville area and they are alive but FUBAR !.

My prayers are all that I can offer so far.

They are all beyond any help that is not massive.

I am looking and waiting for the Govt to send 8 BILLION dollars to them = yea I am mean !.

 

Governments in the west, pretty much all of them, are very fast to send endless $$$ to anywhere in the world.

But helping people at home ? Not a chance.

US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, etc.

None of them seem to think that the people at home should be the priority.

 

I pretty horrible situation all the way around for sure. But it's a blessing that you are still above ground. That destruction is pretty widespread and God willing neighbor is helping neighbor at this point.

From personal experience, when you have to deploy preps, the first few times your mistakes are exposed. For me it took 3 hurricanes and a few other incidents to really tighten things up.....it was never the big preps but the stuff I thought I had locked down that actually wasn't.

An even bigger lesson was really looking at the way I prepped, how it was organized, deployed, quality and pairing down the unneeded materials.

Lesson learned....you should never get essential preps like multitools, took kits, batteries , flashlights, knives, usb cables, battery banks, first aid kits from discount retailers. In a pinch they will let you down.

Stay safe up there

HK

 

I pretty horrible situation all the way around for sure. But it's a blessing that you are still above ground. That destruction is pretty widespread and God willing neighbor is helping neighbor at this point.

From personal experience, when you have to deploy preps, the first few times your mistakes are exposed. For me it took 3 hurricanes and a few other incidents to really tighten things up.....it was never the big preps but the stuff I thought I had locked down that actually wasn't.

An even bigger lesson was really looking at the way I prepped, how it was organized, deployed, quality and pairing down the unneeded materials.

Lesson learned....you should never get essential preps like multitools, took kits, batteries , flashlights, knives, usb cables, battery banks, first aid kits from discount retailers. In a pinch they will let you down.

Stay safe up there

HK

Even it you get quality gear you need redundancy as much as possible.

 

I think this shows the importance in radio coms, and in having a "rally point" for family/friends in a "safe location." (Which may change based on event.) Also for having some sort of BOL. Like myself, our present situation is not what I'd call ideal. But I still have my shop across town. It has a shower and kitchenette, and most of my tools, and an RV hookup. If something happened to the house we wouldn't be homeless. But in something like Ashville, even getting from the house to shop could be a job.

 

Some woman posted this on X

 

So for someone several thousands of miles away....

What is the primary mechanism for this storm causing so much unexpected damage inland? Is this a matter of winds, floods? heavy rain? What happened, that was unexpected?

 

A lot of rain in an area with mountains draining into mostly narrow valleys. And I guess high winds in places.

 

In coastal areas it’s the storm surge. The winds push a wall of water ashore, sometimes 10 to 15 feet high

 

Lots of rain from the hurricane combined with lots of rain in the days prior breaking all records across the region. The rivers were running high before the hurricane even arrived.

Rapid Reaction: Historic Flooding Follows Helene in Western NC - North Carolina State Climate Office

Torrential rainfall from the remnants of Hurricane Helene capped off three days of extreme, unrelenting precipitation, which left catastrophic flooding and unimaginable damage in our Mountains and southern Foothills. It was close to a worst-case scenario for western North Carolina as seemingly...

climate.ncsu.edu

^^^

Lots of rain from the hurricane combined with lots of rain in the days prior breaking all records across the region. The rivers were running high before the hurricane even arrived.

Rapid Reaction: Historic Flooding Follows Helene in Western NC - North Carolina State Climate Office

Torrential rainfall from the remnants of Hurricane Helene capped off three days of extreme, unrelenting precipitation, which left catastrophic flooding and unimaginable damage in our Mountains and southern Foothills. It was close to a worst-case scenario for western North Carolina as seemingly...

climate.ncsu.edu

Rapid runoff is the essence of flash flooding in Appalachia. Torrential rain fills every holler, creek and stream, sometimes within minutes. All water makes its way to the river which swells out of control. Think of every holler and valley as a funnel-like water catchment system. An unstoppable force of nature builds as it rolls downstream.

 

Are their landslide issues as well?

Just wondering if maybe the solution is to rebuild on the hillsides, rather than nexts to the rivers/valley bottoms.

 

Not at all practical. Astronomical cost, many hundreds of bridges to be built, destruction of the environment, and much of the still wild land outside the valleys is part of a national forest or national park or owned by the Cherokee Nation.
Just one little bridge with a 2-lane road over a little stream that you can step across without getting your feet wet (in normal weather) had to be replaced here last year.. cost 3 million dollars.
And truthfully, why would anyone except the transplanted New Yorkers want to destroy this scenic beauty just to build some more gas stations and McDonalds?

 

Just to help you quantify, that lots of rain was 30+ inches across the area all funneling water to the rivers. One river that have record crests of 22 feet (in 1901) hit 30 feet. That area normally gets on average 44 inches of rain a year according to one source.

There is the possibility of landslides. That is what blocked the interstate in at least one spot. It is also more costly to carve out a house seat on the side of the hill than just putting it on the flat spot next to the bubbling creek. Some people think taking the esdy way is best.

 

It is also more costly to carve out a house seat on the side of the hill than just putting it on the flat spot next to the bubbling creek.

That was what I was thinking.

 

The White House said that 4,500 federal personnel were assigned to Helene rescue and recovery efforts, including about 1,000 from FEMA. FEMA has distributed more than 7.1. million meals, 6.5 million liters of water, 150 generators and more than 200,000 tarps as of Oct 1. World Central Kitchen would deploy food trucks to hurricane struck areas, proving more than 64,000 meals in multiple states affected.

Anyone affected should check out all the help available on this page.

Over 4,500 Federal Personnel Supporting States Impacted by Hurricane Helene, Biden-Harris Administration Continues Response Efforts

As crews continue working to restore power, communications and infrastructure across the Southeast, FEMA and federal partners are sending additional teams and resources to bolster state-led response efforts. More than 4,500 personnel from across the federal workforce are deployed and more than...

www.fema.gov

President Biden has approved Major Disaster declarations for areas of Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina, including 41 counties in Georgia announced today. Disaster survivors in these areas can begin their recovery process by applying for federal assistance through FEMA.

People with damage to their homes or personal property who live in the designated counties should apply for assistance, which may include upfront funds to help with essential items like food, water, baby formula and other emergency supplies. Funds may also be available to repair storm-related damage to homes and personal property, as well as assistance to find a temporary place to stay.

There are three ways apply for FEMA assistance:

• Online by visiting disasterassistance.gov.
• Calling 1-800-621-3362.
• Download and apply on the FEMA App.

Lots more info on the FEMA link above.

 

The American Red Cross has more than 850 trained disaster workers providing comfort and operating shelters. They are also helping find loved ones through their helpline 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or by visiting the Red Cross Hurricane Helene Reunification page, where you can enter pertinent information about the person you’re looking for. If someone is missing a child related to this disaster or any other incident, they need to call 9-1-1 and then 1-800-THE-LOST to receive assistance from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

People can receive free services like cutting fallen trees, tarping roofs and mold mitigation with the help of Crisis Cleanup by calling 844-965-1386. The hotline is open through October 11 and can connect people with volunteers from local relief organizations, community groups and the faith-based community who may be able to assist.

 

North Carolina

• Residents should not travel to western North Carolina to keep the roadways clear for search and rescue teams and utility crews.
• Residents can get in touch with loved ones by calling 2-1-1 or visit unitedwaync.org to add them to search and rescue efforts.
• 10 federal search and rescue teams are working on the ground. Over 900 personnel have searched 675 areas and rescued 127 survivors.
• Four FEMA Incident Management Assessment Teams are in North Carolina, coordinating directly with the state to facilitate requests for assistance.
• 25 trailer-loads of meals and 60 trailers-loads of water have been delivered to North Carolina. Going forward, more trailer loads of meals and 40 trailer-loads of water will be delivered daily.
• A bulk water distribution site opened in downtown Asheville yesterday; additional sites will open in the coming days.
• There are 28 shelters open with more than 1,030 occupants.
• FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance teams will assist survivors in applying for assistance.
• FEMA, the FCC, and private telecommunications providers are working together to help restore temporary communications as quickly as possible by establishing temporary cell sites and allowing for roaming where possible. This will enable residents to connect to any network available, even if they aren't subscribed to that network.
• 60 Starlink satellite systems are available to help with responder communications and an additional 140 satellites are being shipped to assist with communications infrastructure restoration; 64 satellite phones expected to arrive today. One Starlink will be deployed to each county to assist with communications and continuity of government.
• Generators are moving into Asheville, with another 30 generators enroute to the staging base in the Charlotte metro area.
• FEMA Disaster Medical Assistance Teams are in Asheville providing emergency room medical support at hospitals.
• 200 federal ambulances have been provided to the state.
• A C-17 cargo plane full of food, water and other commodities arrived at the forward operating base in Asheville, with a daily flow of commodities established via air bridge.

Florida

• Residents in need of information or resources should call the State Assistance Information Line (SAIL) at 1-800-342-3557. English, Spanish and Creole speakers are available to answer questions.
• More than 120 FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance personnel deployed to help survivors apply for assistance and jumpstart their recovery.
• Two FEMA Incident Management Assistance Teams are onsite at the state Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee to coordinate with the state and facilitate any requests for federal assistance.
• 30 FEMA Division Supervisors are embedded in 21 Florida county Emergency Operations Centers.

Georgia

• Residents can find resources like shelters and feeding sites at gema.georgia.gov/hurricane-helene.
• Two FEMA Incident Management Assistance Teams are onsite at the state Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee to coordinate with the state and facilitate any requests for federal assistance.
• A FEMA Incident Management Assistance Team is onsite at the state Emergency Operations Center in TOWN to coordinate with the state and facilitate any requests for assistance

South Carolina

• Residents with questions on Hurricane Helene can call the state's toll-free hotline, open 24 hours a day, at 1-866-246-0133
• Residents who are dependent on medical equipment at home and who are without power due to Helene may be eligible for a medical needs shelter. Call the state’s Department of Public Health Care Line at 1-855-472-3432 for more information.
• A FEMA Incident Management Assistance Team is onsite at the state Emergency Operations Center in West Columbia to coordinate with the state and facilitate any requests for assistance.

Tennessee

• Residents can call 1-800-824-3463 to report a missing person. Callers should be prepared to relay as much information as possible including names, phone numbers, vehicle identification and last known whereabouts.
• Counties have started establishing donation centers. For the evolving list, visit TEMA’s website.
• A FEMA Incident Management Assistance Team is onsite at the state Emergency Operations Center in Nashville to coordinate with the state and facilitate any requests for assistance.
• Federal Urban Search & Rescue personnel are on the ground in Knoxville.

 

North Carolina

• Residents should not travel to western North Carolina to keep the roadways clear for search and rescue teams and utility crews.
• Residents can get in touch with loved ones by calling 2-1-1 or visit unitedwaync.org to add them to search and rescue efforts.
• 10 federal search and rescue teams are working on the ground. Over 900 personnel have searched 675 areas and rescued 127 survivors.
• Four FEMA Incident Management Assessment Teams are in North Carolina, coordinating directly with the state to facilitate requests for assistance.
• 25 trailer-loads of meals and 60 trailers-loads of water have been delivered to North Carolina. Going forward, more trailer loads of meals and 40 trailer-loads of water will be delivered daily.
• A bulk water distribution site opened in downtown Asheville yesterday; additional sites will open in the coming days.
• There are 28 shelters open with more than 1,030 occupants.
• FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance teams will assist survivors in applying for assistance.
• FEMA, the FCC, and private telecommunications providers are working together to help restore temporary communications as quickly as possible by establishing temporary cell sites and allowing for roaming where possible. This will enable residents to connect to any network available, even if they aren't subscribed to that network.
• 60 Starlink satellite systems are available to help with responder communications and an additional 140 satellites are being shipped to assist with communications infrastructure restoration; 64 satellite phones expected to arrive today. One Starlink will be deployed to each county to assist with communications and continuity of government.
• Generators are moving into Asheville, with another 30 generators enroute to the staging base in the Charlotte metro area.
• FEMA Disaster Medical Assistance Teams are in Asheville providing emergency room medical support at hospitals.
• 200 federal ambulances have been provided to the state.
• A C-17 cargo plane full of food, water and other commodities arrived at the forward operating base in Asheville, with a daily flow of commodities established via air bridge.

Florida

• Residents in need of information or resources should call the State Assistance Information Line (SAIL) at 1-800-342-3557. English, Spanish and Creole speakers are available to answer questions.
• More than 120 FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance personnel deployed to help survivors apply for assistance and jumpstart their recovery.
• Two FEMA Incident Management Assistance Teams are onsite at the state Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee to coordinate with the state and facilitate any requests for federal assistance.
• 30 FEMA Division Supervisors are embedded in 21 Florida county Emergency Operations Centers.

Georgia

• Residents can find resources like shelters and feeding sites at gema.georgia.gov/hurricane-helene.
• Two FEMA Incident Management Assistance Teams are onsite at the state Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee to coordinate with the state and facilitate any requests for federal assistance.
• A FEMA Incident Management Assistance Team is onsite at the state Emergency Operations Center in TOWN to coordinate with the state and facilitate any requests for assistance

South Carolina

• Residents with questions on Hurricane Helene can call the state's toll-free hotline, open 24 hours a day, at 1-866-246-0133
• Residents who are dependent on medical equipment at home and who are without power due to Helene may be eligible for a medical needs shelter. Call the state’s Department of Public Health Care Line at 1-855-472-3432 for more information.
• A FEMA Incident Management Assistance Team is onsite at the state Emergency Operations Center in West Columbia to coordinate with the state and facilitate any requests for assistance.

Tennessee

• Residents can call 1-800-824-3463 to report a missing person. Callers should be prepared to relay as much information as possible including names, phone numbers, vehicle identification and last known whereabouts.
• Counties have started establishing donation centers. For the evolving list, visit TEMA’s website.
• A FEMA Incident Management Assistance Team is onsite at the state Emergency Operations Center in Nashville to coordinate with the state and facilitate any requests for assistance.
• Federal Urban Search & Rescue personnel are on the ground in Knoxville.

It certainly took them long enough. FEMA can move much faster, and usually do when it comes to sending aid to other countries.

 

We are just now getting some cell signal. It's now day six and no power...

I will follow up later, but we were smack dab in the middle of Helene about 30 miles west of Augusta. Power line sheared from the house and fortunately no structural damage. We had zero communications since Friday morning...zero. I am just now getting a few bars of cell coverage. Over 48 hours with no comma. The power looks to be up now by the main road...we will be last on the list and expect no power through the upcoming weekend.

Many in the area are saying the damage is as bad or worse than the great flood in early 1900s. The worst in over a 100 years. Ouch.

We live about 5 miles outside of our small town...they had zero mobile or landline communication. Every business was without power through Sunday.

While radio receivers were our only info source, most of the radio stations were down.

Gas. I had close to 50 gallons stored...been need to rotate it. The pump handle on the 30 gallon beast was broken and I had a spare pump to get it operational. We are are probably good for another 4-5 days. I filled up my wife's car and we are doing a gas run to Athens. Whenever a gas station opened lines were comically long, people driving on fumes. The smaller, independent gas stations were able to open first...cash only

We didn't need to leave the house but the wife wanted to check on her school...only 10 miles away and over 20 power lines and trees down. We don't really need food, but ran into a small town grocery store...cash only. We also ran back to her school as the alarm was going off and we were able to get there, luckily no damage, but make sure you have your EDC flashlight!

The closer to Augusta and I20, we could get a signal, just to update family and check on friends and coworkers.

We took a trip all the way into Augusta on Sunday as one of her newer teachers ran out of cooking fuel. I loaned her a few isobutane canisters and Kovea stove. A good reminder that during any type of SHTF, you are prepared to avoid populated areas! I wasn't comfortable doing that...just my wife looking out for one of her teachers and her kid.

Cash is king. I had about $650 on me and used about $50 at the grocery store. Again, not needed but very handy.

Now I have to decided on getting a junction box or more extension cords/images/smilies/smiley_abused.gif We are just keeping the water pump, both fridges, and freezer going. The water pump to our well is the most important. Man, it's only a 4500W generator and sips gas. I can change oil a few more times but need to dig up the fuel filters.

We have a small boondocking generator and Bluetti solar generator we use for a small A/C unit, fan, and my wife's shower rig out back. Tankless unit, heated by Propane, water pump in a 5 gallon can powered by the solar generator. Real slick.

Wife already hand washed some clothes. Said to only wear synthetic as cotton takes too long to dry.

We are still just eating out of the fridge and a little from the regular pantry...not starving here/images/smilies/icon_smile_big.gif

No signs where we live of looting. All the smaller towns had curfews in place...7 to 7 or 8 to 8. While I wouldn't recommend driving around, and there were a **** ton, there literally was zero info in the area for almost 72 hours. Makes me think of a Sat phone. Our son is in the Middle East and made sure everyone in his platoon made contact with their families...except him. We finally got a call through on our Sunday drive into Augusta.

Lots of small lessons learned. Biggest **** up was employers and schools remaining open so late Thursday. Most unprepared didn't have any time to even do last minute ****. I left early Thursday to get a haircut, pick up dog food and beer....Hurricane staples/images/smilies/smiley_abused.gif I should have filled up my empty gas containers...another 40-50 gallons and possible picked up another propane or two.

Oh, and the flooding was so bad, one of our kayaks floated off. Should have secured it...but I recovered it a couple days later.

Time for our morning workout, cheers and hope all the impacted ARFCOMERs and safe and getting by.

ETA, we use the heck out of headlamps and those simple oil lamps for lighting in the AM and evenings.

ROCK6

 

We are just now getting some cell signal. It's now day six and no power...

I will follow up later, but we were smack dab in the middle of Helene about 30 miles west of Augusta. Power line sheared from the house and fortunately no structural damage. We had zero communications since Friday morning...zero. I am just now getting a few bars of cell coverage. Over 48 hours with no comma. The power looks to be up now by the main road...we will be last on the list and expect no power through the upcoming weekend.

Many in the area are saying the damage is as bad or worse than the great flood in early 1900s. The worst in over a 100 years. Ouch.

We live about 5 miles outside of our small town...they had zero mobile or landline communication. Every business was without power through Sunday.

While radio receivers were our only info source, most of the radio stations were down.

Gas. I had close to 50 gallons stored...been need to rotate it. The pump handle on the 30 gallon beast was broken and I had a spare pump to get it operational. We are are probably good for another 4-5 days. I filled up my wife's car and we are doing a gas run to Athens. Whenever a gas station opened lines were comically long, people driving on fumes. The smaller, independent gas stations were able to open first...cash only

We didn't need to leave the house but the wife wanted to check on her school...only 10 miles away and over 20 power lines and trees down. We don't really need food, but ran into a small town grocery store...cash only. We also ran back to her school as the alarm was going off and we were able to get there, luckily no damage, but make sure you have your EDC flashlight!

The closer to Augusta and I20, we could get a signal, just to update family and check on friends and coworkers.

We took a trip all the way into Augusta on Sunday as one of her newer teachers ran out of cooking fuel. I loaned her a few isobutane canisters and Kovea stove. A good reminder that during any type of SHTF, you are prepared to avoid populated areas! I wasn't comfortable doing that...just my wife looking out for one of her teachers and her kid.

Cash is king. I had about $650 on me and used about $50 at the grocery store. Again, not needed but very handy.

Now I have to decided on getting a junction box or more extension cords/images/smilies/smiley_abused.gif We are just keeping the water pump, both fridges, and freezer going. The water pump to our well is the most important. Man, it's only a 4500W generator and sips gas. I can change oil a few more times but need to dig up the fuel filters.

We have a small boondocking generator and Bluetti solar generator we use for a small A/C unit, fan, and my wife's shower rig out back. Tankless unit, heated by Propane, water pump in a 5 gallon can powered by the solar generator. Real slick.

Wife already hand washed some clothes. Said to only wear synthetic as cotton takes too long to dry.

We are still just eating out of the fridge and a little from the regular pantry...not starving here/images/smilies/icon_smile_big.gif

No signs where we live of looting. All the smaller towns had curfews in place...7 to 7 or 8 to 8. While I wouldn't recommend driving around, and there were a **** ton, there literally was zero info in the area for almost 72 hours. Makes me think of a Sat phone. Our son is in the Middle East and made sure everyone in his platoon made contact with their families...except him. We finally got a call through on our Sunday drive into Augusta.

Lots of small lessons learned. Biggest ** up was employers and schools remaining open so late Thursday. Most unprepared didn't have any time to even do last minute **. I left early Thursday to get a haircut, pick up dog food and beer....Hurricane staples/images/smilies/smiley_abused.gif I should have filled up my empty gas containers...another 40-50 gallons and possible picked up another propane or two.

Oh, and the flooding was so bad, one of our kayaks floated off. Should have secured it...but I recovered it a couple days later.

Time for our morning workout, cheers and hope all the impacted ARFCOMERs and safe and getting by.

ETA, we use the heck out of headlamps and those simple oil lamps for lighting in the AM and evenings.

ROCK6

Not sure exactly where you are near Agusta, be we are between you and Athens. If I can help, let me know. Stay safe.

 

The one big mistake was the second run up to my wife's school when the alarms were going off. One of then maintenance guys had been there earlier. It was your immediate bugout drill. I built a specific bag for situations where we jump in my wife's car instead of my truck. Of all the EDC items I didn't have on me, was a flashlight. The irony was I have been wearing a headlamp on my head or round my neck almost 24/7. My forgotten bag had an extra handgun, mags, high powered light and headlamp... big mistake.

We had to check more than a few dozen rooms, closets, maintenance areas, and storage areas. There was emegency power, but the vast majority of lights were out. I was impotent/images/smilies/icon_smile_sad.gif No, my regular CCW didn't have a WML. This is why you always EDC a light, even during the day on a quick run to the store or any other building. I always EDC a light, always. As a reminder, SHTF of any type will screw up your normal battle rhythm. You prepare for abnormal times. Just don't let those times abnormally impact your good habits and decision-making.

ROCK6