Katrina: more lessons learned

[Malone LaVeigh]

Not to whiz on the parade...

Families sleeping in their cars at highway rest areas were a favorite target, including siphoning of gas from their tanks,

Has anyone tried to siphon gas from a fairly late model car? It's just about impossible. I had the opportunity to try it on two, with the permission of the owners, that were totaled in front of my business (when my building landed on top of them.) I eventually decided that the only way to do it would have been to remove the gas tank.

Not to say that there wasn't a single incident like this, but your use of the plural and generalized terms like "a favorite target" makes it sound like it was widespread.

There have been many reports of smaller towns, farms, etc. on the fringe of the disaster area being overrun with those seeking assistance. In many cases, assistance was demanded rather than requested, and theft, looting and vandalism have been reported. So, even if you think you're safe from the disaster, you may not be safe from its aftermath.

Please share these reports. I was in a town in MS that received a lot of refugees and heard reports from people in several towns in MS, LA and AR. Never heard a report like this. Must be that ol' libbral media again.

Hey, I'm not saying no bad things happened. A business in the same shopping center as mine was looted. We were broken into, but it might have been an employee. But in general, people for the most part didn't revert to animals.

 

[Jacobus Rex]

5. Those who thought themselves safe from the disaster were often not safe from refugees. There have been many reports of smaller towns, farms, etc. on the fringe of the disaster area being overrun with those seeking assistance. In many cases, assistance was demanded rather than requested, and theft, looting and vandalism have been reported. So, even if you think you're safe from the disaster, you may not be safe from its aftermath.

I know of a number of people that have describe these types of incidents to myself or close friends of mine.

A store about 10 miles from my home is still closed because of refugees looting it. (They say they are reopening on Monday.) They are currently boarded up and have a note posted as to the reason why.

I know of two different persons that live on Hwy 59 in the Livingston area north of Houston that had people aggressively trying to get supplies/gas.

To quote a post that I made not long ago:

8. Expect possible panicked groups of heavy armed individuals. One group passed through my community in a small convoy traveling on the wrong side of the road and firing guns in the air to clear the roadway ahead of them.

Most people in area that had large numbers of evacuees or had to evacuate will be able to confirm that a LOT of craziness was going on.

 

[NMshooter]

Siphoning gas from most current production vehicles requires a knife to punch a hole in the bottom of the plastic gas tank, not a hose.

 

[redneck2]

Please share these reports. I was in a town in MS that received a lot of refugees and heard reports from people in several towns in MS, LA and AR. Never heard a report like this. Must be that ol' libbral media again.

Hey, I'm not saying no bad things happened. A business in the same shopping center as mine was looted. We were broken into, but it might have been an employee. But in general, people for the most part didn't revert to animals.

I suspect it was "luck of the draw". During one newscast, they were showing some evacuees in Mississippi that had lined up at a local store buying (not stealing) groceries. These folks were obviously not inner city dwellers

In the same newscast they were showing displaced inner city residents that were smashing, looting, and stealing everything they could get their hands on

 

[Browns Fan]

What amazes me is how many people are surprised that with some folks, all civility gets flushed down the toilet when SHTF.

 

[BozemanMT]

I think that many have finally gotten the point that civilization as we know it is just a thin veneer over all the animal instincts beneath the surface, and it's easily scratched.

My preperation kit is in the planning stages, or at least the non-firearm parts are. Like many here, I've got enough firearms for about 5 people.

very well said
although i think you forgot the zero after the 5.

 

[UnintendedConsequences]

Interesting. And my views on these things:

1. If you choose to help, you may be sucked into a bureaucratic and legal nightmare.

Me: The answer is simple, I WILL NOT help, period. After seeing what happens to those who help, and aren't from the government, they refugees can figure out how to help themselves. If they come begging here, they will be sent packing. If they threaten the SSS protocol may be instituted if necessary.

2. Law enforcement problems will often be "glossed over" and/or ignored by authorities.

This doesn't surprise me at all. The county sheriff here hides anything he can unless it would make him look better in public, but that is a politician thing in general. As the area LEOs have been no help in the past, they won't be contacted if I have problems. Again, the SSS protocol may be instituted if necessary.

3. Your personal and/or corporate supplies and facilities may be commandeered without warning, receipt or compensation.

Me: Supplies? What supplies? I just have a jar of peanut butter. Facilities? You want to use my house and barn? Sure, you can have them after I burn them to the ground! You want to commandeer my van and car? Sure thing...*CHUCK-CHUCK* *click* Tell me, how allergic are you to double-aught buck? Keep your hands where I can see them... *BOOM* *CHUCK-CHUCK* *BOOM* *CHUCK-CHUCK* *BOOM* *CHUCK-CHUCK* *BOOM* *CHUCK-CHUCK* *BOOM* *CHUCK-CHUCK* *BOOM* Those coyotes will be fat and sassy tonight...and I *TOLD* them to keep their hands where I could see them...

4. If you look like you know what you're doing, you may be a target of those less prepared.

Me: Unless they reach the top of my long driveway without breaking an axle those evacuees and goobers aren't going to see what I'm doing anyway. Besides, if they come through my locked heavy gates and cut through the trees dropped across my driveway, I will hear them coming and will be prepared to handle the intrusion.

5. Those who thought themselves safe from the disaster were often not safe from refugees.

Me: Again, if they refugees cut through my locked gates, cut the trees I drop across my driveway or can walk up a steep, long, rough driveway, they will alert me before they get to my home due to the noise they make and them alerting my livestock and guard dogs. Any theats to my livestock, pets or family will be met with unappologetic deadly force to terminate their threat. If I figure the alternative is my own death, I have no reason not to draw as much blood from my aversaries as I can before I die. I will go down fighting and blasting if the alternative is no better.


6. Self-reliance seems to draw suspicion upon you from the authorities.

Me: If I'm not out and about looking flush and alive, I guess I don't have to worry too much about it. If there is a natural disaster on the scale of Katrina/Rita/Wilma, I'm away from the closest small town and in a fairly unpopulated section of the county. I doubt I would be a high priority as the closest town has a high population of retirees that would be in more need of help than me. I'm far enough out with enough timber between me and the town that it would be a long time before help would get to me. Since I know this, I will be prepared for that situation.

7. Relief workers from other regions and States often don't know local laws.

Me: If the workers don't know the law, I am more than happy to inform them of it when they try to play the heavy. If they wish to resort to force, I will have no option but to meet it with force in kind.

8. Relief organizations have their own bureaucratic requirements that may conflict with your needs.

Me: I guess that leaves me not getting any goober goodies then, right? I mean, I'm not going to stand in line for the FEMA/Red Cross handouts because I already made preparations for an emergency and don't need the help. Sure, things might look a little rough around the edges for awhile, but I think I can handle things. I have no need for help that tells me I have to give up my natural rights to obtain it.

There, that's my view.

 

[Kodiaz]

If you live in a Hurricane area you should

1. Have canned goods to last you and your family a month

2. have water to last you and yours a month

3. I don't like generayors if you live in an urban or semi urban environment a generator makes a ton of noise and will attract the BG now if you live in a rural area then it's a great thing to have

4 you need to have a plan that includes your family (aunt's uncles cousins)
if your the only one with guns square that away as best as you can try and get your relatives to the range with you somehow so you can at least teach them basic gun safety(so 3 seconds after handing uncle joe your backup 12 gauge he doesn't shoot you in the back because he had his finger in the trigger guard) have shotguns for your non shooters anyone can shoot a shotgun and hit something

5. if your family isnt nearby have a full tank and at least 20 gallons in gas tanks if you put stabil in your cans it will get you 600 miles in the average 15 miles per gallon vehicle (if you don't think you can find gas 600 miles from where you are well its TEOTWAWKI)

6 know your neighbors if the guy two doors down was in the service but you don't think he has weapons have an extra you' might need a hand

7.park your cars so that if a tree falls at least one car is drivable

8. Have everything you need at home and don't leave. It would really suck to be in the Gas, Ice, Food, or Water line where the rioting starts. Avoid groups of people remember that scene in the matrix where the girl in the red dress turns into the guy with the big gun. Well that can happen anywhere stay in and near your house if things start happening talk to your neighbors try and block the street so the BG cant just drive into your neighborhood get someone on a roof. Look at your neighborhood and make a plan these are the ways in and out if we pile hurricane debris here and here there is only one way in or only one car can go by at a time

and if the power doesnt come back after three weeks well head for a place with wood game and water because it is swiss family robinson time