Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with hurricane

Is it OK (consequence-free) for my condo association to delay all roof shingle replacements until January?

amtho — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 17:28:30 -0800

Is it OK (consequence-free) for my condo association to delay all roof shingle replacements until January? We're heading into hurricane / big wet storm season here in North Carolina, and I just found out that our condo association, in order to build up our cash reserves after some heavy spending, has decided that only certain repairs (safety issues, condo sales inspections) will be performed until the next fiscal year begins in January.

I don't care too much about my one shingle falling off, but knowing the extent of the damage that a leaky roof caused to my condo _before_ and not wanting to see that happen to several people through the community -- and thus being, as part of the collective, responsible for those expensive potential repairs -- I'm worried about this as a policy.

I just talked to a board member who seemed to feel that roof shingles weren't that big a deal, and that even under normal circumstances, a single shingle might not be replaced right away. But the roofs here are such that shingles fall off occasionally, and so I'd really like to know what the risks are here.

I realize that there's a "membrane" under the shingles, then the plywood of the roof under that, so obviously water's not going to be dripping in any time soon - but I don't want my or my neighbor's wooden roof framing to rot, I don't want additional damage if a very strong storm does come along, and I'm not sure whether the (perhaps low) risk of these things happening would outweigh the "reward" of merely delaying these repairs for five months.

Does anyone know how worried I should be?

If you think I should be worried, I'd love to have some data-like facty sources to bring to the next board meeting.

shutter up already

Night_owl — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:29:53 -0800

How do I cheaply hurricane-proof 15 large windows without paying through the nose? We bought a house this spring. Yay! We're in New Orleans, and hurricane season just started. Ick. Okay, so.... what now? We know we need some storm shutters or something to hurricane-proof our windows, but we're at a loss. Wood framing, asbestos siding so we can't drill into that although the windows have a wood frame on the exterior. I know there are a few options: Plylox, sheets of plywood (how would you attach those anyway?), hurricane shutters, fabric screens.... there are a ton of options. Anyone here have any experience or advice on what to have on hand in case we need to protect our windows?
Requirements:
should work on large (30x60, approx.) windows
preferably less than say $40 per window
relatively easy to store, bonus points if it can be rolled up or folded
sturdy
bonus points if it's reusable (if it hasn't been damaged, of course)

Other hurricane advice is welcome, too, but I mostly want to know about these mythical hurricane shuttery things.

Where do birds go in a hurricane?

abdulf — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 08:48:36 -0800

Where do city birds go when a hurricane hits? Where do common resident birds, like pigeons, go when a hurricane hits a city?

I have found some articles discussing destruction of habitat and how that affects migratory birds. However, I don't know what happens to birds like sparrows and pigeons.

Hurricane Ike hit Houston recently and I noticed birds were gone for a day or two, and then they suddenly seemed to come back in the same numbers as before.

Do they fly away before the hurricane? Are their nests really well constructed? Do they claw in and hold on?

How do I find out if a certain address has power yet?

rmless — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 13:37:10 -0800

Does zip code 77006 (in Houston) have power? How could I find out if a certain address has power yet? I saw this but it is a week old and this has no reports from today.

What was Michael Chertoff talking about when he said 1.5 people died?

jesirose — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 18:37:41 -0800

What was Michael Chertoff talking about when he said 1.5 people died? Half-listening to the news in a store lobby, I heard this story playing on CNN and heard several of the quoted remarks.

I also heard someone, who I thought was Michael Chertoff, talking about 1.5 million people who died as the result of something - the quote went along the lines of "1.5 people died - not 1.5 people hurt, or 1.5 people relocated, but 1.5 people dead - excuse me, 1.5 million." - The misreading of 1.5 million as 1.5 was what stuck it in my mind.

What was he talking about? I can't find it. I thought he was talking about Hurricane Ike but it hasn't hit - and the stats I find online for Katrina are nowhere near that.

If it wasn't him talking, what was this about? I mistakenly told my mother he was talking about Ike in Houston and was quickly corrected by my husband...I know I didn't imagine that number.

Where did 1.5 million people die?

Flying into Texas on Saturday, during a hurricane - is this sheer folly?

adrianhon — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 12:57:06 -0800

Flying into Texas on Saturday, during a hurricane - is this sheer folly? I'm flying from London to Houston (and then directly to Austin) on Saturday. My flight is scheduled to arrive at Houston at 3pm; as far as I can tell, this is when Hurricane Ike hits. Is there any reason why I *shouldn't* reschedule my flight? And if I am going to reschedule, when is the earliest time that would make sense? I'm coming into town for the Austin Game Developer's Conference, from Monday 15th to 17th...

hurricane food

jschu — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 21:25:17 -0800

What food should I buy in preparation for Hurricane Ike, and how should I eat it? Hurricane Ike is on its way, and I'm going to the grocery store tomorrow to stock up on non-perishables. What specific foods should I get? Last time we were without power for days at a time (Hurricane Rita, 2005), the granola bar diet got pretty old. Any suggestions/recipes on how to prepare meals with no refrigeration or electricity? We do have a propane barbeque, but all of our kitchen appliances are electric. Keep in mind that if the power's out, that means no air conditioning, so please no recipes for hot soups. etc.

We're far enough inland not to have to have any serious worries about evacuation or flooding, but we are on the "dirty side" of Ike, so power outages are somewhat likely.

Weather in Miami In September

PenguinBukkake — Tue, 20 May 2008 10:45:31 -0800

I'll have some free time (a week) after Labor Day (Sept. 1). I really really like Miami Beach; I have been there several times in the winter and once in early July. Will hurricane season make a short trip right after Labor Day this year a nightmare? I don't mind really hot/humid weather I do mind hurricanes... Even if the weather is O.K., will South Beach be dead anyway? I can't go earlier than that, and I can't go later. Personal experiences of Miami Beach in September and good weather resources welcome. Thanks!!!

Hurricane tracking reliability.

The Straightener — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 14:14:21 -0800

Has anyone tracked the historical accuracy of different types of hurricane trajectory prediction models? Each hurricane season I'm fascinated by storm plots like this. I understand that the different colors and their corresponding stock-tickerish names stand for the different sources of hurrican path predictions, but does anyone track the outcomes of hurricane paths to see if any one of these models is more often right than others?

Facts and Statistics about Hurricane Katrina

captainscared — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 07:46:48 -0800

I am in need of current and historical facts and numbers regarding Hurricane Katrina. For example, how many people are still living in FEMA trailers? How many people have left New Orleans for good? Also, historical numbers, how many homes were destroyed? How many people were left homeless? etc. Thanks

This Old House Needs Shutters

Robert Angelo — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 09:42:25 -0800

What type of wood should we use for historically-appropriate exterior window shutters? Details inside, special interest for those in hurricane-prone coastal areas. We live on the Texas Gulf Coast. Our house is 90+ years old and is located in a historic district. The original wood shutters were removed by a prior owner. We would like to get replacement shutters to provide greater protection for our windows during storms, and also to enhance the look and value of the house.

Because of historic district regulations, we are required to install traditional wood shutters similar to the ones originally used on the house. We cannot use metal hurricane shutters or anything that would look "modern."

We are looking at various sources for wood shutters, and we've found a varierty of materials: pine, redwood, cedar, mahogany. The prices vary, with pine being the cheapest. The prices also vary with the construction method (wood dowel vs. mortise & tendon). I understand that for our 23-odd windows, this is going to cost well over $4000, possibly $6000 or more. Plus hardware. Plus labor costs. We want to get our money's worth, but also not spend more than we need to.

Background: When Rita was coming last September, we spent well over $1000 in labor costs having someone board over our windows with the plywood we bought earlier in the summer. Then we paid again later on to have someone take the plywood down. Over time, the shutters will not only protect the house but pay for themselves.

So anyhow, the question is, what type of wood should we buy? We lean against pine. Our neighbors are buying cedar. One contractor told us that redwood was great; he said that cypress was the best, but we haven't located a source for that. Mahogany seems too expensive. What to do?

Shouldn't I be going in the other direction?

TrashyRambo — Thu, 18 May 2006 08:27:40 -0800

What should you take into a tropical post-hurricane situation? It is likely that, following a big hurricane in the Carribean, I will be sent with a small team into the area to work on humanitarian relief / evacuation (mainly for foreigners). We're all civilians. (Sorry not to be more specific.)

As the hurricane season is about to start I want to set up my pack ready to go. I want to a) be as safe and healthy as possible; b) be comfortable; c) travel light (carry-on only if possible). Money's not really an object.

What should I take? What shouldn't I take? And any tips for staying alive and comfy when I'm there?

What are the current challenges in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina?

photoslob — Sun, 09 Apr 2006 08:42:49 -0800

What are the current challenges in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina? I've done a cursory amount of research into what challenges those affected by Hurricane Katrina at the local level are currently facing but I'm wondering if others have any ideas or suggestions. I plan to travel through the Gulf Coast states and on to New Orleans looking at the current situation and trying to help where I can. I'm hoping to do some photojournalism along the way.

Staying safe while doing good

Smarson — Mon, 20 Feb 2006 10:01:16 -0800

TravelFilter: Any advice for traveling to New Orleans over spring break with college students for a service project? * This March I will be traveling to a Hurricane damaged suburb of New Orleans with 9 college students for a service project. I am unsure as to the exact location of where we will be working, but I know that it is definitely outside of the developed city areas (suburbs). I would love to get tips/advice/opinions from others who have participated in similar projects, live in the are, or think they have an important point. Things I'm specifically interested in are:

- Safety: We are renting two cars while down there. Any dramatic increases in Car theft/hijacking/vandalism that I should know about? Also, our group is comprised of 8 girls and 2 guys. Does this change anything?

- Money: Some in the group are thinking of bringing Travelers Checks. Good idea? Bad Idea?

- Contamination: Others in the group are concerned about being exposed to something un-healthy either via the food or while gutting houses. We are purchasing resporators to protect against mold, but issues of Carbon Monoxide and other hard to detect things are beimg raised. Are these valid concerns?

Anthing else we should be thinking of?

Willy-Wally?

dazedandconfused — Tue, 17 Jan 2006 11:06:26 -0800

Was wondering if anyone knew the Australian name for a hurricane/tropical storm/typhoon/cyclone. I have tried google-ing this but can't seem to find anything but lists of hurricane names... it came up over dinner last week and has been driving me mad!

I need a bigger version of this amazing photo.

gummo — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 13:24:09 -0800

Can anyone find a larger version of this photo?

Need to send supplies to Wilma-affected father

neilkod — Wed, 26 Oct 2005 06:04:35 -0800

My Dad got spanked by Wilma pretty hard. I rounded up some supplies and want to send them to him. Do any of the major shippers offer help/discounts for p2p hurricane aid? He's one of the millions without power. He has a generator but gas containers are _impossible_ to come by because most have been re-routed to the gulf coast a few months back. I picked up 8 5-gallon gas containers, a bunch of extension cords, some batteries and a few other things. These gas containers take up a lot of space. I'm trying to get them from Utah to Ft. Lauderdale with the quickness. As it stands right now, UPS has not yet resumed service in S. Florida, I dont know about FedEx/USPS etc.

Is there a best way to get this stuff to him? Do any of the major shippers offer any sort of discount? I'd imagine it wont be cheap to ship this because of the size.

What about packaging it up? Where can I get a box (hopefully free) that will fit all this stuff?

What do I need to know as Red Cross volunteer?

efalk — Sat, 22 Oct 2005 16:59:40 -0800

I've just been asked to deploy to New Orleans as a Red Cross volunteer (mi). I volunteered at my local chapter about a week after Katrina, now I've received a message asking me to go, but I haven't finalized the plans yet. If I do go, more than likely I'll leave tomorrow.

Questions - Have any mefites done this already or volunteered with the Red Cross recently and can pass along some advice? What should I bring (RC covers expenses for anything you need locally)? Anything a white kid from Oregon should do/not do to 'fit in' with people in Louisiana? I've never been anywhere in the South so any all advice is appreciated. Thanks.

Stay or go? Facts and reality, please.

pomegranate — Thu, 22 Sep 2005 04:30:08 -0800

What was the Katrina damage 50 miles inland? Everything I bring up just goes on and on about the coast, both for Katrina and her sister Rita. Last night our local newschannel talked about 110 MPH winds in Katy, near our house in west Houston. On the other hand, I can't find any info on how long it might take to get to Beaumont on IH10 East, and I don't want to run out of gas due to the traffic. We live in a brick house far from the 100 year flood plane, with very few windows and one giant pecan tree. We have food and water and all the necessities, but we're still thinking of leaving. We are having a hard time getting the facts to make a good decision.

I'm looking for facts or pictures, not "get out now get out now" scariness. My pants are plenty brown already, thanks.

Do they always go east?

Chuckles — Thu, 22 Sep 2005 02:35:26 -0800

Shouldn't hurricane track predictions have a skewed distribution due to the nature/direction of steering winds? The National Hurricane Center's Forecast Verification page doesn't address the possibility - or maybe I just can't read...

How do I volunteer for Katrina recovery efforts?

waldo — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 14:51:08 -0800

The Red Cross requires a three-week hitch, getting me back two days too late for my calendar. FEMA doesn't want help. I'm told that there are organizations across the country who are looking for volunteers to help with all manner of aid for Katrina victims. I just need a floor to sleep on and three squares, and I'll work 18 hours days feeding dogs or helping people fill out paperwork or cook food or whatever. Can anybody point me to some such organizations?

Donating with Paypal

jikel_morten — Wed, 07 Sep 2005 13:09:41 -0800

I'd like to donate to the Katrina relief effort. I don't have a credit card, but am set up with Paypal. Paypal seems to want me to donate to the United Way. I somehow think, I don't know why, that I should give directly to the Red Cross instead of the UW. Would my money go further with the Red Cross, because otherwise I'll have no problem donating to the UW.
One of the first google hits for red-cross paypal is this one from 'Liberal Blogs for Hurricane Relief' through Drop Cash. Is this safe? I just don't know who can set up a drop cash donation page, and whatnot. Can someone point me in the right direction? Thanks

Why does FEMA hate communication?

aaronetc — Tue, 06 Sep 2005 17:32:53 -0800

Why would FEMA cut the emergency communication lines in Jefferson Parish? Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard reported on last Sunday's Meet the Press that FEMA came in and cut their lines. He then had the Sheriff reconnect the lines and post armed guards to protect them. (Video here.)

What is the official explanation for it? What could possibly justify it?

What is Brit Hume thinking at this very moment?

mds35 — Tue, 06 Sep 2005 07:52:21 -0800

Heartless Bastard filter: Who stands to make beaucoup cash money from the New Orleans disaster? Which companies or special interestes are going to see increased stock prices and mega-revenues from sales and services related to the relief and recovery efforts? Or even from rebuilding the Big Easy?

Please do keep this civil. I'm not trying to make a political point, nor am I wanting to provide a platform for others to do so.

How did the New Orleans cemeteries fare through Hurricane Katrina?

Jazznoisehere — Sat, 03 Sep 2005 19:44:21 -0800

Amid the original concerns about a Cat 3 or higher hurricane hitting New Orleans was the above-ground cemetery circumstances in the city. I'm not sure this thread could be any more ghoulish than what the status quo is but, has anyone heard anything about the status of the cemeteries in New Orleans?