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Hurricane Relief - What Would You Bring?
andyring asks: "In a few weeks, I will be going with a group from my church down to some of the hardest-hit areas in Louisiana and Mississippi to volunteer in the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. We will be there six days, and have 10 people going so far. At this point, I don't know much more than we'll be in either Slidell, La. on the northeast shore of Lake Ponchartrain, or Pass Christian, Miss., right on the Gulf Coast near Gulfport/Biloxi. Not knowing what we'll be faced with, and having somewhat limited room for supplies, tools and equipment (probably a U-haul trailer), what would you bring on a journey such as this? Any Slashdot readers between Lincoln, Neb. and the New Orleans area interested in contributing to our effort, such as donations of equipment/supplies/tools/etc?"
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I'd check out the Red Cross website or something. Or perhaps you could check this out, some good ideas there.
wind powered generators.
Well, since you asked what *I* would bring, I would bring some Lucinda Williams records along with whatever supplies I took. Hew songs extensively canvas the Louisiana spirit, and It would remind me of what a great part of America that really is. Start with "Crescent City" off her self titled album.
Lets see... Hammers, Nails, Chainsaw, good old handsaw, axes some saw horses stuff you dont need electricity for.
Personally I'd bring...
Food
Water
Shelter (canvas tents, large)
Tools (Tarps, gloves, hand saws, hammers, crowbars)
Large Commercial-grade trash bags
Cheap duffle bags / backpacks
Bicycle(s)
1. Swiss Army Knife (or a Leatherman) 2. Fresnel Lens
All your favorite Linux distros so you can "secure" all the Windows machines you find.
Nothing interesting to say...MUST...NOT...REPLY...ohtheheckwithit.
Duct tape.
You'll need a brick wall to bang your head and a baseball bat might help with federal officials. I volunteered, I rounded up some donated equipment for wireless ISPs who flocked to the area, and they totally got the run around from FEMA. A group of twenty five traveled to Kelly AFB on their own dime to lay in a phone system for evacuees and SBC had done the deed two days before they got there. FEMA coordination indeed!
If you're doing bricks & mortar stuff you'll probably get a lot further, but the technology relief stuff is just a joke - its going to be total pork barrel for the Haliburton sized companies of the world.
Good luck!
I am very easy to get along with, but I don't have time to waste being nice to people who are being stupid. -Theo
Given the deep hate of spam around here, I don't imagine you'll need to bring much to make a stop by Ronnie Scelson's house to point and laugh.
Where does the school board find them and why do they keep sending them to ME?
I feel for people and their mission to bring relief to the hurricane victims, but what does this have to do with slashdot? This is a left-wing geek website for talking about computers, toys, and cries of censorship and conspiracies.
I seriously doubt most people on this forum would have any real clue to answer this question correctly. All your going to get is a bunch of pimply-faced teens who think they know what you should do, but really, they're just talking out of their asses.
Slashdot is not the place to get this question answered. The responses would likely cause further confusion for you. Why don't you talk to the Red Cross, Salvation Army or some other aid organization first?
Everything you will need for 12 days, plus everything you will be bringing on top of that to help out. This includes food, water, shelter, fuel, a spare tire for the U-Haul, etc..
The very worst thing you could do would be to arrive there and become part of the problem instead of part of the solution.
It might also help if you got an invitation from officialdom, with some idea of where they think they need to put resources first, so that you maximize your value, and have written official sanction to even be in the area you can show to the guards at the blockades.
-- Terry
I already live here, so please, feel free to bring along a *AHEM50inTVAHEM* so I can watch TV like a king.
(*Disclaimer: I do live in Mississippi [Ocean Springs])
computerdude33's stuff: My blog of wonder.
...and anything else you might need to beat a hasty retreat from the idiots who were choosing to loot and pillage instead of helping people get off roofs. Might Kevlar be useful?
Am I the only one who lost all sympathy for katrina victims once people started talking about rebuilding?
This is not a troll, this is a question. Why should anyone support people who want federal aid in order to continue living below sea level?
-- 'The' Lord and Master Bitman On High, Master Of All
Oh wait it's a church....purification tablets then.
A wheelbarrow might be handy, maybe you could strap it on top of the trailer. It would be handy for moving your gear other stuff around in places where you can't fit a vehicle.
Are you just randomly turning up to volunteer?
If not, contact them NOW and ask them if they need any volunteers, and where you should go to be able to help the most.
But right now the whole area is a big sponge for big business to get money from the government (i.e., your money) to fix the area up. So basically your money goes to big business, and a disaster area gets kinda fixed up.
Maybe you should just plant bombs all along the levee and put the city out of its misery.
Comfy shoes implies to me your typical sneaker/running shoe. Bad idea. You may be stepping in alot of debris. Things that can be sharp like glass, nails, and so forth. You'll want a sturdy set of work boots. Perhaps even steel toed shoes. Bring a hard hat as well for the same reason. You'll do them no good if you get injured trying to help them out.
Slashdot, home of supporters of free software, free music, and free speech.Except for Moderators that disagree with you.
clearly you do not undertstand what a disaster is like, and have little or no training. Stay away, or send people who know what they are doing.
Your intentins are good, but if you don't have training you will be a hinderance and a liability.
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
You don't know if there will be fresh water there. You may have to make your own. Bring these:
Shovel
tarps (2)
bucket
latex or vinyl tubing
Dig a pit with a raised portion in the center. Line the pit with one of the tarps. Use rocks along hte edges to hold it in place. Put the bucket in the middle, on the raised bit. Run the tubing from the bucket to outside the pit. Add another tarp stretched over the top. Secure with rocks. Put a rock in the center so that it is depressed in a cone shape, with the point over the bucket.
Add water to the area around the bucket (take care that the water level doesn't reach the base of the bucket). Let it sit all day. As the water evaporates (aided by te heat of the sun) it will collect on the upper tarp and drip, via that cone shape into the bucket. You can then get the water through the tube.
You will want a few useful things. This is my experience based on working with the feds:
You'll want shelter, either provided to you or taken with you.
You'll want food and something to cook on. A propane camp stove would be perfect. Coleman makes a nice 2 burner stove. Food should be as nonperishable as possible.
Clean clothes and comfy shoes are a must.
If you want power for cell phones, GPS, 2 way radios, etc, I would suggest getting one of those emergency car starters. These are sealed lead acid batteries and usually have about 20Ah in them as well as a 12V plug. Some even have a 110V inverter built in.
Make sure you have some place to sit. Milk crates, camp chairs, whatever. It will make a difference. Trust me.
Purell or other water-less hand sanitizers. These are a life saver.
Bring your own water, as water there is likely to be contaiminated.
Minimal set of cook ware for cooking. Think stuff you NEED (pots, pans) and think light!
Don't forget extra batteries. This has screwed me over so many times.
Aside from all that, anything that is needed for you to actually do your job!
http://patrolling.rantmedia.ca/download.php
Good series on basic urban survival, but the man has more stuff to add to it in a few months time as it goes on. Season one is done.
Personally; A pair of kevlar renforced combat boots with the care kit (hitech magnums are good), a water filteration system (bottle type), a camel back, webbing, multitool, a sizeable and very thick hunting knife (6 inches long, 3 inches serrated, and it needs to be 1/4th an inch thick, steel) with care kit, a tent, a shortwave radio, a laptop with wifi, 2 batteries, and a library of software on a CD spindle, a good backpack, a good bag, a tent (he shows you how to build and pack one in the series) with sleeping bag, $1000 cash, a good powerful LED flashlight and a good refillable lighter, 2 changes of military clothing, a collapsable bucket, kevlar reinforced gloves, and if they'd let me, a 9mm handgun with space for 3 clips on the ebbing and a flare gun. The most important part of all of that, however, is a good hatchet for breaking down doors and the like if you need to although at this point I'd figure what you're probably going to be doing is dropping off water and food, cooking, putting up temporary shelters, those kinds of things.
If Red Green taught you anything, it's that you need to take Duct Tape with you EVERYWHERE you go, especially if you'll be fixing things.
Saskboy's blog is good. 9 out of 10 dentists agree.
Flashlight: A small LED Light. This one fits in the palm of your hand and comes with 5 extra batteries.
Multitool: One of these should do nicely.
Laws affecting technology will always be bad until enough techies become lawyers.
**insert favorite profound quotation here**
Water Filtration kits.
and lots.
AMEN! If you have to ask a question like this, on Slashdot of all places, then despite your wonderful intentions you're probably going to be in the way at best, and at worst cause more problems than you'll fix.
The word of the day is: deprive
- jumper cables
- 4000 lb come along winch
- road flares
- fuel siphon
- 5 gallon jerry can
- XM radio
- Garmin GPS
- detailed area maps
- ice scraper
- collapsable Glock e-tool/shovel
- full spare
If you "get" pointers add me as a friend (116)!
Don't bring your bibles. These people need real actual help, they don't need folks coming down there with ulterior motives trying to convert them.
It's very typical of christians to seek out folks who're really suffering, and offer them help in a veiled attempt to bring them "into the flock". Not saying that's you, just making a general observation.
Consider bringing stuff you think the youngest children will need. Kids suffering is the worst.
because your labour is going to be your most valuable contribution. It's easy to give money and materiel, but they need "boots on the ground" to physically help with clearing out the damage and to rebuild. I wish you luck and God speed on a noble effort. Regards,
Don't forget a radio. From what I hear the Freeplay lifeline radios are great.
They do not require any batteries, picks up AM, FM, and Shortwave, designed to withstand "harsh conditions", and is powered by solar and/or wind-up. That and if you purchase one they automatically donate another to the Freeplay Foundation to help orphaned children in Africa.
Next step up would be to have a ham license so you could talk back. Although...in an emergency I'm not sure how strict the FCC would be if you didn't have one.
I'm a virgo and on Slashdot. Coincidence? Yes.
You really should be asking the people setting up the trip this question. They should have a good idea what's there. Some things I can think of are batteries, weapons, two-way radios, shortwave receivers, food (maybe some MREs), water, trash bags, maybe a bunch of cheap cell phones to hand out (you can get these at Goodwill or some thrift store), medical equipment, flashlights, a laptop, a satellite dish, some wireless routers, a bunch of copies of the bible, a copy of Linux, and a copy of Wikipedia.
You obviously haven't come across Telstra then.
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from a rigged demo
--Andy Finkel (J. Klass?)
I'm going to be in Pass Christian, MS tomorrow night doing the same thing with my church.
Here's what I'm bringing:
A small day pack.
Self-inflating camping mattress
Work Gloves
An axe
A flashlight
Poncho
Towel, and other personal items
Ducktap
Cash for meals for the trip down and back
MREs for while I'm there
Old jeans, old tennis shoes, and that Slashdot t-shirt I never wear anymore
A few cases of bottled water, for myself and to give to others
A lighter
A few decks of cards
A Bible
Of course, when I get there, I'll remember what I forgot to bring. Right now, churches need cash the most, and lots of it.
A bible and a dedication to saving souls instead of bodies. When the suffering are dead, they won't need 'em anyways. Hell, why bother going down there at all? Just pray for them from your safe little church, and called down curses on the ungodly folks that brought this on themselves. Why don't you leave the helping hands to people worried about folks on Earth?
You also need some mosquito repellent with the highest concentration of deet you can find. We're in west-nile land down here my friend.
This way to the egress...
Stay home, for god's sake. "Not know what we'll be faced with"? Are you completely daft? Not knowing what you're going to be faced with indicates, as well, that you have no idea what you're going to do there. Oh, you're going to 'provide aid', the sort of vacuous non-thing that just gets you in the way. "Limited room for supplies?" It doesn't even sound like you have enough room for supplies for yourselves, let alone anybody you might think you wish to aid.
Idiots.
Bring a topo map and show those morons where high ground is.
Don't know your politics, and it actually doesn't matter, except don't be put off by the place the following info comes from. There is a woman who posted about her experiences in Slidell and Bogalusa here at DailyKos. She spent quite a while there, has many contacts, and has given advice to others about what's needed. I feel sure she would answer if you tried to contact her, and that her advice would be very relevant.
HPC for Primates. Read Cluster Monkey
"This is not a troll, this is a question. Why should anyone support people who want federal aid in order to continue living..."
a) Below sea level (global warming will help here)
b) Tornado ally (every state in the union's had one)
c) Burning hills, mud slides and earthquakes.*
d) Hurricane lane (Guam included)
e) Mississippi flood plain and branches.
F) Deep freeze northeast (how quickly people forget the 'year of the deep freeze' along the entire east coast)
f) Volcano cook off, Hawaiian style.
And these are just the *natural* disasters.
*and for those of you who think this is just a west coast thing? Just wait till the New Mandrid fault slips.
--
The "are you a script" word for today is caught "unaware".
A shotgun. 2nd thing: 10 cases of shells.
Amazingly enough, the purpose of your visit impacts what you need to bring quite a bit. I doubt they need random people turning up. There are certainly plenty of people whose regular jobs have disappeared for a while. Figure out why you are going, then confirm that it really needed, then pack accordingly fro a combination of your mission's needs and FULL self-sufficiency.
Please consider Donating Here
Very clever using a katrina domain name. Good reminder to all of us to be cautious of donation sites. Just because the site says it is for Katrina does not mean it will be honored.
For those wondering what the troll is about, the link redirects to lemonparty.org. And for those who are lucky enough to not know what that is but curious, it is a site that contains a picture of three older guys performing homosexual acts on each other. NSFW and quite disgusting.
I'm a virgo and on Slashdot. Coincidence? Yes.
Don't bring your bibles. These people need real actual help, they don't need folks coming down there with ulterior motives trying to convert them.
Don't you think maybe there are some folks over there who already are Christians and would like a copy of the bible to replace one that was destroyed?
Having just been down to MS after Katrina hit to help out family and friends, make sure you have enough gas to make it from Jackson to your destination and back! Things may be a little better or possibly a little worse now. But as soon as I hit Jackson gas became very scarce. Clean drinking water was also very hard to find.
I wish you best of luck,
GOD bless.
The past is just the present only older -me-
The 12 gauge model, cut down to 18 inches.
If I could, I'd destroy you all.
..trapped on a desert island things? In that case I'd bring: a power boat, lots of gasoline and enough food and water to survive the trip home.
"Victory means exit strategy, and it's important for the President to explain to us what the exit strategy is." G.W.Bush
Most people here are Universists/atheists, including me. Mentioning it is with a church is a mistake, at least here.
For the residents:
Shoes, clothes, books, tools - should be enough to get you started
For you:
Here's a short list of what I'd consider essential for demolition and cleanup work (I did this kind of work for ~5 years, but don't assume that this is comprehensive)
Comfortable clothes that you don't mind being ruined, large selection of tools (at a minimum, I'd recommend hammers (30oz framing hammer), drill, circular saw, chainsaw, reciprocating saw with lots of exta blades, wheelbarrows, shovels, rakes (not a leaf rake, the more sturdy kind), sledgehammers, crowbar, prybar, pitchfork, good pair of work gloves, large trash bags, cooler/thermos for water and face masks (surgical kind - good for keeping dust off)
Past the basics, I'd recommend a generator (only if there is no power), air compressor, nail gun, jackhammer, and any other heavy demolition/cleanup type equipment you can get together
Even though this is slashdot, I'd probably recommend against taking any tech gadgets with the desire to any work with them
I'd also make sure that officials know you are coming and can direct you to areas where you can assist in the cleanup
You're in Nebraska. It'll take you a day or better to get down to the coast. Presumably you're going in a caravan. IE - multiple vehicles. Plus you're towing a trailer. Lots of gas. *Lots*.
Save that money and send it to a foundation or fund that's already working in that capacity. You're only going to get in the way. It's not like there's a great need for people to come down and fix homes or help with cleanup. The people in Pass Christian and Hancock County lost *everything*. Not just their homes, but their jobs and their ways of life. Getting them up and running is going to take more than a hammer and some nails.
If you *really* want to help, buy some trailers and have them delivered to random people on the coast. My family lives in Waveland and are in need of at least three trailers. FEMA won't give them the time of day, and meanwhile, the wealthier people on the beach got their trailers from FEMA in relatively short order.
"Mod, mod, mod...and another troll bites the dust."
Enough said.
Bring people who can swing a hammer. Hammers, nails, two-by-fours, roofing shingles -- food and water seem to be in hand, there are stores open and people still giving away free food. Housing is really the major problem at this point.
;) If you bring canned food, bring non-electric canopeners. Pet food is apparently a big deal, too.
However, that's not to say water wouldn't help. Gallon jugs are cheaper, so I'd go for those and some sort of sealable containers people can take with them, like to build. (Bottled water is insanely high priced.) As for food, I'd suggest things that don't need refrigeration, but this may be obvious.
Canvas tents would be good. Water purifying tablets. Duct tape was suggested and may be a good idea. Batteries, for people to power radios with. Many areas have no phone/power/net even now. If space allows, small fans that can be plugged into generators -- the heat is just awful.
bring a truckload of condoms to keep those morons from breeding.
Push your bloody rich government to help and take care of these people -it's their duty to do it, AFAIK- and be a volunteer in some third world country that really needs volunteer people.
-- Patent no.123456: A way to personalize
Worksites are dangerous. I can only imagine the carnage if you set loose a bunch of weekend warrior office workers with power tools and hurricane-damaged buildings. Make sure you have someone experienced in the type of work to provide a full daily orientation, along with tool and worksite safety training, and supervision to ensure that you don't injure yourselves. You don't want to add to the problem by becoming a burden on local medical resources, rather than helping out as you had planned.
You need some idea of what you'll be doing before you can properly plan. Will you be clearing damage, and demolition? Then you'll want chainsaws, chop saws, wrecking bars, etc. Will you have electricity (generator or powerlines), or will you want to bring as many gasoline powered tools as possible. But most importantly, you need some people who know what they're doing. Plan your work. Prethink each task before starting it. Stop and think (Exxon safety slogan) during each task.
Slashdot - the place where you can look like a genius by restating the obvious
why bring an ice scraper to a place that hasn't seen snow in years?
Your group should already have made contact with another church in the area and asked them for sponsorship and a project that your group could contribute toward. The sponsoring church and project will dictate what you need to bring. If you did not do that already and expect to just jump in a truck with a vague plan to offer your help, then you are fools who are not needed in the area. Stay home. In any case, this was a really, really dumb question to be asking slashdot.
But if you decide to go anyway, bring a pair of heavy duty work boots, gloves, and a hard hat. The area is a disaster site that will soon be on its way to being one BFC (Big F'ing Construction) site. It won't be a playground.
FreeSpeech.org
The Army. With fricking lasers.
Oh wait, they're all in Iraq. Never mind.
Er, a good book?
...is to arrange for your church's website to be slashdotted.
"The newly born animals are then whisked off for a quick run through a giant baking oven." --heard on Food Network
Take a bright personality and a sense of humor. Also, be sure above anything to coordinate with federal and local officials to whereever you are going. Don't plan on saying in any buildings near the disaster area. I had to commute almost 300 miles a day just to get to my worksite. All hotels in the area are likely to be booked by FEMA or evacuees so get reservations ahead of time. And probably most importantly. Make sure you actually have a goal for going down there instead of just "10 or so people going to deliver supplies" because you only need 2 people tops to deliver supplies. And who are you going to give them to? Do you have any contacts in the area? Cellphones? Also be advised that electrical companies are the ones clearing brush but if you start touching peoples private property without permission you may get a bullet in the head. It's happened a lot. These people have lost everything, especially their tolerance for other people.
I hope you're talking about Church's Chicken, cause all other church's suck balls.
Several changes of clothes. It is hot and humid, but that will change soon, so bring a mix of warm and cool weather things. Bring things you don't mind getting dirty in, but that wash up easily. You don't know where your nearest laudry will be.
;-)
Mosquito repellant and sunscreen. Lotion. A hat/cap/visor. Sun glasses, if you are so inclined.
Gloves and boots. Goggles might be handy, depends on what sort of labor you plan on doing.
A journal and pen. Not a PDA and stylus, a real book and a pen. You may want to make notes for your memoirs and you don't know when you can get to batteries or ac power. A camera would be good too. take the cell phone camera just in case though.
Some trashy novels. You may have some boring down time.
Canteen/thermos. Depends on how used you are to heavy labor, if that is what you'll be doing.
Multi-Vitamins. Mega doses, just in case.
Satellite uplink phone with modem/ethernet attachment for the laptop so you can stay in touch with Slashdot. And the porn sites.
Single dollars for the stripper bars that are reopening in 'Nawlins. They were some of the first businesses to reopen. Life is getting back to normal
Behold, this dreamer cometh. Come now, and let us slay him... and we shall see what will become of his dreams.
Having done some cleanup work after Andrew...nah, that was completely different...
To all those folks having Mad Max and Postman and Tank Girl apocalyptic delusions, beware. Louisiana is hot and humid. It's not, as a bunch of posters seem to think, going to be a camping trip. It won't be some Fallout II New Reno environment with ammo and hidden loot in destroyed buildings. Supplies that are useful on a camping trip may not be quite as useful in a flooded city.
Bring a towel.
No seriously. Bring those moist towels (e.g., baby wipes), bring gloves, sturdy shoes, lots of clean socks, clean underwear, talcum powder, antiseptic, bleach, toilet paper, soap, sunblock.
Bring a towel. They can be moistened and placed on your head. This really helps to keep cool. No kidding.
Bring some hard candies, breath mints, antiseptic (iodine is good).
Disposable cameras, latex gloves, breathing mask and antiseptic.
Bring some sort of anti-histamine and allergy medication, ibuprofen, and antiseptic.
GPS? Walkie talkies for the group.
I'd take a bottle of antibiotics with me, if you go to any of the previously flooded areas its crawling with nasty stuff.
http://www.katadyn.com/site/us/home/outdoor_produc ts/our_products/
The reason we subjugate ourselves to law is to better procure justice. If law does not accomplish this purpose then it m
Here's what I brought down to the gulf...
1) Sunscreen
2) Ballcap
3) Sunglasses
4) Bugspray
5) Hand sanitizer
6) First aid kit (for splinters, blisters, cuts)
7) Neosporin or some other anti-bacterial cream
8) Allergy tablets (I always get f*cked up in a new climate)
9) Comfortable shoes and lots of clean socks
10) Something to while away downtime. I suggest the "Su Doku for Dummies" book. Hours of puzzle-solving fun and no electricity needed.
Be prepared to rough it. Don't expect a king-sized bed at the Omni. I just got to Texas today and I'm in a decent hotel room, but tomorrow I don't have a place to stay. I hope the back seat of the car is comfortable...
My father is a blogger.
Things I have thought I would want there...
An axe...get a good single bit two handed axe, learn to use it properly. It can serve as many kinds of hammers and has a nice sharp edge for all sorts of cutting.
Cooking pots, the deep kind
Rolls of clear plastic sheeting, with this and the cooking pots above you can distill water
Solar cells, batteries, power inverter, power tools, windmills?, hand tools,
First aid gear, dont stop with bandages and peroxide. Get some of the more advanced stuff, learn to use it. During the recovery you're going to be seeing all sorts of construction site kinds of injuries.
Rope. Lots. Rope is important for heavy lifting and semi permanent construction. So, prolly lots of clothesline and a few hundred feet of 1/2inch sisal.
Lumber. Tents.
Scuba gear. I know, it sounds funny, but the ability to go into the bottom of a flooded basdement and stay there will be very useful.
It really depends on your plan of action. What role do you plan to fill? If you go to build homes you should bring different things than if you were going to open a shelter or a free kitchen.
On the other hand...almost anything you bring will be needed.
First, let me applaud you for your efforts.
I live in Cape Coral, FL, which was hit pretty good by Charley last year. We had no power for three days, and there were many areas that took several weeks to get power back. Let me tell you, there are many things you take for granted. Roads were blocked by trees for awhile, and gasoline was scarce. One of my co-workers didn't have power (or water, since he was on a well).
If you've ever done any primitive camping, I would treat this the same way. Expect there to be little to no clean water available. This is huge, and probably your biggest concern. Bring plenty of distilled water, and also consider bringing equipment to purify water when you run out. This can be bought anywhere you can get camping supplies. I'm not sure how badly Slidell was hit, but it's possible power has not returned, so make sure you have flashlights with plenty of batteries, and candles. A Coleman stove will be invaluable if you want hot food, but if you can live on jerky, dried fruit, and trail mix it will make things simpler. Get yourself a good map of the area, and pay attention to as much news from there as you can to try to identify impassable routes or areas you just don't want to be in. Finally, expect gasoline to be in short supply, so fill up before you get there if you can and drive as little as possible.
Granted, I have no idea what kind of facilities will be available to relief workers. It may very well be that there is lodging, food, and water available. It's just best not to count on it, and to be prepared to rough it quite a bit.
Several knoppix cds would be nice
rewriting history since 2109
What???? I read that site and the first thing my eyes went to was the bit about clean air.
Ooo man the floppy drive is broken. No wait. The computer is just upside down.
If got destroyed the bible, maybe he disagreed with it!
rice, soy sauce, ramen noodles/soup packs, pre-sweetened drink mix (Kool-Aid, Crystal Light, Gatorade, etc.), shovels, rakes, and hoes.
I was down there helping my brother and family, and here's some things I would suggest:
Those are the things I used the most often when I was down there. Most of all, don't approach the coast with a feeling of dread. Unlike what the media has portrayed and focused upon in a few areas in New Orleans, the attitudes of the people there are upbeat and industrious, if a little haggard. The physical destruction is as bad or worse than portrayed on TV, but the "people" situation is much more positive. Mississippi Coast'ians (I'm one of them) are survivors.
BTW, thanks for the help on behalf of those directly affected (I live several hundred miles inland and so wasn't affected). FEMA is doing a fantastic job, but the job is so large that churches and other volunteer groups are needed to fill in the gaps. For instance, my grandmother had an Indiana church group clean out several pecan trees that were down in her front yard last week. We couldn't find an available crew to hire for it, and they just showed up out of the blue and did it for her! It really makes a difference.
BTW, parts of Slidell should have power now, and I know Picayune has full power (15 mins. from Slidell on the MS border). If you need accomodations, check with First Baptist of Picayune, and they may be helpful. I noticed from their website that Beatrice in Nebraska is the adopted "sister city" of Picayune for the disaster, so you may can use resources from both those cities if you need it. Beatrice Link
You're not only doing God's work, but that of a fine American. Thanks.
Speaking as a Search and Rescue volunteer, I'd say to keep in mind that your first priority is always to take care of yourself. If you're not self-sufficient, you're going to be imposing a burden on someone else. That means having food, water, shelter, clothes, and so on. I carry all of these (and a good deal more in terms of radios, medical equipment, rescue gear, and so on) in my trunk at all times, enough for a few days at least.
I don't know what the situation is down there and what exactly they might need, but you can be sure they'll be a lot more happy to see you if you can take care of yourself.
Regardless of the type of disaster, you can't go too far wrong with shovels and chainsaws (with fuel, oil, extra chains, etc). And a couple pairs of heavy duty work gloves. A good hard hat never hurts, either.
Be willing to take care of yourself, stay out of the way when necessary, work hard and follow directions, and I'm sure someone will find a use for you.
All their paper would be wet,
so i'd suggest a fresh supply of porn.
No ones been thinking of the essentials!!
"Don't bring your bibles. These people need real actual help, they don't need folks coming down there with ulterior motives trying to convert them."
Leave it to an athiest to think that the bibles they bring aren't for their use. You bring technical books, and science fiction to read on a trip. They bring their bibles, and other religious material to read on theirs.
"It's very typical of christians to seek out folks who're really suffering, and offer them help in a veiled attempt to bring them "into the flock". Not saying that's you, just making a general observation."
And it's *typical* of slashdotters to make uninformed and ignorant comments. Not saying that's you, just making a *general* observation.
Tetnis shot! (If you get cut on just about anything that was formerly underwater or even remotely metal, you will be hardpressed to find some. I've seen an army unit deployed to administer them in the wake of Rita and will be of lowest priority)
Solar panel to recharge your various electronics
Boots if you intend on getting close enough
Don't count on cell coverage. It was quite shitty last I tried
GPS unit with maps. Alot of road signs are gone
Make sure to bring your own water and food. Extra gas is highly advised as it is in short supply down here. Don't be moron like others I've seen and strap it to your roof
Blog: http://richardrandomrants.blogspot.com/
-A stout bag that you can carry on your back
-2 1quart canteens and 1 2quart canteen plus water purification tablets
-One set of outer clothes (Definately long pants and a light long sleeve shirt). Army style clothing is really the most usefull. It has been perfected over the years.
Army style jungle boots. They have holes to let the water drain out. I wouldn't use goretex boots. They keep your feet to hot and keep the water in.
-One set of underclothes for each day. Lots of wool socks. Cotton is worthless when wet.
-A mosquito net and lots of 100% deet insect repellant. The mosquitoes are really bad. Also bring some hydrocortizone cream.
-one full days worth of food
-Ear plugs for sleeping next to generators.
-Notebook and several pens/pencils
I'm sure there's other stuff I left off, but this is a meager start at least. Louisianna this time of year is still pretty hot. Sleeping outside sucks. The mosquitoes are bad. It stinks because everything is so warm and moist. It would be a horrible place to live if it weren't for the people. They are very genuine and kind and really rather pleasant to be around.
Pod Six was jerks- Capt. Murphy
"Turn the other cheek" and "love thy enemy" are actually excellent teachings to offer suffering people if your intention is to make them suffer more while you steal their land and resources.
I'm just sayin'....
What-ever. At least they try to help out.
How many people do you see on Slashdot saying "I will be going to Louisiana and Mississippi with my Atheist group to volunteer in the relief efforts"? Pretty few indeed.
A spare is a good idea, but as much debris as there will be , u might want to bring two,
...
....
.....
and bring some tire plug kits from autozone, pep boys, o'reilly's , etc etc .
Water will be needed, food, make sure and bring sunblock, mosquito repellent, mosquito netting,
and a First Aid Kit .
If your working near trees with debris hanging in them, and the wind is going good,
bring a hard hat, safety rated one .
Multiple light sources, laterns, flashlights, lots of batteries and fuel for them .
Any good common over the counter medicine, Alleve, Aspirin, triple anti-biotic ointmet,
an infection from the debris there could be BAD
A C.B. radio to call for back up if the situation is REALLY bad, some cell towers are damaged .
Shortwave/AM/FM/emergency band radio with a horde of batteries .
Small solar panel to charge batteries in case they go dead in the middle of nowhere ,
or a hand crank generator for 12vdc .
A 110V inverter might come in handy, and like another poster said, good maps .
Food & Water, figure what you think you will need, then quadruple it, you may run into
some hungry ppl . Make it bland so they won't want it unless they really need it .
Try to avoid cooked food, saves time, some equip to haul and clean up, ie. make the very most of
your time and make food fast and effective .
Whatever u chose to sleep on bring something to lift it off the ground, and put empty cans
full of oil or gas on each leg, FireAnts are swarming bad down there . like a cot .
In Texas a damn is near breaking so
A canoe, if u can strap a canoe to the top of ur vehicle, take one down there .
Some kind of water wings, that inflate but are puncture resistant .
High wind rated tent/shelter, totally sealed variety is best, mosquito and fireant issues .
P.S. hurricane season isn't over also
Peace,
Ex-MislTech
google "32 trillion offshore needs IRS attention"
Specifically, a few boxes of latex medical gloves, and a pair of sturdy leather work-gloves from Home Depot (bonus points if you get UL-certified non-conducting ones). Tape is also useful - electrical and duct. Trick I learned last time I worked in a not-so-clear marine environment: before you go out, put on a pair of latex gloves. Then wrap a round or two of electrical tape around the glove, just before the end of it (if done properly, this should make a pretty good seal between the glove and your hand, without any tape touching your arm), and place your work gloves over that - keeps your hands dry (latex ones) and safe (leather ones).
When you're done for a session, take off the leather gloves and wash your hands (without taking off the latex gloves), as well as your forearms. Once all that is clean, cut off the inner gloves and wash again. You also might want to consider a solid pair of workboots - steel-toed, steel base-plate, Vibram soles - if you're going to be doing any type of manual labour.
Cue The Sun...
I went out with a church group a week after Hurricane Charley last year.
We spent most of our time cutting up fallen trees. We pretty much destroyed every "homeowner" chainsaw in a few hours. Don't even bother bringing those. The only ones that made it were commercial Stihl ones. The same with any handsaws, axes, etc. It's just too hot to do that sort of physical work. There was a huge amount of work and we could have used almost one chainsaw per person.
On the other hand, if you're going to have people inexperienced with chainsaws, bring some trauma dessings. Dead serious. I saw a lot of very close calls and chainsaws are a huge cause of post-storm injuries. Spend some time up-front and really go over chainsaw safety and technique. A lot of the close calls came because of someone getting a saw stuck and doing crazy things to try to free it.
What we learned was to focus on just cutting trees that could make a difference. Don't burn out clearing all the debris out of a few yards. There'll be time for that later. Just clear their driveway, electrical feed, any trees right next to the house, anything on a car or building, etc. I was amazed that one and two weeks later there were still people with their car trapped under or behind a fallen tree.
We also used plastic sheeting and roofing nails to do temporary roofing repairs. Ladders, hammers, etc. If you can get plywood, tar paper, etc., you could do more permanent work, but you'll run into problems as unlicense contractors.
We brought a lot of water to hand out, but there were very few takers. Everywhere we went had plenty of water. Everyone could have used more ice and coolers (even the cheap styrofoam disposables). Anything you can bring to occupy children will be welcome. The church we base-camped at had sort of a hurricane relief festival going on all weekend. Food vendors (free), donated clothing and supplies, children games, chainsaw sharpening and repair (free), etc. It was very well received.
Sleeping in a hurricane zone is rough. No way around it. A generator and an oscillating fan help a lot. Any sort of shower system would help.
A thing that was in short supply was reliable information. Find out where the local resources are and spread the word.
You need to make sure that your volunteers are insured. Any real volunteer organization will carry workman's comp for their volunteers. If you're going with Southern Baptist, United Methodist Committee on Relief, Salvation Army, etc. make sure you're covered.
In order of importance:
1. Faith, and lots of it. You'll need it when you see the devastation.
2. Bring bleach. Very important.
3. Soap (dish, body, hair, clothes, etc...)
4. Food & water (enough for your team + a little extra)
5. Tents and basic survival stuff for your team (unless you scored a hotel -- doubtful)
6. Chainsaws (with gas, extra chains, and oil)
7. Axes, hatchets, and hand saws
8. Winches and ropes (lots of rope)
9. Gloves (if you use them)
10. 1 gas/diesel electric generator per effective team (+ fuel, cords, & lights to cover)
I live in Polk County, Florida. Been there. Done that. Three times last year. You'll probably be mostly clearing, piling, and cleaning (unless its just going to be bulldozed). My nephew came in from Texas to the backwoods Mississippi towns with 1 500 gallon diesel tank and 1 500 gallon gas tank. Filled them 3 times before he was done. There were people living in the forest with no shelter, food, or water for days. No one had gotten that far out yet.
One of the best things you can do is to plan on bringing a family out and sponsering them to relocate and find a job(s). The whole area is financially devestated. My guess is that there will be 50% to 75% unemployment in some of those areas for at least a year.
Good luck, and post what you see when you get back. (The good stuff too.)
God's Speed
Randy
The mold is apparently horrendous, even for those who don't normally react. Claritin, Alavert, probably some general decongestants.
Assuming this is not a joke the answer is dependent on what you will be doing.
Having been through a few hurricanes from Camel to Andrew and a few misses 4 last year you may want to strongly consider what you will be doing.
First where are you from? The temperature there which is equivalent to here in Florida will be in the 90. That is 90 degrees in the middle of the day cooling of to a cool 85 at night and with the sun shining on you. If you are planning to work outside and not accustom to a swampie hot climate you are going to be HOT. Thus the first thing would things to deal with heat: water kegs, drink coolers et.
Next you will need tool for the job.
I an assuming that since you are asking that you have never done construction before as if you had you would not have to ask what tools you need and what has to be done.
The big jobs at this stage of a hurricane clean up are trash removal in all areas.
Other jobs depend on hoe far you are from the path of destruction. On the edges one of the big issues currently is permanent or temporary roof repairs. It rains a lot so this is a big thing in protecting existing property from further damage.
If you are close to the center of the destruction path then building removal [well actual building remains removal] and other assorted labor class work.
If you are not prepared physically for and accustom to very strenuous hard work do everybody a favor and stay home. The last thing anybody needs is some physical challenged individual trying to be Paul Bunion just before being halled 50 miles to the nearest hospital.
Talk is cheap and prayer is free (as in beer)
And bring your Bibles. Be prepared to share the hope that is in you with these people. Feed them, clothe them, give them shelter, and heaven forbid you neglect their spiritual needs.
God bless!
I think a more pertinent question would be...
What would Jesus bring?
Cheers.
This is my sig. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
It seems to me the smart thing to do is to get a contact down there first who can set you up with an initial task. That way when you show up you won't be waiting around for days as people find a use for you. It shouldn't be hard just call county clerk offices in differing cities and if they can't directly set you up with something I'm sure they can direct you to someone who can.
"A towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have. You can wrap it around you for warmth as you bound across the cold moons of Jaglan Beta...wet it for use in hand-to-hand combat...wrap it around your head to ward off noxious fumes...any man who can hitch the length and breadth of the Galaxy, rough it ... win through, and still know where his towel is, is clearly a man to be reckoned with."
I second that, they really are that useful.
If you happen to be christian and you're headed down there to pitch in, and you've got an extra box of bibles on-hand just in case you run into folks looking for one, then that's great and I'm sure you'll be appreciated.
'Nuff said.
If you're going to work and help the people returning to salvage their homes.
This means items like: hammers, sledge hammers, crowbars, good boots, nails,
a tetanus shot, shovels, snowshovels for heaps of sheetrock, those
rubbery gloves that go almost all the way down your forearm, facemasks,
well stocked first aid kit, screwdrivers, putty knifes to scrape, trash bags,
good deodorizers for the vehicle and stuff, a comealong, a wench
in case you get stuck in the mud and the comealong won't work,
eye protection, an eyewash, needlenose, regular pliers, string and rope,
binding wire, a wire brush, jumper cables, a good radio, etc...
When we donate to our YWCA they always need hygiene products of all
kinds, ask your wife to help with that one. These people are probably
trying to save what's left and deal with the nitty-gritty of daily life.
Whatever you bring will be specific with the flood ridden or wind damaged
area you find yourself in.
Seriously, while manpower is needed, a backhoe can do a lot more work than a shovel in a much shorter time.
Its great that you want to help, it really is, and you may even be able to lend manpower by doing work in your community.
Think of it this way, Katrina made a mess. You can try to clean up a mess by hand and take all day, or you can go get a vacuum and be done in 5 seconds. Even if you get every friend helping you to pick up the mess, its still smarter to go get the vacuum.
Dehydrated food (costs about $4 a meal, but you save in shipping weight), and as many portable water filters as possible (Ketadyn makes a ceramic one that's very good, albeit expensive, filtering down to .2 microns or so).
Just because you can mod me down, doesn't mean you're right. Shoes for industry!
As a linconite, I wish you good luck. But on the condition of items and donations, I would petition other local churches to aid you with donations and/or volunteers. Most have already established a fund for the victims, so you would most likely have a great response there. Also you could contact our church at http://hopechurchlincoln.org/, and I might be able to help getting an anouncement in our service to help your group out.
As a utility engineer for the local Power Company in the Mississippi gulf coast area, I can say that all houses/businesses/etc... that CAN take power have power. So, electricity is somewhat available.
The areas that can not take power are so destroyed that all that really needs to be done is to have the debris cleaned up from the lot. you might even have to help tear the entire house down.
If you do come here to help, bring enough materials, raw goods, supplies to sustain YOURSELF, As if you don't then you'll be a strain on the little (if any) resources available locally.
Bring heavy steel-toed shoes, work gloves, latex/rubber gloves, dust masks (it is stinky and mold spores are abundant), basic first aid supplies, gel hand-sanitizer, baby wipes (few hotels are available, so bathing will have to be done with baby wipes - it's gross, but you get used to it), water for drinking (it is still very hot, in the 90's with high humidity), gatorade, soft drinks (our safety & health advisors recommend 1 soda, 1 gatorade/sports-drink, and 4 waters in the time between meals), non-perishable food items (canned cheese!!!, granola bars, protein drinks (that don't require refrigeration), crackers, cookies - remember, you're trying to keep enough calories in you to keep going - no "heavy" meals every day, whatever you can bring to eat that will not spoil, and enough gas to get you "out of the zone" and back on your way home.
You might also want to consider a tent, sleeping bag, etc... Whatever you'd normally take camping.
Don't forget sunblock & bugspray (with DEET). The gulf coast area is very sunny and hot during the day and very buggy at night.
Tools you'll need to bring - electric saws (circular and reciprocating), chain saws, shop vac's, TRASH BAGS, shovels, an axe, whatever else you want.
Trust me, if you come ready to work (which is what most people still need is just somebody to HELP THEM) somebody, somewhere, will tell you what to do.
If you really can't find work, let me know as 4 out of 7 of my family members have houses that are severely destroyed. I'll find something for you to do.
JB
Well, this is slashdot. So there is no way that I can get modded down for saying...
Linux?
Have you considered the possibility that they have contacted an organization that's accepting gofers to help with the work?
And the organization can't advise what the volunteers should do to prepare themselves?
An experienced aid organization will be able to provide proper information to prepare volunteers to function and not be a hinderance to the relief effort.
If the organization you're with can't provide proper guidance, they don't know what they're doing and will cause more problems then they solve.
The fact that they have no idea what they need to do suggests there is no planning.
...especially coming in behind a major flood, you may be in for a shock.
In addition to the many good suggestions above, I reccommend:
Immodium AD -- many of these areas are basically slowly-drying septic tanks.
Menthol or other strongly-scented lipbalm, preferably with a decent SPF. Then smear it under your nose if the smell gets to you.
A full-week supply of the allergy medications of your choice.
Off! It will help keep the flies and ansties at bay, too. Get the pump kind, without aloe-vera: you're going to be sweating enough without being greasy, too. For the same reason, a non-greasy sunscreen, high SPF: you'll be outdoors most of the time.
GatorAde or etc., same reasons, and you're going to sweat like a dog. If you have room for a six-pack, it will reward you 100-fold.
A hat that covers your ears, too, and can be rinsed out if needed.
Loose, long-sleeve, light-colored shirt(s).
Bullshit. It sounds good at first but it breaks down when you think about it. As long as they bring food and shelter for themselves everything they do is appreciated and useful. Training is better, co-ordinated trained people are best but no one is useless. Turning people away for lack of paper work "certs" is one of the worst things that happened. All help is appreciated by decent people and there are plenty of them in New Orleans, Slidel and on the Gulf Coast.
Contact The Red Cross.
The Red Cross know what it's doing, unlike FEMA or that horrible woman who did not know she was in command of the National Guard and delayed aid for days without reason. Contact Them and join an organized response. They might even tell you what to fill your truck with.
Now, let's see what people in New Orleans are saying. "Please open a Wal Mart"! Family members report that the one grocery store open smells like the fridges they taped shut and put on the curb. I think they can use almost ANYTHING but beer is in short supply.
Your backs will also be useful. There's plenty of cleaning up you can offer people who are unable to do such things on their own. They will be happy to see you.
Of course, there are some real jerks there too. I've heard plenty of stories about people who not only expected heroism on their behalf, they expressed anger to those helping them. I have it first hand that, as in other urban dissasters, police and firemen were shot at while putting out fires. Some people have such a strong sense of entitlement they are angry they were not rescued earlier and have been asking questions like, "Where's my appartment?" for weeks. Don't let them deter you.
Good luck, you are going to need it.
Friends don't help friends install M$ junk.
lotta people lost houses and phone service will be spotty. buy a bagful of em' and keep one or two for yourself.
SLASHDOT: news for people who can't concentrate on work or have no life at all and got tired of yelling back at the TV.
The Nomadic Paradigm, or How I Learned to Free Myself of Geography and Why this Matters More than Ever. For a long time, I've been trying to go virtual: online mail, online backup, online everything. Since the mainstreaming of cell phones and Web services, very little tethers us to one location. As a New Yorker, I've been thinking a lot about mobility, especially since 9-11, the tsunami, and most recently hurricanes Katrina and Rita. I was hoping this topic would surface here. What do I need if I want to pack and need to move to another town on a minute's notice? And it got me thinking about communications, transportation, delivery of goods and services. If any of us had to pack up and go, what would we need? What helps us become nomads? Here are my must-have nomadic goods and services: *Communication: Cell/Treo/Laptop *Financial: Cash/Amex card/ATM card *Work/Collaboration: Webex/salesforce.com/Gmail *Entertainment/Leisure: Netflix/Amazon.com What am I missing?
1 drop of bleach per gallon of water, run it through a Brita twice. Bring Neosporin, methiolate, rubber gloves and a good respirator with replaceable filters. Steel toed boots and gaiters. Metal mesh work gloves. A framing hammer and wrecking bar. A propane blowtorch, 2 extra tanks, a crosscut saw and a hacksaw. Duct tape. Foil emergency blankets. 2 large first aid kits. A hardhat, goggles.
if you seem to help people "to convert them" you're only bringing a bad testimony, like Jehova's Witnesses who seem kind in the beginning, but at the first sight of rejection they run away.
Some christian hints:
For people who believe in God / Jesus, and are in doubt (repeat: IN DOUBT), you can tell them that it was God / Jesus who brought you there. God acts thru kind acts of people. But I'd say it's wiser to let them draw their own conclusions.
It wasn't God who brought the destruction to the people - but the ineptitude of people in the government and those who decided to build a city below sea level. Global warning is the result of greedy men (i.e. sinners) polluting the air, so this makes a good defense against the idea that "God destroyed their houses in his wrath etc etc".
But then again, I'd recommend you to keep silent about this, unless you want to be seen as another one of the bible thumpers out there.
Tolerance (specially towards those who reject christianity) is the sign of a true christian, because Jesus helped the heathens, and was merciful with all.
St. Francis of Assisi, said: "Preach the Gospel. Use words if necessary". The greatest way to preach the gospel is to do what Jesus would do: Love and help those in need. Remember St. Paul's words: If I have the gift of prophecies, but no love in me, I'm useless.
If possible, don't mention christianity at all. Just mention the name of the community if you're asked. Remember what Jesus said: Do not do good deeds and proclaim them over the skies. Don't let your left hand know what your right hand does.
How could you forget your towel?
Army boots are fairly water-proof if threated right, and should fit well for this kind of work.
You asked for suggestions on what to take... and I would suggest that the most important thing is that everyone starts with the correct attitude. I applaud your efforts. You've also given yourself enough time to set yourselves up properly, and enjoy the adventure, as well as help people.
My tips:
- Think about the skills of people currently in your team. Make sure everything is covered by atleast one person. One of the good things about these sorts of trips is the ability to learn new skills from each other. Pair people up for the various tasks.
- Don't allow untrained people to come in at the last moment. If people are going to be committed to the task, they will commit now. This is not the say that people can't join you team later, but they should be there to fill a specific need.
- Look after the team. Designate a 2IC who can keep an eye open for probelem that you may miss.
Some other suggestions:
- Information: Do a recon. Get to know the people, the area and the work that you will be doing. Take two others and visit, if you can. (eg. Work out if you'll need that chainsaw or not, or that extra can of fuel). This will make the trip itself start a whole lot better.
- Be prepared to have to leave early, or take someone out. (eg. Take 2 vehicles, rather than a minibus).
Bring as much Gatorade as possible, possibly in the powdered mix form so you can bring more. At risk of sounding like a commercial, it really does replentish more than just water does. I can tell you from being a Florida resident that working outside in extreme humidity, like what Louisiana has and Nebraska probably doesn't have, causes you to sweat profusely and you need to replace everything besides just water that you lose when you sweat. Trust me on this; I helped clean up what Hurricane Charley did last year and there's no substitute for Gatorade.
That a church would go clean up God's mess.
As a linconite, I wish you good luck. But on the condition of items and donations, I would petition other local churches to aid you with donations and/or volunteers. Most have already established a fund for the victims, so you would most likely have a great response there. Also you could contact our church at http://hopechurchlincoln.org/, and I might be able to help getting an anouncement in our service to help your group out.
For a long time, I've been trying to go virtual: online mail, online backup, online everything. Since the mainstreaming of cell phones and Web services, very little tethers us to one location. As a New Yorker, I've been thinking a lot about mobility, especially since 9-11, the tsunami, and most recently hurricanes Katrina and Rita. I was hoping this topic would surface here. What do I need if I want to pack and need to move to another town on a minute's notice? And it got me thinking about communications, transportation, delivery of goods and services. If any of us had to pack up and go, what would we need? What helps us become nomads? Here are my must-have nomadic goods and services: *Communication: Cell/Treo/Laptop *Financial: Cash/Amex card/ATM card *Work/Collaboration: Webex/salesforce.com/Gmail *Entertainment/Leisure: Netflix/Amazon.com What am I missing?
iPod Nano, at 1000 songs and scratch and crack-proof casing
it would be the ideal entertainment device fro such a devastated
area.
Arash Partow
Arash Partow's Philosophy: Be a person who knows what they don't know, and not a person who doesn't know.
Socks. Lots of socks. Wet feet = disease, discomfort. Bring plenty of socks.
Incidentally, my father lived in (and evacuated) Slidel, the very place you may be going. He says some of it is ok, some of it is a nightmare. No electricity yet, but most everyone who is down there trying to clean up their homes are staying in shelters, so you may be in shelters while down there. That probably means you'll be around crowds of people, especially while sleeping. Might wanna put a lock on your bag? Also make sure you make copies of any important documents you'll be taking with you - license, CCs, etc.
Best of luck, and God speed.
Excuse my speling.
Making The Bar Project
Whatever.
If you want to evangelize to the hurricane victims, shut up. Help them. Then ask if you can pray for them. Listen to them. That's it.
You are only going to hit red tape, as everyone else who has tried to volunteer has found out. Maybe since its a few weeks from now you'll have more luck but if I were to decide I'd just forget about it and donate to a reputable charity.
It really depends a lot on where you're going. Not so much what city, but where in the city you're going. The poster did say it was a church group, so maybe they're going down to another church that was affected. On the other hand, maybe they're going to camp out at the local firehouse, or in a school. Are they going to have electricity? Cell phone service? Food? Water? Sure, even if they're told they will they still have to plan on the possibility that they were told wrong, but then again if the conditions are significantly different than they expect then maybe they're going to have to turn around and come back.
a bubblegum wrapper, two paperclips and a mason jar lid.
The Hitchhiker's guide has the obvious answer - a towel is the most essential thing you can have no matter where you go.
Never try to beat a professional at his own game!
Naturally, I'd bring a laptop with a PC card supporting Verizon's high-speed EV-DO wireless Internet connectivity -- and a gasoline-powered electrical power generator. 3G wireless speed is all the better for checking up on and reporting to Slashdot!
Condoms. You tend to need them as the female team members get a bit randy after a few days in intense situations.
Make sure to get at least a tetanus shot. You may also want to begin your hepatitis A and B vaccination sequences soon enough before you go to make sure that they provide some resistance. also, bring some sturdy gloves (leather), bottled water, and food. Just make sure to get those shots.
Also, jungle boots won't provide much protection from debris. You need the steel shank and toe cap mentioned in other posts. Dropping stuff on your feet is a MUCH bigger risk than wet feet. You're not going to be stuck wearing these boots for days on end, so forget about trench foot. You'll be able to take them off at night, dry your feet - take talcum/baby powder along, for precisely this purpose - and pack wet boots with newspaper overnight. Helps them retain shape, and absorbs a shitload of moisture.
As well as good boots, and you'll want to ensure that they're well broken-in, strong gloves. The advice given about full leather gloves is good. If you can find out what your local fire department use for cutting people out of car wrecks, you won't go far wrong.
Ensure that every person always has on them a pair of latex or nitrile (nitrile are tougher) gloves, a few plasters, and a medium-size sterile dressing. This will provide your immediate-care supplies in the event of an injury. A big first aid kit should always be handy, but if you're 10 minutes away on the return trip you want to be able to apply pressure to a big wound. Plasters are good for covering blisters, too, until you can deal with them properly.
Also, take a "personal line". That's about three-to-five metres of light rope, which you can use for tying things up, or off, or for lashing boards together to make it easier to drag a bundle of them. A carabiner is nice to have, too.
Lastly, take cargo pants, or better yet army surplus combat pants. They're designed to take punishment (usually they have double layers on the knees, for example), and they have big pockets. Pockets are good. Hard-shell kneepads could also be highly beneficial. If you're kneeling on rubble, you only want to be doing it for a couple of minutes on any given day. After that you'll be crying out for knee pads. The soft ones worn by tilers tear easily, so something like skaters wear is better.
"God, root, what is difference?" - Pitr, userfriendly
If you don't have a generator (and even if you do), power inverters can be real useful... These things can take 12Volt powr and provide 110 for things ranging from laptops to power tools. This means that they can run off of your car's battery and generator. Xantrex (formerly statpower) is who I know, but there are now many other similar suppliers of these things... They start at about $40, and can be found at places like Radio Shack. They're invaluable when you're mobile/remote/stranded or just plain out of mains power (to steal the british saying).
They range from a tiny 75watt unit that can plug into your accessory outlet, and should handle most chargers and laptops to units over a kilowatt that will probably need to be wired direct to your electrical system (presuming that it's even robust enough to drive the monster at full load).
Once you've got that, I'd also suggest a couple of jell cells, for running things that want mains power when you're in places like a hotel room with no power (you can charge them off of the vehicle power during the day). I wire mine with a 12-volt accessory plug (make sure to put a fuse on it). You can often get them out of small dead UPSs.
You can use them when you're mobile, and after you've placed your larger generators where they're most needed. I first came up with the idea in my tree-hugging days when I needed to charge a video camera battery at a logging protest and the only power I had access to was an RCMP vehicle.
If you haven't already thought of it: communications equipment, including hand-radios. I wouldn't presume that cell phone service id reinstated wherever you're going.
Free Software: Like love, it grows best when given away.
strangely enough, i recall something about freedom of speech in the Bill of Rights...
Really, the christian groups i have worked with seem to do BOTH helping and evangelizing with fervor.
Go through your laundry and pull out all the old underwear you have--the ones that are filled with holes or threadbare. Take them with you and use them in a disposable fashion--you won't feel bad throwing it away down there (and it isn't like anyone would notice yet more trash).
In addition, I'd recommend at least two or three pairs PER DAY. Assume you are going to be very wet each day, requiring a couple of clothes changes before bed.
You could just go commando, but who knows what is in that water.
Antibiotic ointments, Volt/Ohm meter
Call it a troll to stick "Jewish" in there, but you know he was thinking it.
After all, I am strangely colored.
I contributed some medical assistance in Baton Rouge(thats were the evacuees from New Orleans was going i.e SuperDome), and I tell you there was so much food and water that there certainly was not a shortage of anything... other than FEMA assistance. and the outporuring of help from all 50 states was amazing.. and there was EVERYTHING to be had.. toiletries, food, showers, Cots. the only thing I needed was my clothes on my back.. and they even had more clothes if I needed them. I volunteered at LSU at the PMAC stadium and it was just amazing, as I did see some horrible things, I had help from all over the globe. Germany France, Russia, Mexico, Canada. so moral is to make some calls and ask at the place you are staying what they have.. if you dont know exactly where your going.. well, pack as if you were camping.. BOOTS BOOTS BOOTS.. trust me....
Freaky Schitt always happens to me... WHY God WHY!!
Step One: Go to http://packing.org/ and check the laws in your state. Find out if your destination honors a permit from your state.
.40. Get a cheap holster that holds the gun close to your body so you can wear an untucked shirt and not show off your gun. Get 200 rounds of full metal jacket and get to the range. Get 100 rounds of hollow points and make sure to fire a dozen through your gun so you know it's reliable.
Step Two: Apply for a handgun carry permit according to the laws of your state. Hopefully you're in a state where it'll be quick. In a lot of places it's 1-3 months, so look out.
Step Three: While you wait for that permit, do some research on handguns. Can't go wrong with a Glock, and they're cheap compared to lots of their alternatives. Get something in 9mm or
Step Four: Get your permit and try not to tell anyone that you carry a weapon now. Be safe down there and try to stay out of situations that would call for using that thing. Live your life and help people.
Your going to need it if your not trained to work in that kind of environment.
Steve's Computer Service, Hobbs, NM
I happen to live in slidell now (though I was living in downtown new orleans before this) About 85% of our local businesses are back up and running, as well as more everyday. The largest problem here is people with no homes to live in due to the large amount of slidell that was hit by the storm surge in Lake Pont. With all the feds pulling out here, it seems that food is the main thing these families that are living in RVs where thier homes once were at need. Always we allneed some positive words thrown our way.
I do a lot of work for a charter aviation company. 4 days after the first storm, I got them to donate a G-IV, fully fueled and staffed to fly to wherever on the Gulf coast someone might need to go. I tried the Red Cross and a couple of other places but couldn't get anyone to take me up on the offer. Don't know what the story was, maybe there wasn't a working airport in the area that could take the Gulfstream but it seemed like a good offer.
...from the coverage I've seen, the only places that are getting any aid are ones that have a celebrity that was born there and a camera crew covering the "let's save my home town" special.
1. Fresh Water.
2. Non-perishable food.
3. Cash.
4. Gas cans.
5. Communications gear -- broadcast radio receiver and CB. CB will work where cell towers are down, but bring cell phone too.
6. Lantern/Flashlight.
7. Extra batteries for electrical items.
8. Games, toys, candy, fun stuff for sad kids.
9. Tools, including shovels, can and bottle openers.
10. Extra first-aid kids.
That list is not necessarily in order of importance, and most of these items are not fancy.
What *not* to bring? A gun. Leave that up to law enforcement. I know I'll get some arguments on that, but the easiest way to get shot is to bring a gun. If you get robbed, so be it, but most people are not so evil as to rob you while on a mission of mercy. The news gives us a distored view of reality because that kind of stuff is what makes news. If it *didn't* make news, then bringing a gun might be what you have to do, but in that case you should be going in behind a tank.
So. Having never done anything like this, what did I miss? I suspect most of the people who answer this have never done any emergency work either. It would be interesting to hear from some people who have actually gone to disaster zones before. There is probably a lot that would never occur to people who haven't been there.
For all intensive purposes, "whom" is no longer a word. That begs the question, "who cares"?
metronidazole and chloroquine. And condoms. Be safe, and where your steel toed shoes.
...need something built in a town without electricity...you can't beat the amish!
Randy Adams - Everything Brown SHOULD HAVE BEEN
y Id=4831399
y Id=4852058
y Id=4862104
While you read through the rest of the comments, stream the following news clips and I dare you to NOT be inspired by this man's story.
Maybe his amazing(ly too rare) planning can't be scaled up to a city/state/national level but I sure would've liked to have seen HIM as head of FEMA.
Sidenote (about me the poster) - to be totally honest, even if Adams had been head of FEMA and had been able to do a great job, I'd probably be one of those still second guessing FEMA but please don't let that admission of my own readiness to gripe take away from the INSPIRING way Randy Adams conducted himself)
There are three links: the original story, a follow up, and a much better stated praise of Randy Adams in the form of a letter read out loud.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?stor
Katrina Evacuees Go All the Way to Memphis
Listen to this story...
Weekend Edition - Saturday, September 3, 2005 At a Red Roof Inn in downtown Memphis, general manager Michelle Williams and hotel guest Randy Adams are coordinating efforts to help a weary collection of hurricane evacuees cope. Adams is among those who fled New Orleans ahead of Katrina.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?stor
People & Places
New Orleans Evacuee Sorts Out Life in Memphis
Listen to this story... by Linda Wertheimer and Scott Simon
Weekend Edition - Saturday, September 17, 2005 Scott Simon checks back in with Randy Adams, a New Orleans native who has sought refuge at the Red Roof Inn in downtown Memphis, Tenn. Linda Wertheimer spoke with Adams on Sept. 3, when he was working to coordinate help for fellow evacuees.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?stor
Listeners
Letters: Randy Adams, Neil Young, Bob Dylan
Listen to this story... by Scott Simon
Weekend Edition - Saturday, September 24, 2005 Scott Simon reads letters from listeners. Topics include displaced New Orleans resident Randy Adams and his volunteer work in Memphis; an interview with musician Neil Young; and reaction to a satirical look at songsmith Bob Dylan.
Global warning is the result of greedy men (i.e. sinners) polluting the air
That isn't fact. Keep science and religion seperate. Many believe global warming come in cycles (IE: leaving an ice age). You're bound to offend more people than you comfort.
-everphilski-
>...is the Bible
Bwaaaahahahaa, good one. Also bring your Christmas list in case Santa Claus shows up, and bring a pillow in case you lose a tooth, so the tooth fairy will have a place to put your dollar.
I was born and raised in Puerto Rico, so I went thru a handful of nasty hurricanes, including two Cat 5s. Here's what I would do if I had to spend any time in a disaster area like that:
1. You want it, you carry it. Assume there is nothing available. That means stock up on asthma medicine, painkillers, contact lenses, whatever it is that YOU need. This is before you worry about what to bring to others.
2. Footgear: Ideally you should be wearing sturdy waterproof footgear, boots if possible. Sneakers are a no-no. You can easily twist an ankle stepping over debris, and a nail will pierce thru your sneaker soles as if it is not even there. Plus you don't want to get your feet wet in that kind of environment. Carry extra socks and foot powder too.
3. You can't carry too many batteries or too many ziploc bags.
4. Carry some wet wipes, these are very handy and can be used for many things. Get a couple packs with something like aloe vera and a couple with clorox, lysol, etc.
5. Flood areas, especially in the south, have terrible mosquito control issues. Repellent sucks but still beats the alternative.
6. Unless you have solid housing arrangements, that is, unless you know you are sleeping at an air conditioned room, find a mosquito net. Sure, it will be hot as hell, but I would rather be hot and without bug bites.
7. Fluids! Unless specifically arranged for, you have to assume there is no drinking water available. When Hurricane Hugo struck Puerto Rico in 1989 I had to drink warm coke for about 5 days. We had plenty of stuff to drink, but we were told to not trust water, period.
In my case the worst was the lack of electricity and potable water. Our house was hurricane-proof, so if it flooded all we had to do was hose down the walls (cement) and floors (marble), repaint and replace furniture and appliances. That means that once the flooding receded we could go back to clean the house and make it habitable again instead of having to stay at a shelter and risk getting sick.
Pedro
----
The Insomniac Coder
I would bring:
1 box of military MRE's (12 meals) per person.
2 cases of bottled water (48 bottles) per person.
If you have funding, there are some portable water purifiers like the one here.
Box of handi-wipes for helping to clean up at the end of the day.
Bottle of anti-bacterial handwash. Use before you eat.
A set of clean clothes you wear when you sleep.
Two sets of work clothes. One to dry while you wear the other ones. If you get dirty in 10 minutes, why do you need to start with clean clothes?
Plenty of gloves.
Solid footwear for working and sandals so you can air out your feet at the end of the day.
Foot powder.
As many socks as you can get your hands on.
Plenty of antiseptic for any blisters, cuts or scrapes.
Good first-aid kit
There are a thousand more things you can bring, but these should cover your own needs. (Assuming you are willing to rough it.)
Reading code is like reading the dictionary - you have to read half of it before you can go back and understand it.
1) Bug spray. and lots of it. 2) Cardboard boxes to store anything you salvage in. Bring large ones too. 3) Tents with screens on entrences to keep out the bugs. 4) Portable lanterns and flashlights. LOTS of batteries. Also bring a few flashlights that don't need batteries. 5) Rubbuing alcohol. 6) Bring a boombox. Music is good for the soul. 7) Goggles for the eyes. 8) Walkie talkies. Very useful for keeping in touch. 9) Stuff to cook with. Portable propane stoves, butane lighters, etc. 10) Sunscreen lotion. 11) Salts and any other spices you might want. 12) ALL the paper, pens, pencils, marker, and posters you think you will need. 13) Watches, clocks, etc. Might want to bring along a large whiteboard too. 14) If you are going with a bunch of people, consider using airbeds + a pump instead of many sleeping bags. 15) Duct tape. 16) Bring pocketknives, but also bring larger kinves and maybe a matchet or two.
Water, clean underwear and a shotgun.
Not to be harsh but this has to be one of the most useless 'ask slashdot' question s ever. First let me preface my remarks by saying that I think it admirable that the poster wishes to help with the relief effort. That being said, what is even being asked here? Is the poster asking what personal items he/she should bring, or perhaps what tools might be necessary to complete the unspecified work, or perhaps he is asking what items the residents might need? And how can any of these questions be adequately answered if he doesn't even know any of the details of the trip? I sincerely hope that someone is organizing this with experience in this sort of relief effort. Otherwise, this will result in a complete waste of resources. Why not just give the money that would be spent to the many organizations with actual experience and abilities in this area?
This is Mississippi and Louisana. Last I checked they had more than enough bibles.
Troll me... Dont care... But it seems this is a "Serious issue/question" Put the linux/google/porn/microsoft Crap aside for just one day...
-- I Dont Deserve A Sig I Have Bad Karma
... if you take up residence in an area that is nknown to be frequented by hurricanes.. and your home gets demolished by a hurricane.. you have no one to blame except yourself because you KNEW the danger before hand. The people who live in an area know to be frequented by a certain natural disaster and they lose anything in that type of natural disaster should not be allowed to apply for any type of aid. They should take it with a grain of salt, keep their mouths closed and learn a lesson.. "move to another state". I am sick of hearing these cry babies who knew there was a danger before it happened. They deserve nothing.. except maybe a good swift kick in the pants.
If you don't want your shiny new house tron down by a hurricane, don't live in an area that is known for hurricanes.. DUH!
Partial list, probably think of more later but:
MREs (food, "Meals Ready to Eat") for distribution to survivors
Portable HAM set (mount antenna to truck) to radio in coordinates of survivors for evacuation.
Handheld radios (the little unlicensed "Cutey" motorola models will do) with power adapters to recharge off the generator and the cigarette lighter in the truck/4x4. You need these to communicate amongst yourselves if you're working seperately or searching houses or something.
Portable generator.
Extra fuel
One pistol and one rifle, plus a cop and a soldier to carry them
Four helpers following in a beefy 4x4 (an old room mate had an International Harvester Scout, which would be ideal) so that if the Uhaul gets stuck or you need to move people or supplies somewhere the truck can't go it would be invaluable.
Basic medical supplies--Bandages, antiseptic, aspirin/ibuprofen, insulin and some chocolate bars, some more intense painkillers, pennicillin, etc.) If possible, bringing a paramedic, EMT, or trained military corpsman would be helpful.
Handheld tools (hammer, saw, pliers, fire axe, crowbar, screwdrivers/socket set, a couple shovels) you'd want to use to rescue people, or possibly dig the U-haul out if it got stuck.
Blankets, clothes, a couple pallets of bottled water... Maybe a defibrillator?
Who did what now?
First, I realize you want to help, but I want ot say this now....don't go. Donate the money to the Red Cross or to a agency already there. Try to find the local churches or other people who are already there because they live there. Also, if the church members going do not have the types of training needed (Radio Amateur, First Aid, Medical Training, Carpentry, Building, HAZMAT....etc), they will only get in the way. There's hundreds of National Guard already in the area as well as volunteer amateurs (so many volunteered they had lots of back ups....BUT they will always need more). My point is if you have no idea WHAT to bring at this point, then you will definitely not bring what is needed. You will also get in the way. Find a way to hook up with resources that are already in the area. That's the best way to help out down there, IMHO.
Gorkman
This is in response to your comment but largely addressed to the submitter -- maotx, please don't take the "you" personally in all of this. :)
It's my feeling that every geek should get their ham license. It costs $14 and it's good for 10 years. The study guide for the technician license is published by the arrl and it's called "Now You're Talking". Given that most geeks already know ohms law and how to handle simple wavelengthfrequency conversions you've almost passed right there. Beyond that there's a lot of really obvious stuff ("Why should you wear a hardhat and safety glasses when helping someone work on a tower?" "Er. To protect my eyes and my head..." ). The exam is given in a multiple choice format -- any answer which includes the phrase "control operator" is correct.
Even if you know jack-shit about radio you'll come close to passing just by picking the "correct-looking" answer off the test. SAT style guesswork. Large portions of the exam can easily be gamed: they publish all of the questions, right answers, and wrong answers which will appear on your exam. The hardest part (unless you're really good at rote memorization) is probably memorizing the beginning and end frequencies of each of the bands. This is easy to game because of all of the answers which will appear on your exam only one of them will have the correct width for the band. AA9PW has practice exams on his website. Try it and you'll be amazed at how close you are to passing right now. A single night of study will bring you up to a passing mark.
Don't try and skip on the exam and operate without a license. If you're seriously putting together a convoy to go into the area you can easily get a licensed operator to come in with you and handle any radio contacts on your group's behalf. If you don't know a ham then look up a local club on the ARRL -- or call a local fire department or hospital and ask for the contact information for the local ARES/RACES group. Odds are one of them would love to go down with you -- and will be an extra set of hands. The HAM you get to go with you will probably have a lot better emergency equipment than your group will -- and will have already spent a lot of time drilling for emergencies.
73 DE KE7EWX
I want a new world. I think this one is broken.
Don't bring your bibles. These people need real actual help, they don't need folks coming down there with ulterior motives trying to convert them.
I purposely read the comments for this article to see how long it would take somebody to make this comment, since he said he was going with a church.
I agree with the parent post. I am a volunteer in our state's Emergency Service organisation, and I can think of a couple more things you might need.
You haven't clarified what exactly you'll be tasked to do (rebuilding/helping the refugees, cleanups etc.) Still, I'll chip in with a few more suggestion, keeping in mind all you have is a trailer.
- Blankets: handy for a lot of things.
- Plastic Tarulins (and a roll of the heavy duty plastic sheets)
- Some ropes (the synthetic tie down ropes get a couple of rolls, and some hauling ropes (sythetic or natural fibre ones)
- Lots of (gaffa? or duct tape) very handy.
- Brooms and rakes.
- Spare boots and socks (unless you can obtain them locally)
- A ladder, I would recommend a Folding ladder: can be made into a step ladder or a long one.
- Drinking water containers (and water if you can, minimum 4 litres per person per day since you'll be "working" in a hot/humid place)
If you restrict the trailer to only equipment, you'll have a decent amount of essential tools/supplies for tasks in disaster areas. I'm assuming for a group of 10, you'll be going in a convoy or at least a bus. Keep personal gear in your cars and spare the trailer for equipment and tools.
One piece of advice I'd give you though. Working in disaster areas is not easy, especially when you are dealing with people who have lost a lot. Although it is easy to "say it", try not to get overwhelmed by the scale of things. Concentrate on your immediate tasks, and forget everything else while doing it. Also, it may not come naturally, you should appoint a "team leader" if you don't already have one. Makes running jobs much more smooth.
Good luck,
As someone displaced by Rita (2 feet of water in my house finally went down yesterday) the first thing to say is thank you and everyone else for your help in any form. My family and everyone I know are safe and accounted for.
If you will be providing support in the shelters, I'd bring whatever personal items that will help fill your downtime. You will be dealing with many people with no or little insurance who have lost everything. Or they have to wait 6 weeks or more for an insurance adjuster, only to watch payouts be whittled away by prorating and other strange concepts I can't understand as being legal. So emotional roller coasters are still the norm. Walking around with an ipod may not be the best idea, but when you are away from the shelters there may not be much to do. Be ready to listen. The more you get to the central LA coast line (cajun country) to more people like to talk to everyone.
If you are going to help people recover belongings from their homes, be sure to get your vaccinations now. Hepatitis vaccines take multiple doses over a few weeks to be of any use. Also bring some sort of balm to try and cover the smell. In many areas, the water came up fast AFTER the storm. So many people (or at least me) prepared for wind damage, but not flooding. Sewage washed into the homes seems to be the norm (hence the vaccines). Also the food left in the homes is pretty ripe by now.
forgive the spelling, it's been a long day.
Hey there, I'm a news photographer, and spent a few weeks down there ( www.tobymorris.com ). In a nutshell it is a mess. For the first 2 weeks or so after the hurricane, my advice would have been to bring food, ice (everyone was desperate for ice) clean water, etc.
Towards the end of my stay, those things weren't much of a problem anymore. The big problem now is that people have just lost everything, and I do mean EVERYTHING, especially in places like Pass Christian, Waveland (the worst disaster area I have ever seen), parts of Biloxi and Gulfport (you will hear people taking about "South of the Tracks" in those towns, which is where the storm surge just trashed everything) and, most disturbing to see, the peninsula area south of New Orleans where Port Sulpher, Venice, Empire, etc were.
If you are going to those place, I would bring things like tissue paper, clothes and shoes, and mostly just supplies for helping people clean up the mess, cleaning supplies maybe, but also things like axes and shovels and the like. A lot of people are going to need to replace more dry wall than you can shake a stick at, perhaps you should just target a couple of families and do what you can for them with the amount of supplies you can bring. I dunno.
Having seen it first hand, i feel that these types of services would render the most aid to those who have returned to their homes. Also, I know you guys are Christians and all, but me and my assistant made a very nice gentleman in Slidell who had been working on cleaning up his families trashed home very very happy when we gave him a decent bottle of red wine.
Cheers and good luck
Tetanus shot.
Rifle
Pistol
Bullets for rifle.
Bullets for pistol.
Shopping cart to put loot in.
Lots of really big duffel bags.
Ski mask.
Super sharp shank.
Weather radio.
Poncho.
Crack cocaine in little bags for trading purposes.
Cigarettes for same purpose.
Beer. Lots of beer.
More bullets
Another pistol.
Everything else, I can steal.
Company I used to work for (American Commercial Barge Line) gave us vouchers for Red Wings...tromping around on steel can be hard on the knees.
Writers imply. Readers infer.
of course.
Next step up would be to have a ham license so you could talk back. Although...in an emergency I'm not sure how strict the FCC would be if you didn't have one.
It's not enough to simply have a license, but to have at least some training in emergency communications. Nothing would screw up an emergency net more than some unlicensed or naively untrained hams jumping in, regarless of good intentions.
Where does the school board find them and why do they keep sending them to ME?
Let me get this straight...
You're going into a natural disaster area, you don't know what you need, and rather than asking the Red Cross, FEMA, or any other group of experts, you decided that Slashdot was a good place to get advice????
Stay home. I'm pretty sure they already have more than their quota of stupid people.
Do you normally use pine or spruce?
Here in Sweden we normally build houses out of spruce rather than pine.
Much stronger and somewhat cheaper.
No idea from a viewpoint like that, seems if your local heavy urban infrastructure is destroyed, all that stuff you mention won't be working, plus most likely you'll be on foot if the roads get jammed with wrecks and stalled cars and public transportation is hosed. Best then probably a nice mountain bike, you can always pick it up and walk around or climb over obstructions.
Anyway, from a suburban or rural perspective, in the survival/preparedness community we call this "move on a moments notice" a BOB, or "Bug out Bag", or the portable reality backpack to be descriptive.. It has to be made individual, a everyones needs are different, and your geography and local climate conditions (winter/summer, etc) vary.
I prioritize in this sequence, based on human need, as opposed to luxuries: water-food-shelter-security
water-you NEED water, both stored and a very good filtration system. I see one poster mentioned katadyn already, they are good, and there are others on the market, online or the better camping stores
food-the best quality that is portable is the higher end mountain climbing food, you get the most calories and nutrition for the weight, but it's expensive. Cheaper, as mentioned, granola bars, raisins, nuts, chocolates, beef jerky, etc, whatever floats your taste buds and is light, requires no preparations to eat, and will give you some energy and protein for working. MREs are "OK" as far as they go, I personally don't like them (ate up all mine already, no desire to replace them) but they are functional and store a long time. I'd rather eat a can of sardines and some granola.
shelter-your first area of shelter is your clothing, so you have to pack what is critical, good quality socks, gloves, heavy pants and shirts, coat or jacket, etc. After that, any of the huge variety of lightweight tents (a tent with a weather fly is the best), and a lightweight but comfy sleeping bag
security-big variable, but critical. In an emergency situation you will be 'on your own", so really think about that. You will need to be able to defend yourself, possibly hunt for food. You'll need tools for these purposes, and YMMV what you might be comfortable with in that regard. You WILL need some good knives, as in multiple. You just will. One multi blade with gadgets, one sturdy belt knife, and another backup lock blade folder should work.
After that it's really "salt to taste". I have small medkits, radios, flashlights, sewing supplies, etc in my bags. Socks. did I mention extra socks? Your feet are critical because that's your ride, take care of your feet. Put in some soap and other hygien action, and don't neglect that, blisters will form and you don't want infections, so stay clean as possible.
I live rural and am very rural oriented so I have things others might not, like snares and small traps, lightweight fishing tackle, lightweight cooking supplies, etc. This is a serious long time interest of mine since i wa a teen and we got wiped out by a blizzard and national guard helos dropped food down to our 'hood. made an impresion on me how fast it can go from civilization to "you're on your own, Sparky!" so it's evolved for me over the years. I have done several eXtreme duration backwoods treks and done the grizzly zogger routine for months at a time in all weathers. Kinda fun really once you get in the groove. Personally I have found one of the more useful tools is just a medium weight axe, just amazing what you can do with one. If you twisted my arm and said "one tool only" that's what I would grab. Second most useful is a bic lighter. Ya, you can do any number of boy sprout schemes to build fire, but you can't beat a one dollar bic. Does wonders for the old morale to have some hot rabbit or trout instead of cold bugs and raw minnows when the stress level is at the "OMG" level. Real nice to stretch out in front of a small cozy fire instead of shivering in the mist. And don't forget some salt and pepper packs! Get extra when you score fastfood and slip them into a ziplock. (B
I'm not sure where you got "FEMA is doing a fantastic job" from (unless you mean fantastic in the unbelievable sense). I lived in Bay St. Louis (Apartment was destroyed) and am now living in a spare room with a friend's family in Picayune. The people that I have spoken with have almost universally reviled FEMA. If you go down Hwy 90 into Waveland/Bay St. Louis you see signs like "FEMA hung up on me" and "FEMA is no help". A friend of mine was treated very rudely by the FEMA rep after she finally was able to contact one by phone. She says she will report the incident but not until she's sure her claim has gone through because she fears retaliation. Around here, FEMA is a four letter word.
God is imaginary
Tons of it...right now the gnats and mosquitos are probably at their worst.
t s/slidell0057.jpg
Here is my family's house in Slidell on Bayou Libery.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v325/whodatsain
They could not open the swollen doors downstairs. You can tell by the walls how high the water got. The house is a good five feet above the water level of the bayou.
I want my! I want my! I want my Eee PC!
Anything you need but don't bring will make you more of a burden on the area
And I can't imagine those folks need anything more than destroyed things torn down and new things put up
Its possible to get army-strength DEET (I think its DEET? That's phonetic) bug repellant at surplus stores. That might come in handy.
Sure I've got other news sources... Slashdot!.... But seriously, while you're obviously trying to bait me into defending NPR's style and/or politics (or why it isn't "Fair and Balanced"), PLEASE listen to at least one (or all three) of the clips and then comment on the actual content I referenced instead of just seeing three letters and taunting. Of course I just tipped my hand that, yes, I am more inlcined to listen to NPR than Clear Channel because I said words like "please" and "content". Ok, now, you can just react to my comments on your comments or... you could actually take the high ground and actually listen to the clips and comment on Randy Adams (not me or NPR), cause I'm telling you that regardless of how distastleful you find the organization doing the reporting or how they style that reporting, the REAL thing to focus on his how well this guy did by himself, his family and the dozens/hundreds of strangers he's helped.
First things that come to mind are some comfortable shoes, and clothes you wouldn't mind getting dirty in.
Rilly? The first thing that came to my mind was a towel and toothbrush. You should always know where your towel is, and I'm not so sure that hotels will be giving out complementary toothbrushes right about now...
Bring some Mosquito Repellent. Deep Woods Off! works for me. Supposed to last up to 8 hours, but probably not in the hot Sun. As you can see when you visit the link, they have it in three forms, the towelettes look like they would be easy to carry and pack. I use the spray, put it on your arms if exposed, a favorite target of the little varmits. Of course they will bite you any where they can.
Rapidweather's Linux Screenshots.
I think you're forgetting the most outrageous error of FEMA. What happened is, thousands of firefighters and other emergency responders arrived, ready and able to do important stuff, like, you know, save lives, that kind of thing. So what did they do? Did they put em to work? No, they first made them endure days of sensitivity training. SENSITIVITY TRAINING!!!!!! People are dying, and they're worried about the prospect that a rescue worker who came on his own dime to serve his fellow man might think negative thoughts about members of other races?
a sp_ ID=46179
Want proof? We got proof.
Search for the word "harassment" in these articles:
http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_3004197
http://www.gazetteextra.com/katrina_rundle092905.
http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE
Just google Katrina "sexual harassment" in their news section.
And note: this wasn't some errant agency violating its mandate. This is the liberal, socialist mindset at work, which values "diversity" over, you know, what real people actually want. Want a good doctor? Fuck that. You get a diverse doctor. Want good teachers, police, firefighters, lifeguards, etc.? Fuck no. You get the shitty ones, 'cause we got quotas to meet.
Anyone who has ever asked for sensitivity training can easily find the person responsible for this murderous loss of common sense. It's called a mirror.
Rank my idea: http://www.sinceslicedbread.com/node/531
I like it, it's a good spin: In their first military victory, planned nearly three hundred years ago, the French brought destruction to the people of New Orleans.
No spike protection?
I wear a pair of these when I'm working around nails and debris and whatnot, stepping on nails or sharp pieced of wood is no fun. They've got a steel shim, and it seems to work well though they're relatively stiff. I've stepped on a few nails with them, with no event, thankfully. They also ventilate well enough, which is always nice.
Like you say, it would be a very good idea to look through some of the safety shoe places too. Good footwear might be expensive, but it's worth every penny. Also, in case you're not used to boots, break them in slowly before you've really got to hoof it. Walk around with them at least a few miles a couple days before you get serious, your feet will thank you.
Constitutional rights may be respected, repealed, or modified; but they must never be ignored.
The city of San Antonio under the authority of the State of Texas set up the shelters. I know... I was on the cordination calls.
It was not FEMA's job to cordinate the phone and internet access in to the shelters. You had the wrong group. FEMA's job was to make sure the people did not die after the City of New Orleans Goverment failed to have any sort of an evacuation plan.
Don't you think maybe there are some folks over there who already are Christians and would like a copy of the bible to replace one that was destroyed?
Don't underestimate what the bible can be used for. You can't beat the number of sheets that are available for cleanup.
Hate to be disrespectful of your noble service, but arent all these people with out homes and no where to go? I mean their job's are gone. Whatever your doing, couldnt the displaced do this since they have nothing else to do? and preferably, get paid for it? (I am talking about the displaced able bodied)
A cell tower. Just like FEMA shoulda brought!
Ooops! It's not their job...
Bring LOTS of water. Its still summertime down here regardless of it being October already. we hit a high of 99 this week(i am in Hattiesburg,MS which is 1 hour north of Gulfport and was hit hard by Katrina. we had a 99 degree record high on Tuesday and thats not counting the 90-95% humidity. So the heat index was about 105 or so.
Also if you have never heard of love bugs and you are driving here in your own car you might want to bring plenty of cleaning stuff for your car or plan to buy some when you get down here. to find out why and more you can find out more about them(love bugs) here , here , here , and here its hard to get them off short of pure muscle and car washes. when i am driving to work on the interstate you can see them in black clouds.. sorta like a black plague.
Get your tetanus and other shots up to date.
Also, visit or call the red cross or other relief organization and ask them how you can help. The city is currently closed, and it is not likely that you will be able to get in without help. I am a resident, and I even can't get to my house until next week. After the city opens, it is likely that their will be a curfew.
Perhaps you could also call shelters in Texas and see if they need assistance. Or maybe your church could arrange for some families to get housing and jobs in your community. Considerable amounts of people will not be able to go back to New Orleans for a long time, and most of them want to get back to work and get a sense of stability in their lives, even if it is hundreds of miles away from home. Personally I think this is the most helpful thing individuals can do at this time. I'm in Austin with friends if anyone needs a java programmer or someone with plc experience.
As for helping with fixing or tearing down damaged structures, I would let professionals with heavy equipment take care of that. Most of the damaged homes have been sitting in several feet of water for a long time, and they may not be structurally sound.
If you do decide to go into the city, make sure that officials know exactly where you are going to be, and check in with them regularly. Find someone who knows the city and is familiar with it in its current state. There are downed trees and powerlines all over the place, and as entergy trys to restore power, some of those lines may become live. You may also need to arrange for shelter away from the city, as the livable areas of the city are already full of officials and residents. Also keep in mind that there is no power, water or sewage, and cell phones may or may not work.
In short, let the RedCross, FEMA, the Military and Police do their job, and work with them and ask them what assistance you can provide. And thanks in advance for your help.
Something at least in 9mm. Seriously.
How about jobs?Free food?Welfare?
Texas can afford it for other than it's own citizens, why can't your state?
Sort of unrelated, but that linux laptop designed by MIT (previously slashdotted) -- well, wouldn't the lifeline radio business model work for MIT's laptop? Sell them for 200 in the US, then send one to Africa or wherever for each one purchased?
Sorry, but this is simply oversimplifying the situation to the extreme. ;-) First off, you have no idea what the situation is like there. Second, did you know, for example, the utter chaos that can occur when bunches of people all over a country (as big as the US no less) just spontaneously decide to "roll up their sleeves" and go help or bring supplies? When you have hundreds, or thousands, of people just walking around looking for things to do or all bringing truckloads of supplies, which happen not to be needed? Do you have any firsthand experience with this, that guides your advice here?
You'd be surprised at how many people, for example, would donate time or resources that aren't even wanted/needed at the scene of the disaster. Taking resources as one example, in some disasters, they've literally FILLED large warehouses with ultimately useless donations. That is why everyone says to give money, because there's usually no shortage of needs, it's just that what's needed, and how much of it, is in constant flux.
As for "time" donations, inexperienced people with good intentions can do as much harm as good. It is not uncommon that people who were trying to help suddenly are needing help, instead. People can end up exposed to toxic materials without realizing it, etc., etc. They only have emergency medical services from what I hear right now, and they really need to keep those places open for the official relief efforts and the first citizens returning to the city.
If people want to help, great, but don't just fill a truck with random stuff and show up at the disaster scene saying "hi, we're here to help!". Either have a plan first and get clearance with the authorities, or just donate. Or, help out displaced persons locally. There's lots of ways to help.
Taking into consideration the people that were "left behind", I would recommend that you bring:
1-Crack
2-Lighters
3-Spoons
4-Baking Soda
5-Cigarettes
6-Aluminum Foil
7-Soda Cans
8-Crack
9-Cigarettes
10-Hiphop cd's
11-Guns
12-Lighters
13-Cigarettes
14-Crack
15-Booze
Water, Food, and Clothes might also be of some help
1. Contact your local Red Cross and ask them what is needed.
2. Contact your local Salvation Army and ask them what is needed.
If the answers from 1. or 2. correspond to something you are
good at bringing and good at dealing with, load up, get going
make contact with the local branch of the RC or SA and help.
If the answers from 1. and 2. do not correspond to something
you are good at, stay home and donate money. i.e. if what is
really needed is volunteer sheet rock installers, don't go
unless you are a sheet rock installer.
Clearly people need protection from the National Guard, who are on-duty with a shoot-to-kill policy. The right-wing will of course say that they are only shooting people who break the law, but sometimes laws must be broken in order to keep yourself and your family alive. It's also a little hypocritical of the current regime to lecture people on matters of law.
Here are some people who are there.
Watch out, though. They're probably liberals.
-quote-
The New Orleans Police Department is especially hostile and has been working with Homeland Security and Blackwater (privately contracted armed forces -- basically, official vigilantes) to monitor us and other grassroots relief efforts instead of helping residents recover. There are reports that the the State Health Department is attempting to shut down our medical clinic, despite the fact that we have assisted over 100 people every day, more than any of the Red Cross clinics in the area combined. And speaking of the Red Cross: if you donated to them, you may want to know that they did not reach this area until 3 days ago, and left for Rita just a day after arriving. The Red Cross has also forcefully apprehended urgent medical supplies from our relief network in downtown New Orleans. FEMA is AWOL.
On another level, the Bush administration, EPA, and major media companies have successfully suppressed environmental assessment efforts in southeastern Louisiana, where it is believed an oil spill half the size of the Exxon Valdez spill has emerged. Greenpeace has only been able to document the toxic pollution there by posing as media. We have had two independent assessors with us that have gone to great risk to collect water samples and get them processed, but the results will not be available for weeks.
Next step up would be to have a ham license so you could talk back. Although...in an emergency I'm not sure how strict the FCC would be if you didn't have one.
All depends what frequencies you're using. Some of the red cross frequencies are specifically for licensed users, others aren't. Call the local fire/rescue house and see what they recommend. I've talked on the two-way radio before, handheld as well as the one in the fire engine and the ambulance. I didn't need an FCC license, but I was trained in the protocol and had permission from the chief. One of the EMTs got into a car accident while off duty once, and instead of calling 911 he radioed right to dispatch.
http://wireless.fcc.gov/commoperators/wncol.html "You do NOT need a commercial radio operator license to operate, repair, or maintain...Two-way land mobile radio equipment, such as that used by police and fire departments, taxicabs and truckers, businesses and industries, ambulances and rescue squads, local, state, and federal government agencies."
What they need most is labor. Bring comfortable shoes, but bring protective shoes (Not a compromise, bring two pairs). Most of the loose debris is taken care of from what I've seen. I live in north Biloxi, but I didn't go to the beach, so there may be massive amounts there still. Bring gloves. The food situation there is ok now, I think, and there are plenty of shelters and places offering supplies, but you can hardly ever have too much labor.
I hate grammar Nazi's.
Condoms to fuck with. Don't want to catch any diseases.
And imagine the response if an "Atheist group" does go down there, and while handing out supplies or whatever starts proselytizing their views?
No doubt there was a lot of Atheists, Agnostics, Humanists, Secularists, Animists, whatever, that were there doing what they could, because it's the right thing to do, and not expounding their philosophies on these victims, which is the wrong thing to do.
It may be months before all of the communications systems are working. As a Ham radio operator, I would take HF (for long range communications) and VHF(for short range communications) radio gear. In many places, ham radio is still the only reliable communications in and out. The ARRL has been assisting in the coordination od radio operators to cover this need.
No disrespect intended, but it's too little, too late now.
I'm in New Orleans. I've been here since the hurricane. I've been rescuing people and pets. What we do not need at this time are people coming into the city clogging things up. Many of the aid stations have shut down because, contrary to what the media may be reporting, the outskirts of the city are slowly coming back into operation. So there's not much you can really do except get in the way.
Yea, you can come down and offer to help people with manual labor, but the media has scared the crap out of everybody with all the overblown looter/sniper reporting, you're likely to find people more suspicious than thankful.
I wish it weren't so, but that's the way it is.
If you want to help, don't vote Republican any more. Honestly, this will do more to help people in the area than anything else you can do. The current administration is giving away most of the federal aid to a small number of politically-connected corporations friendly with the current administration. At least the democrats put more emphasis on middle class and education.
We're screwed. I don't even want to talk about it honestly. I'm totally burned out from what I've had to go through.
It seems (almost?) all local building codes accept stick built homes using usual pine/fir 2x4s for most framing members. Other (even steel studs) materials seem less universally accepted. Is my perception correct and is this an issue for Habitat?
(Personally, if I ever build myself a home in a place with termites - there will be no wood framing in it if I can avoid it! Munch, munch, munch...)
Why is there an "insightful" mod and why isn't it "-1"? If I wanted insight, I wouldn't be reading
Don't you think that some people haven't heard of $cientology and would like a copy of The Way To Happiness, some "feel my finger" massages or amazing Elronic curing powerz. Oh and there's these courses that people can sign up too if they have money...
One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
OK, a retired firefighter but I did 20 years with the local volunteer squad. This is my go kit:
All the normal stuff you travel with plus:
an LED headlamp, the battery charger, and a bunch of regular alkaline batteries to keep it powered.
An assortment of gloves and some ear plugs.
A waterproof bag http://www.ortliebusa.com/ for my gear.
All the usual travel stuff (small first aid kit, sewing kit, etc.)
A powerstrip so that I can be a good citizen when I need to plug in a charger
wherever I go, there I am.
I've lived on the Gulf and been through a few hurricanes. Definately bring food and water...If you can manage it bring a propane hotstove/small grill with charcoal. Bring plenty of clothes and socks, definately some waterproof boots. Also bring plenty of mosquito spray.....I would also take a face mask because of the mold spores that I'm sure have populated in the standing water by now. As far as tools, I'd bring your basic toolkit with screwdrivers and box wrenches, both SAE and metric (as we Americans cant decide on one standard). Batteries are a big plus along with a flashlight. I don't know exactly what is available down there and what isn't right now. Also remember anything you forgot can't just be UPS'd/FedEx'd as they arent delivering to most of the gulf coast right now. I think theres a wireless net setup in New Orleans for internet access but I'm not entirely sure. I plan on making a trip down there for commercial reasons in about a month to help with the infrastructure rebuild, but my needs are definately different from yours. Hope this helped
What you actually have is an instance of the well-known Knapsack Problem which is NP-hard. But I think the previous suggestions were very good. I wish you well.
I hate to say it, but that's good advice.
I'm down here in the middle of this mess. I've been helping with rescue efforts. The rescue efforts are over. The relief efforts are, for the most part, over as well.
If you want to help us, the best thing you can do is make sure the media's prototypically-short attention span doesn't waiver from the fact that this area needs help... big help.. not some church group handing out towels.
What we need are people WATCHING THE MONEY that's being spent down here. That's where we need the most help. If we don't get it, New Orleans is going to end up like Iraq... with billions blown and still no infrastructure or improvement. That's the legacy the current administration is doing in the wake of an ADD populace who isn't paying attention!
or other energy bars for yourself and others.
I'm down here in the middle of this mess. I've been helping with rescue efforts. The rescue efforts are over. The relief efforts are, for the most part, over as well.
If you want to help us, the best thing you can do is make sure the media's prototypically-short attention span doesn't waiver from the fact that this area needs help... big help.. not some church group handing out towels.
What we need are people WATCHING THE MONEY that's being spent down here. That's where we need the most help. If we don't get it, New Orleans is going to end up like Iraq... with billions given to politically-connected special interest groups and no substantive infrastructure or improvement. That's the legacy the current administration is doing in the wake of an ADD populace who isn't paying attention.
What we need most are people who are paying close attention to what the feds are doing. The people of the Gulf Coast can deal with things. If you REALLY want to help, be active politically, and insist that taxpayer money goes directly to local communities instead of Halliburton. Right now, a shitload of federal money is going to Halliburton, just like it is in Iraq.
Don't come down here. Get on the phone and call your representatives and demand that the resources dedicated to this area are not squandered away in a plethora of no-bid contracts. That's what's happening now. Everything else is paltry compared to this.
If you really want to help, that's what you need to do. If you want to go on some goofy, fuzzy, feel-good, field trip that won't make any significant difference, go ahead with your other plans. But I sincerely urge you to seriously consider what I'm saying. I cannot stress how important it is. WATCH THE MONEY LIKE A HAWK!! We are going to get screwed if the American people don't pay attention!
"That isn't fact. Keep science and religion seperate. Many believe global warming come in cycles (IE: leaving an ice age). "*
The issue of Global Warming is based on science. Both pro and con. There's still plenty of points of disagreement amoungst those scientists to account for the differences. One doesn't even need to come near religion to explain what we're seeing.
*Plus your "it comes in cycles" is forgetting the simple mathmatical fact that cycles have amplitude as well as period. Man's contribution could be altering the amplitude compared to what it would be historically. Or to put it simply. Weather phenomenon could be stronger, more destructive, and longer lasting than compared to the past.
I will be off topic, but here is what a pharmacy (a bad evil illegal whatever they call them nowadays) i promote did on the first week (first few days actually):
...
..
...
... -> if you mean what you should take for yourself ..
they loaded a truck with medicine, and started driving south to the disaster area
yep, from their pocket, yep an evil online pharmacy
and yes it is a bit off topic, but that is something someone else took
besides that i would take some communication devices (laptop, gprs cell, pda), a gps batteries, water, water purifyer (or tablets/powder).... and emergency medicine such as antibiotics and first aid kit (even penicillin injections)
If you got broadband I'd highly suggest you watch Patrolling with Sean Kennedy, which explains the basics of survival equipment/thinking in a way that just about any Joe Blow could understand, with emphasis on making it work in the real world. The core of the show is two mottos - "Function over form" and "What does it do, how well does it do it?" It is an excellent show which will teach you the basics that you need, free download, and is under a Creative Commons license.
I am currently helping here in Mobile Alabama and most people have to replace the sheet rock and insulation on their houses up to where the water level was.
Sheet Rock Demolition:
Chalk Line
Chalk
Hammer
Skillsaw
Sledgehammer
Crowbar
etc.
Sheetrock Construction:
Hammer
Nails
Drill
Screws
Sheetrock Stuff
Putty Knive
Drywall Compound
Tape
Etc
Tree Removal:
Chainsaw
Gas
Oil
Rope
Chainsaw maintenance tools
Personal:
Ironclad (brand) gloves
clothes that you can throw away (don't let what you are wearing hold you back)
shorts
white t-shirts
comfortable boots
clothes you can relax in (including change of shoes)
Nationwide plan on your cellphone
Truck fo' haulin' stuff
thats all i can think of
good luck!
-green is the color of the rainbow
Please accept my apology in advance but the more I think about this thread, the more it upsets me.
I don't see a group of people wanting to help others. I see a group wanting to make itself feel better by wandering into a disaster area and getting in the way.
98% of what others have posted here is not relevant.
It doesn't matter where you go in the affected areas. By the time you get down here, essentials will be available everywhere. Right now, even in the most outlying areas, essential supplies, including gas, are readily available. Food, water, repellant, tools, gas. It's all available within a convenient distance now. You're too late.
I've been in the area since the storm. I've lived in New Orleans for 20+ years. I've been all over the area. I've been on boats. I've been rescuing people, animals, handing out food, you-name-it, I've done it.
You guys are leaving in a few weeks? What for? It's all over now.
Let me be blunt. Don't use us as an excuse to make yourselves feel better about yourselves.
What you can expect to find is a string of communities working hard to rebuild and your U-Haul won't make a difference. Maybe if you had been down here three weeks ago it might have, but honestly, at this late point, it's more a superficial, shallow token than any real needed help. You come down here you're going to be IN THE WAY. Yea, if you're giving stuff away, you'll find people who will appreciate it, but the gesture is largely ceremonial and you might want to re-examine whether or not you're doing this for yourselves as opposed to those who have been victimized.
With all due respect, I am resentful of the little media circus you've staged on Slashdot.
If you want to help, you'll offer a place to stay up where you are for refugees and offer them conveniences there. Coming down here is SELFISH.
If you come down here you're going to run into one of two scenarios:
a) A city that is in the process of getting back up to speed and you're in the way. You can do what other people have done, which is just set up somewhere and give out shit and people will line up, but most of the people will be the type that just take anything that's free and you'll just be enabling a bunch of freeloaders. We don't need that.
b) A "no-mans-zone" where everything has been destroyed and people are coming in and getting their shit and leaving. Again, you'll be in the way, unless you're brave enough to enter some of these flooded residences and help residents get a few precious items. But trust me, you'll spend about 10 minutes in one of these cesspools and decide you'd rather be back watching FOX on cable, so do us a favor and don't bother. The people who are in the hardest hit areas are getting their stuff and leaving... and if you want to help them, get them a goddam place to live.. don't come down and hover over the entrails that was their home handing out water bottles.
Please do not exploit us for your own selfish psychological needs. Many have come down here long before you people decided way too late that maybe you could launch some "humanitarian mission" and have been turned away.
If you want to help those affected by Katrina, go to one of the shelters housing evacuees. Those people are the ones that need the most help. The people that are in the city now are self-sufficient, or they have places to go. God is watching. Think about it. Don't use us. We've been abused already. Go to Houston or Dallas or Arkansas and help people in the shelters. DON'T COME to the affected area. Those that are down here have what they need. If you come down here and you ignore the people that are displaced in shelters, that's the biggest sin of all, at the expense of your selfish need to feel useful according to your own terms, in blatant disregard for the real needs of those affected by this tragedy.
A couple days worth of crack rocks and some Fiddy Cent CDs to listen to on a portable boom box.
As a resident of southern Mississippi I can tell you that there is still alot of tech work needed down here. Of course you may have to as much as you can without the internet *gasp* as there are still many of us without any service. There is, of course, debris everywhere and the purely physical needs take precedence as the internet without a house is useless, but any help is most definately appreciated. Most importantly bring intelligent people with you. There are far too many stupid, well meaning people down here swelling the population and causing more problems than they are solving. So please, if you can't help don't come down.
I'm sure there are many Bibles to replace... Which do you think they'd want first: food, water, shelter, or the Bible?
50 cans of food, or 50 Bibles? Remember, there is limited space!
I'd bring a nice LED headlamp, like the Princeton Tec EOS headlamp. Cheap ones can be found on eBay. I'd also bring a nice water filter with a nalgene bottle, Katadyn makes good ones. Bring a good pocket knive too, like an Emerson S.A.R.K. All that will run you a couple hundred $, but get the light first. And bring back up batteries.
Also, don't forget to bring your camera. Other items I'd suggest include a GPS, mosquito netting (there's probably a major infestation down there), insect repellant, in addition to sun screen.
A poncho, in case another HURRICANE blows in and YOU'RE THERE
The fishing pole is just something for you to do for the 9 days following the first day, on which you will probably realize the scale of the destruction and deduce nothing you can possibly do there will have any lasting impact, especially given the assuredness of the next storm.
Strict enough. If you don't have an amateur license, stay the hell off the air.
This is my post. There are many others like it. If you don't like what you read here, go try one of the others.
Since the poster mentioned (linked no less) several items in the original post to his church, god and all that general voodoo stuff one can only assume he's heading down to recruit.
The last thing I'd want if I was in the same position would be some bible thumper pestering me to "repent" and accept "jesus as my savior" while I'm attempting to dig a hole bury the remains of the family cat and slop out the entire downstairs of human exrement and oil.
I'm an athiest, and I've found that most of the SMART people are too. It's the dummies that need a moral crutch or something to blame that need the incessant chanting from these witch doctors.
pray for what? wasnt the hurricane an act of god?
I live near the Katrina zone. I've been hit by Ivan, Dennis, several tropical storms this year, then Katrina and brushed by Rita. I still have a house, a bad back from boarding up my house four times this past year, and anxiety about the last third of this hurricane season.
For you, high-top leather boots to keep the snakes from getting to you. Don't walk in water unless you have high-top waders. Farmland chemical run-offs will burn your skin, the snakes and alligators will bite. So stay out of the water. Maybe an inflatable raft if you are adventurous. Since you won't be down here long, don't worry about comforts of home, like your MP3 player or hair products. Live a couple of weeks like the locals. Hope you have an epiphany.
For the people you are coming to help, bring lots of tooth brushes, tooth paste, deodorant and soap. Clean clothes would be nice, or something to wash their current clothes with (Era, Wisk).
Since you are with a church group, I would guess alcohol would be out of your delivery agenda. If not, a small bit of fine brandy, rum would not go unnoticed.
Before Katrina, I had large bags of childrens clothes, shoes, adult clothes ready for my local mission to donate. After the storm, I just went through my closet and dumped a lot of my currently wearable clothes into bags to add to that. We donated about $4,000 worth of clothes. That's my donation this year, without the US tax receipt. So the Govt gets the money I would have gotten for the tax deduction and the people still get the clothes. The bags of clothes were donated to my local church who went there right after the storm.
My recommendation: Bring things you are willing to give away off of your back. This is devastation down here. Don't bring your comforts of home crap, unless you are willing to leave them to someone in need.
Was there something he said that made you think that his main focus wasn't helping people's immediate and actual needs? There's a thousand different ways you could have respectfully inquired as to this volunteer's motives. Instead, you automatically assume his motives to be dark and sinister. Ya, we all read your lame attempt to claim otherwise.
And the whole ending, with a plea for the children; great cover for that crass demonstration of your inability to act civily in light of an obviously negative past experience.
Insightful, indeed, but at what cost?
damaged by dogma
I was deployed with CAP for seven days in Hancock county at Stennis airport, just North of Bay Saint Louis, I think the food / water / shelter thing has been covered by others (when we left, some normalcy was returning, but don't assume there is much there, especially where you are going in MS. I made it for a few minutes one day South of I10 all the way to the coast, and anything South of that rail line just past I10 is FLAT - be prepared.
o tes-October%202005.pdf
As to special stuff:
A camelback / hydropack type of water carrier - much better than canteens or water bottles.
Fill with ice water and it's a portable a/c on your back.
I saw others mention a good cooler - invaluable. Ice was hard to come by and worth
it's weight in gold.
Baby wipes, if the water's off, you would be amazed how great a baby wipe shower is (compared to none at all).
Some cheap towels to carry around and wipe your face - the highest temps we met were around 106, w/ near 100% humidity. The biggest problem is that at night the temps and humidity didn't drop much, though you may get some ocean breeze further South. It's amazing how good it feels to wipe yourself off with a real towel when you are pouring sweat like a faucet.
Some cheap washcloths or hand towels for soaking. Sock in ice water and wrap around your neck as you work - will drop your body temp 5 degrees and feels great!
Bug spray - good deet stuff. It is still love bug season,
http://cricket.biol.sc.edu/luvbug.html and they are everywhere.
Also, in general be careful, they've got everything in the manuals down there - bees, copperhead snakes, FIRE ANTS (NO FOOD IN THE TENTS OR YOUR GEAR, BELIEVE ME!) fire ants will eat through a tent floor, gear, and an MRE pack to get to food, and they keep coming back.
If you get them, bleach and Deet the tent floor and that kept them out. I am told that
deet-ing the legs of a cot will keep them off of your bed (if you have one).
Reading material, a radio, etc. My time was 12 on, 12 off, and the 12 off can be hard
with no media available.
Also, if you have the opportunity, grab some MRE's while you can, they are handy and
plenty tasty. If you have the opportunity, get some MOD 24-hour rations (we had pallets of them donated by the British down at Stennis), these have some great accessories like Yorkie bars (awesome) and the pasta w/ meatballs (breakfast?) is quite tasty. Note: MOD meals do not have heaters or utensils, however 15 minutes on the hood of a black truck was all we needed.
There are also a lot of commercial "heater meals" which I am told are pretty good and are much closer to regular food - kind of like a lean cuisine, with a drink in it. These self-heat.
Make sure you decompress when you get back. Many of us suffered from mild PTSD - not because of anything we saw, but because the tempo was so high, and then when we got back home normal life seemed like a crawl.
Here's a link to our safety letter that discusses PTSD.
http://group22.net/safety/Group%2022%20Safety%20N
Cel phone coverage was spotty at best, but the data layer of my Sprint phone worked pretty well.
GOOD LUCK!
ROBERT J. WILLIAMS, Capt, CAP
Commander, Palwaukee Composite Squadron (IL049)
Group 22, IL Wing
USAF Auxiliary, Civil Air Patrol
"You're either outstanding, or outprocessing"
Check out what our team at MSFT has done: http://blogs.msdn.com/mobilepc/archive/2005/09/13/ 465593.aspx.
Personal:
Lawfully owned handgun and license to carry (http://www.packing.org/state/louisiana/) - there are some bad critters down there, and I'm not even talking about the two-legged bad-un's (which may also be a consideration).
Two pair sturdy broken-in workboots. High-Waders.
Heavy work pants, long-sleeve shirts, LOTS of dry socks.
Cot/Sleeping bag/etc.
GLOVES - 1 pair each, heavy leather and insulated rubber (at a min.) (Bring extra for locals in need if you can).
GROUP:
Appropriate Vehicle(s) "Pinzgauer", Unimog, "PTO Winch", "Amphibious", are *good* words in this context, as is "Diesel". "Zodiac" and "Airboat" are other words to conjure with. Ebay is our friend.
Chainsaws.
Gasoline. Chain Saw sharpening gear. Heavy brush cutters. LOTS of 2-3' crow bars...maybe 7-8 great big ones (the 6' "let's get serious about this" sort). Machetes - remember, they never run out of fuel. Cross cut saws, similarly, aren't real fuel-hogs.
Sleeper Vehicles. Old school buses convert quickly & nicely...again, see e-bay for cheap rides and sleeping quarters...can also be filled with supplies and converted to nappy-time space as supplies are off-loaded.
Tarps. Tents.
At least one person with a legitimate badge or similar mojo for "liason with ninnies". Should always ride in lead vehicle when entering/leaving area.
Well-defined and achievable mission. Signed contract w/ local business may prove useful.
Sufficient Water/Food for mission duration. Don't be a burden.
"It is morally wrong to initiate the aggressive use of force.." Of course, defensive force is fair game...
the kind of wet towels that come in a sealed roll. Preferably the pleasantly scented kind - because you will be not be. Also, you may want to stock up on ointments to treat skin condition from wadding in dirty water, sweating in hot weather, not changing your clothes often and not showering enough.
I doubt that we will ever figure out - and I suspect that even if we did figure out we couldn't do much about it
... I can't think of anything else you would need...
Insert `fortune -o` here
50 is probably overkill, but I'm sure there are plenty of cans of food there already. In the areas the poster was talking about the stores are open, so rather than bring 50 cans of food one could just bring 50 $10 bills, and save a lot of space.
Don't leave home without it.
it will go right through their foot, become infected.
Darwin may take over from there.
First. If I were you I would get ahold of one of the local affiliated churches and speak with them. I'm not a church goer myself. In fact, before this I found organized religion to be something to be put up with. However, since the storm I've been extremely impressed with the help that the local churches have provided. And not to just their flock, or whatever, but to whomever needed the help. They have probably done more for the individual down here than any other organization. I've been very impressed.
Most city governments and the federal government will be of no use at all to you. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if they told you to stay home. Their are nothing if not unorganized at an individual town, commmunity level.
I've been through several areas of Slidell. It's tore up, but you should be able to get just about anything you need locally there. You may be stuck in some ugly lines, but you can get almost all essentials at this point. Water, food, meds, can all be found there now. You probably will NOT find lodging without prior arrangment though.
As for Pass Christian. It's hammered whale crap at this point. It's been pounded flat, rolled and pounded again. You can find all you need within about 10 miles of it though. Gulf Port has all basic essentials, food, water, meds, etc... Again, expect there to be some ugly lines. In fact I had a wonderful dinner at Logan's Road House in Gulf Port this last Sunday. Busy as sin, but oh, hot, excellent food.
Before you get here, suck it up. It'll tear a person up seeing some of this. It won't be the destruction, or smells, which were horrid to say the least, or whatever, but you will find something that will hit you like a ton of bricks. It can be something as simple as a dog starving on the street, or finding someones baby pictures, whatever. But be ready. It will give you nightmares. And it WILL happen. This is like a war zone with all of the good and bad and horrid that's involved.
(For me the breaking point was hearing after 4 days of uncertainty that my daughters friends across the street were alive. I know, stupid reason to break down. But they rode out the storm in Pearlington, MS. Look it up and you'll understand why I held no hope.)
Expect to help on an individual basis. Get down here and help out a couple of people that really need help. Don't expect to rebuild a community. Expect to help a couple of people find some hope. Help em get things moving in the right direction again. Clean up a yard, tear out some carpet, rip out the sheetrock, whatever. I think you'll find the folks down here don't want charity. They just need some help getting back on their knees.
We've had our @$$'s handed to us. We don't need to be rebuilt from outside. We just need the outside to help us up enough that we can rebuild ourselves. Don't take that wrong. We need help, and are so thankfull for help. But, we will get back on our feet. We will stand up and rebuild. That's what makes this place what it is.
If you do get down here. Ping me. I'll buy you and your crew a cup of coffee. I'm in Diamondhead, MS which is right between Slidell, LA and Pass Christian, MS. It's been hell at times. But I've seen neighbor help neighbor in everything from the simplest of things to the giving of the shirt off their backs. It's heartwarming to experience.
Good Luck. God Bless.
Alive and Kicking from the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Ice_hawk55.
Take something that can give you and others some shade. A tarp with groumets and a rope may offer you some needed shade. You'll be in areas that are hot, humid, and sunny. Maybe a 'command tent' where workers can gather to-do lists and act as a temporary first-aid center.
Several thousand copies of the 'The Encyclopedia of Biblical Errancy', ISBN: 0879759267.
Ok, I'll admit, I didn't read all of the comments. But here is one thing left out of the first 50 or so.
;) )
;)
.22 does wonders on them. I would recomend a cheap .22 pistol and hip holster.
TOILET PAPER.
Seriously, it's something you wouldn't think about till the end of day one or the morning of day two, and there is no good place to get any there.
Now for the complete list.
Camping Gear
------------
Not sure if you will have a place to stay, but it might be crowded. So here is the gear I would bring for living:
0) Toilet paper (as already stated)
1) Tent (probably a 4 person so you can have someone else stay with you. You can pick up a cheap one for $50)
2) Camp stove.
3) PROPANE (Always bring three times as much gas as you think you will need when going into a disaster area)
4) Lantern (gas is best)
5) Mess kit
6) Percolator (and coffe too
7) Water jugs (the non cooler type. Best is blue 5 gallon jugs).
8) Bug spray (this is a must)
9) Knife -- this will come in handy. I recomend the Leatherman Wave. It's rather expensive, but I use it every day.
10) Batteries (3 times as many as you think you will need).
11) Radio. AM/FM for sure and two-way if you are going to be seperated from part of your group for a little while.
Clothing
--------
I would pack ziplock bags in with my clothing. If you have a waterproof/resistant bag (for sailing and/or canoeing) I would pack that.
0) Socks. Your feet are important. It's good to bring two sets of socks for every day. Make sure you have at least enough to be dry for 3 days (i.e. 6 pair). Change them twice a day, whether you think you need to or not.
1) Long sleeve shirts. Bugs, construction, etc. You don't have to pack many, but you will need one before it's all said and done with.
2) Long pants. You won't want to wear shorts for what you will be doing.
3) Shoes - I think this one has been covered
4) Shorts - for the evenings -- 1 pair of
5) Gloves - leather, and only leather
6) Undershirts -- Like the socks, probably bring enough to have at least 6 dry shirts on hand.
7) Head net -- for bugs. Basically a net that fits over your head and keeps you from being eaten alive.
8) Towels - Don't Panic. And always bring a towel. Or three.
9) Bandana -- maybe a hat if it's not your style. But you can be a pirate with a bandana.
10) Undies -- Again, two pair a day ( I see a theme)
Medical
------
0) Burn spray - cause you never know
1) Excedrin - it's got the caffine jolt in it
2) Band-aids - don't laugh
3) Imodium AD (sp?) - bellies are pesky
4) Alcohol
5) Gauze pads
6) Med tape
7) Ace bandage
8) Courtozone lotion (some poison ivy remedy of some kind)
9) Tums
10) Triple antibiotic ointment
Tools
------
0) Shovel
1) Prybar (not a crowbar, this is longer and more rugged)
2) Hammer
3) Screwdriver - At least one LARGE flat head screwdriver! But some others would do well too.
4) Hack saw -- make sure you get extra blades
5) Piece of pipe - ok, this sounds wierd, but you can use it to pry round stickey-outy things (put inside pipe and bend). Make sure it's thick. 3 feet will do nicely.
6) Batter powered saw/drill - Craftsman makes a set I think and black and decker makes one for sure.
Thats a general list of tools. You will probably know better what you will be doing and can tailor your toolbag to your needs.
Recreation
---------
I know, you are going to work and not play. But you are human too. Bring a deck of cards, a few books, and maybe a board game or two. After a hard days work, you will need it. And maybe a beer. If you drink.
Firearms
--------
Ok, don't overreact. This is not for people, but snakes. I don't know the laws in LA but I would assume that carrying a pistol in a holster that is visible is legal. If you are in the country, you can expect snakes, and a
It would be interesting to know what happened when you returned. What was useful, what was not. Were you really needed, etc.
No sharp objects, I'm a programmer!
Bring a laptop so you can play this handy New Orleans based choose your own adventure:
7
http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2005/9/6/34041/8772
Thus allowing you to relax in between bouts of charity work.
Keep it really REAL.
Seems like a waste of time, gas, and money to travel that far just to bring down a single UHaul full of supplies. Now, if your manhours are the main thing you're donating, that's another story. But for that many people, I'd think you'd want at least that much equipment just to keep yourselves going (food, clothes, boots, tools, etc.)
Hard to say, but this is what I would bring for myself:
- a firearm, preferably something small and easy to carry (a pistol or revolver would do nicely). Load it (preferably) with snake shot (LOTs of unfriendly snakes down there) and something to kill larger two-legged vermin or dogs (like hollowpoints).
- single-piece rubber boots. I think some call them "galoshes" but the ones I'm thinking of are thick rubber. They're durable, and will keep your feet dry in the worst of conditions.
- two changes of clothing per day.
- bug spray
- garlic (you eat it and rub it on your skin - keeps skeeters at bay. also very good at naturally detoxifying your body and boosting the immune system)
- vitamin C (your body needs more of it under stress, and it will help keep you healthy)
- vitamin B (skeeters don't like it either)
- soap and washcloth, deoderant (you might not get a chance for a full bath, but basic sanitation is necessary to remain healthy)
- and at least 1/2 a gallon of water per-person for bathing.
- a fold-out chair (like the small canvas and aluminum frame ones) - you won't want to sit down on the ground in many of these places
- a poncho that allows you to still be mobile and functionally useful while wearing it
- at least 3 changes of socks per day
- icy hot
- crowbar, hammer, and tool belt
- rope. I like parachute cord, though most any variety would probably be useful if you needed it at all
- fire - always valuable, though if you don't know what kind of 'living' situation you'll be in down there...
- tent/sleeping eqiupment - same as fire... if you don't know where you're staying, you'll have to be prepared.
In general, one thing applies: always be prepared. If you think you won't actually need it (iPod), you won't. If you think you'll need it, you might, but probably won't. If you don't think you'll need it (say, jerry cans), you'll likely need 3x as many as you were planning to bring, but left at home due to space constraints....
~/ssh slashdot.org ssh: connect to host slashdot.org port 22: too many beers
You and your church are seriously trying to help people here, VERY good. And I also saw some people suggesting you bring fire-arms. What's next: links to 'The National Survivalists'? People are in need there. Disasters have happened. People got killed. The environment is hostile, the weather exhausting, and it's clear that you are no pro's.
My suggestion: gather what you think people need down there, send it off and let everything there be taken care of by professionals. The folks that did things like this in third world countries for instance. Them with experience. And you guys: stay out, do not get in the way or trouble.
All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to die.
Considering that you may be moving into a region that has NO ability to provide amenities, you may want to treat the whole experience like a wilderness backpacking trip. However, if you're going to stay in one place where you can keep supplies, you should prepare a disaster stockpile. A these items are what you should have on hand at home - and presumably take with you at large. ( List compiled by my pal Breakpoint, shortly after his fifth Burning Man trip )
For example, I guess you are taking holidays. If they are paid I would venture that you could do more good by donating part of your wages to a grassroot organization in the field (another church of your denomination working already in the area for example).
Unless you have a precise plan laid out by some organization with experience (which does not seem to be the case) your group will become a liability.
SOme people have mentioned that labour may be needed. Well, it is not like all the jobless people in the affected areas have much else to do. I would hold on where you are, get a clearer picture of the situation, and once I am better informed I think I would know where a short effort like the one you are offering would have the greatest impact.
IANAL but write like a drunk one.
...porn! there must be a lot of frustrated people over their...
Don't go buy boots! You will get blisters, if you have boots take them, hand sanitizer, your gun safely hidden away, and good leather work gloves, lots of socks, throw them out when they start rotting, and a few pairs of levis, tons of tshirts.
I wanted to be a voice of encouragement for you and your group. I have participated in numerous mission trips. One such trip my church makes regularly is with a group called the Appalachia Service Project. Often these trips for us involve groups up to 50 people and end up costing as much as $10,000.
I've often been asked if it would have been smarter to just send a check for the $10K to the local department of social services, or some in-place mission group (someone here used the term "professionals"). The money might be more efficiently used that way; you might get more for your money--a "better deal." My reply to that way of thinking is, simply, what's a good price on changing someone's heart? In my way of thinking, while you go on the trip ostensibly to meet some physical needs of the people there, you end up meeting much more than that in the way of built relationships, emotional and spiritual needs. And you'll come away feeling like YOU were the one receiving the gifts, not giving them.
Now, the point is not that we go for our own benefit, please don't misread. We go truly out of a sense of responsibility to help our neighbors--for Christians, this is a duty. We don't go to convert anyone to Christianity (so, forget about that stereotype if you can). But I can tell you first hand that the people who go on trips like this--even if they go reluctantly--come back changed. And these people are more likely to do similar things in the future, or even make generous donations to the Red Cross when that is the best option.
My most practical advice for you is to bring everything you need to be 100% self-sufficient. Bring tents, sleeping bags, Colemen stoves and food. Bring tools (especially cordless drills, tape measures and circular saws), a generator if you can, and anything you would use to clean your apartment after a world class frat party :-) (seriously). Bring rubber gloves, boots and clothes you don't mind not ever wearing again.
Good luck, go with God.
Best think is to assume the worst (no power/water/food), I most of this is you centric as you need to take care of your self first. I've also assumed you will be there for more than one day, if this is not the case then ignor the section on sleeping. In general you need the think of the following when packing.
Stuff to Wear
I would advise a good pair of hiking boots and lots of good socks to keep your feet comfy, I do not know howmuch water is there if it is a lot then army surplus swamp boots are a good choice.
Hard waring cloaths like jeans and a shirt you can ware over a t-shirt. With jeans it is worth taking two pairs; a dry set and a wet/dirty set, wear the wet/dirty ones in the day and the dry set in the evening when you have finished working.
Stuff to Sleep in
If accomedation is an issue the a good tent is neeted pref with a fly screen.
Dont for get a sleeping mat as the ground is realy uncomfortable without one and will ruin a nights sleep.
A good warm sleeping bag, it is best to have on that is too warm as you can unzip it to cool off
Stuff to Eat
As you have a u-haul pack tins (and a tin opener!)/de-hydrated that cant go off and high energy foods like nuts, chocolate is also good as well.. it's chocolate!
Stuff to Drink
Bring clean water and lots of it if there is not any available each team member will need between 2->4l of water a day if they are working hard.
Water sterilisation kit may also be use full, I would advise boiling then adding a chlorien baised purifyer, there are addatives you can add afterwards that will take away the taste if you want.
Keep your clean and dirt water separate, never gather untrerated water in the same container as you drink from!
Tea/Coffee/fruit concentrate
Tools
A Good First Aid kit (Always assue that you may have to deal with a serious cut/breakage), there are many available from camping stores ask the staff there. You may want to add some anti-dihoretics to the kit as this can be quite serious.
Blankets
Small Axe/Saw
A Good knife
Mobile Phone
Light, tourches(+spare batts)/gas lantern
Gas Stove
Fire lighting kit
Lots of rope and gaffer/duct tape
Plastic ground sheeting
In the not too distant future, next Sunday A.D.
A shopping cart, shotgun and plenty of shells.
* Si hoc legere scis numium eruditionis habes *
Habitat for Humanity does a little more work and spends a little more money to "make the homes fit the neighborhood". That's pure cosmetics. Any reason they can't also make the homes fit the environment? Consider energy efficiency? Maintenance costs? Surely they consider all these factors. Otherwise, seems to me they're just wasting their donors' money, if they're putting up homes that will be blown away by the next hurricane, or eaten by termites, or burned to the ground in the next wildfire. Be embarrassing if beneficiaries have to move out of the homes because the energy bill is too high for them. If in the process they get the local area to improve code by accepting novel designs that can take whatever the local environment dishes out, or by rejecting existing designs that didn't work, that's worth as much or more than a house.
Intellectual Property is a monopolistic, selfish, and defective concept. It is "tyranny over the mind of man"
http://www.faithlincoln.org/staff.htm
what with the top 3 posts being men and the rest are women
i dont fancy their chances of promotion...
I'm a rabbit startled by the headlights of life
Many good suggestions here. I'd add a wide-brimmed hat (Its still hot), a "Miner's Light" that you can wear around your head (The best is the Tikka Plus, but the much cheaper "Energizer" version from Wal-Mart is a close second), along with NiMH batteries (15 minute recharge) and a charger that works off of the cigarette lighter. I'd also pick my radio/MP3 player so that it can run off of AA, AAA batteries so you can use the recharger. One more thing: a good water bottler. I'm partial to the Gatorade 24 oz "disposable" bottles. I'd bring a bible too. Good luck
We just had our fire crew down there to help chainsaw some downed trees and such. Lots of extra non-perishable foodstuffs is fairly obvious, but I don't see a lot of people talking about drinking water, and that's more important. Tested-clean water supplies are few and far between, and you don't want to spend two weeks down there with the runs, or treating people for dehydration. Take some water purifiers with you, and extra filters.
... I don't see firefighters get choked up too often.
Another obvious thing: wool blankets are very utilitarian, lots of things they can be used for, and you can get them from army surplus on the cheap. Get WOOL because it'll keep you warm even if it gets wet.
The team leader tells this story: they made their way into a little town, where he was greeted by a man who came out what was left of a church. It was the first time they'd had any outside contact in two weeks. And the man said, that was glad to see them, because he'd had a hard time scrounging up enough food to feed 250 people. Then he just collapsed on him and started crying.
Do not just travel into the area with the expectation of helping out! You should have a specific place where you know your manpower will be helpful. You should have a contact person in the area who has places for you to stay and a list of jobs that need to be done. Once you know what you are needed for, the equipment list is self explainatory.
You must be self sufficient for the entire time your group plans on being in the area. Expecting resources to be provided for you will just make the situation worse.
The church I attend just trucked 48,000 lbs of relief goods to an area in Mississippi two weeks ago. We had local contacts who told us exactly what they needed and where to distribute it.
Josh
I've been in both of there cities, and you _ABSOLUTELY_ _MUST_ bring mosquito replellant and very good sunscreen. You should also bring a snake bite kit (Water Mocasins outnumber humans significantly).
Good luck, take care of yourself while there, and help those special people. Don't feed the gators....
Even though the areas that you will go to will probably already have facilities and amenities being established, you should really plan on not using any resources that you haven't carried in. Also, remember that this is where people live (or lived), and you are essentially a guest in their county. Above all, listen, be patient, be humble, and be there for them. You might even find that the residents have a stronger need for spiritual help, than physical help.
Basically, as an extension to the above response - while the exact items can be left up to your imagination, so long as you are self-sufficient in the following needs (and in the following order), you will not burden locals, and can use your spare capacity to carry tools, and whatever you choose. This is basic survival (assuming you are going into a completely devastated area)
The most important thing to remember is that you need to take everything with you, don't expect help from the locals. If you end up in an area that is truly devastated, the above guidelines will keep you alive - maybe not as comfortable as you like, but you are essentially voluntarily entering a survival situation.
InfoSec that matters, when it counts.
You do realise that it was God who sent the hurricaine in the first place, right?
My church has a list of contents for "flood buckets" which people can donate for relief efforts. I know that you won't be bringing many of these to pass out to families, but perhaps their contents will help you clean up. See print-friendly version here: http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/print/kits/floodbucket.s tm
* 5-gallon bucket with resealable lid
* Bleach (two 1-quart or one 82 oz. bottle.)
* 5 scouring pads
* 7 Sponges
* 1 scrub brush
* 18 cleaning towels (reusable wipes)
* Liquid laundry detergent (two 25 oz. or one 50 oz. bottle)
* 1 household cleaner, 12-16 oz. bottle
* Disinfectant dish soap, 16-28 oz. bottle
* 50 clothes pins
* Clothes line (two 50 ft. or one 100 ft.)
* 5 dust masks
* 2 pair latex gloves
* 1 pair work gloves
* 24-bag roll of heavy-duty trash bags, 33-45 gallon (remove roll from box before placing in bucket)
* 1 Insect repellant spray, 6-14 oz. can (If aerosol, cans must have protective caps.)
* 1 Air freshener, 8 or 9 oz. can (If aerosol, cans must have protective caps.)
--The Programming goddess from Gorflaz
- A generator with plenty of gas, because the power supply is highly questionable. Your vehicle could double as a generator with the right gear, but you also need it to move around.
- Portable refrigerator. Remove the light bulb. Get it started first before you plug anything else into the generator.
- Hand-held radios with several frequencies so that you're not stepping on the signal of people doing rescue and reconstruction work.
- Loud whistles as a backup in case the radios fail. Pre-arrange signals.
- Ration bars, and figure you're going to eat two a day (2400 calories) if you're doing a ton of work. Don't expect the locals to feed you.
- Water purification gear, non-electric, both personal (one per person) and group (for extras). You want something that will filter out at least four nines of microbes and pollution. They say the water's fine, but my understanding is that they stopped taking samples after three days and therefore don't know squat.
- Baby wipes. Just a whole hell of a lot of 'em. Even if you have a shower facility handy, you'll thank me. If you don't, these will make life just a lot better.
- Hand sanitizing gel.
- Small portable commode, just in case.
- A good tool kit (see above comments). Chainsaws could be handy, but make sure you've got plenty of safety gear including earplugs and eye protection.
- Multi-tool and keyring multi-tool. See ThinkGeek.
- Rubber gloves to handle power lines and the like
- One bottle each of 100 tablets aspirin, ibuprofin, acetominophen. 100 pepto tablets, 100 anti-diarhea tabs, liquid benadryl. Betadine. Neosporin + Pain Relief gel.
- First aid kit WITH CPR MASK.
- Nexcare liquid bandage drops and spray.
- Female sanitary napkins -- dual-use as sanitary napkins and bandages.
- Crank-powered radio/light.
- Flashlights that get power from shaking (see ThinkGeek).
- Plenty of batteries. It would help to consolidate your tools on one or two kinds of battery.
Finding God in a Dog
Uh, as a professional carpenter for, like... 20+ years, I can tell you that nobody in they're right mind ever builds houses or structures out of oak...it's a waste of premium wood. Hardwoods such as oak are for building furniture. Shit woods are for structure building, i.e. douglas fir, pine, spruce, hem-fir and the like...whatever is cheap and in abundance.
Take some freak'in ear muffs. If you're anywhere near generators and equipment, they'll be like gold.
guns... lots of guns
(had to be said)
Usually to break in leather boots quickly is to get them completely wet and walk in them until they become completely dry.
To really minimize blisters while using boots for long days, and your feet aren't used to them, I would suggest what I use for hiking (did 100km(60 miles) in 4 days, feet were okay): Bring 2 pairs of liner socks and 2 pairs of woolies. The liner socks act as a second layer of skin and generally stay put while sliding against the woolies.
Wigwam CoolMax Liners - Liners.
Wigwam Ultimax Cool Lite Hiker Crew Socks - Woolies
Every day you can wash 'em and hang them to dry (since they're all quick drying) so no more than 2 pairs of each are necessary.
As a side note to any Canadians reading this, Mountain Equipment Co-op has the same stuff.
I'm waiting to be deployed by the Red Cross. They'll be providing any specialized equipment. We just need personal supplies. Here's my packing list:
Wrap EVERYTHING in waterproof containers!
copy of this list
photocopies of everything in wallet left at home
7x clothing
sweatpants/sleep clothing
2 pairs of waterproof shoes
hat
cheap sunglasses
waterproof jacket
sleeping bag
ground pad
sheet
mosquito net
pillow
any prescription medicine
first-aid kit
rubber gloves
face mask
pain killers
anti-diarreah medicine
toilet paper
towel
soap
shampoo
toothbrush, toothpaste, floss
deodorant
bug spray
sunscreen
hand wipes
hand sanitizer
laundry detergent
tissues
2 days food + utensils
2 days water (gallon/day)
water purification tablets
rope
swiss army knife
duct tape
pens
permanent markers
pad of paper
plastic garbage bags
ziplock bags
flashlight
extra batteries
Forward, retransmit, or republish anything I say here. Just don't misquote me.
Basically, you'll probably have a lot of clearing to do, and little if any power.
Crowbars
Come-alongs (hand-operated winches) and LOTS of tow straps
GAS-powered chainsaws and gas cans, spare chains and maintenance kit
2-man crosscut saws
Branch loppers and sharpening stone
sledge hammers
Pulaski (pick-axe)
Wheelbarrows/garden carts
sturdy rakes
The usual hand tools: claw hammers, screwdrivers, shingle removers, hand saws, small sledgfe hammers.
Personal gear:
Hard hats, several pairs of leather gloves, a couple pairs of steel-toed work boots, lots of dry socks, sunscreen
Clothing you don't mind TOTALLY ruining in the mud and stench: old levis, old t-shirts
WATER COOLER: They have water, but a 10-gallon water jug for the work site is great.
Prescription meds, extra pair of contacts or glasses
Toilet paper
mosquito repellant, ibuprophen (taken BEFORE you start work, prevents a lot of soreness), antibiotic ointment and bandages for the inevitable scratches, hand sanitizer,
I would bring one of these
http://www.maximog.com/
With people possibly having new workboots that aren't broken in, and doing labor their hands aren't used to, you might want to invest in several rolls (ROLLS, not the stick-on circles from Walgreens) of moleskin. That way people don't get incapacitated by blisters, which lead to other nasty things in the area you'll be working in.
;)
Remember LOTS of changes of underwear and socks. It's hot and humid down there, and I can't emphasize enough how good just a change of underwear and socks can make you feel.
Yes, I'm a mom, why do you ask?
My mother lives on the northeast shore of Lake Ponchartrain. Power is being restored there without a problem. Traffic is hours for what took 20 minutes. So bring gas.
Also, Slidell got hit so hard there's nothing to recover. It all was blown into the lake. People don't know how bad slidell was really hit. The news didn't show anything, because there was nothing to show... It's all gone. And the lake washed over it.
I would recommend Gas, a chainsaw, some rope, and pain killers. My house had a tree on it, my step-father's house WAS in slidell. Nothing found but 1 pontoon of my pontoon boat, 6 miles away.
I'd bring toilet paper myself. Life without TP isn't worth living.
- Chainsaws (for obvious reasons)
- Gloves, ear plugs, safety glasses,
- Stump pulling chain
- Tire patch kits, nail puller, pump (there were roofing nails everywhere and numerous flats)
- Tylenol
- Simple toys for young kids (like Barbie dolls and little plastic farm animals)
- Books and CDs/CD players for older kids
Fortunately, we didn't have to deal with the flooding, homelessness and despair that you will surely face...so my experience may not be that helpful. Good luck. My prayers are with you.You want to know what some Rainbow family are doing? Read the reality. Sorry for the long post but I thought this explained all best. Greetings from the New Waveland Cafe! New Waveland Cafe Reconstructed after Rita Announcing the Tornado Lounge Please Call Before Coming Here and Don't Bring Children FOR WIDE DISTRIBUTION Things are running smoothly again here in Waveland after everyone EXCEPT the New Waveland Cafe bugged out for Hurricane Rita. Many folks still living in tents and tarps on the toxic ground were unable to flee and were grateful for three hot meals a day in spite of high winds, lots of rain, and scattered tornados. We had to take down our large tents, but the structure we served under for those five days--an army tent donated by China--remains standing as the Tornado Lounge, serving ice cold smoothies all day long. Inaugurated on Monday night after re-setting the kitchen and Cafe under our large tents, the Tornado Lounge serves as a mellow place for playing music, reading, socializing, and forgetting the day's traumas in this troubled corner of the world. If you plan to volunteer at the New Waveland Cafe, please call me at (828) 280-6338. We now have a procedure in place for plugging in an appropriate number of volunteers for what we are doing here. We match your dates and skills with our needs. Once again, please note: IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN, DO NOT BRING THEM HERE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES WHATSOEVER. WE WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY VOLUNTEERS WHO BRING CHILDREN. This is a disaster zone. The level of toxicity in the area coupled with extreme and unrelenting heat (index at 105-115 every day) make this a graveyard for infants, small children, sick people, and folks in not the best shape. Only come here if you are in excellent health and physical condition. A volunteer with our partner, BCOC, has been hospitalized with a heart attack due to heat stroke. Others drop every day from heat exhaustion. We have no need whatsoever for volunteers who cannot put in a full day's work in extreme heat. Furthermore, we all worry about the effects of long-term exposure to this environment. WE WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO SUBJECT YOUR CHILDREN TO THESE CONDITIONS ON OUR BEHALF. On a side note, you should leave your dog at home, too. I regret bringing Calvin, a tough old road dog who is having an extremely hard time here even with a somewhat air conditioned bus to live in. Other dogs who have arrived are not happy either. There's too much toxic mischief for them to get into here, no water in which to cool off, no non-toxic place to lay on the ground--in short, not a good place for dogs. Hancock County EOC has asked the New Waveland Cafe to remain open until Thanksgiving. Aaron, Clovis, Stone, and I have accepted and plan to remain. Others will probably also stay or come and go. Again, please call before showing up. I'm going to attempt to post the minutes from our 8pm Meeting every day. Like everything I do in communications, it depends on how much time I have available and how well the internet is working. Thanks for your Continuing Support Arjay Sutton Phone: (828) 280-6338 email: newwavelandcafe@yahoo.com www.newwavelandcafe.blogspot.com Donations: http://tinyurl.com/cqdky
As a Ham KC0TXH that has spent a good amount of time looking into how to volunteer to direct emergency traffic in the devastated areas, i was told simply this.
You need to be self sufficient for upwards of a week.
As a group possibly working on your own, your going to have to concentrate more on what YOU need than tools and equp to help others.
The figure ive always heard is 1 gallon of water per person per day. SO that's 10 gallons per day for your group. (good luck with that)
Fuel, bring it with you, weather for your van, your generator, for your chainsaws etc, I was told to bring half a tank of fuel in cans.
A GOOD first aid kit. Cuts, scrapes, etc in that environment ill become major problems quickly.
It would be nice to know what exactly you are planning to do down there, and who (meaning what organizations) you will be working with. You say "relief efforts", but that can mean anything from shoveling debris out, patching up damaged structures, feeding and clothing people, attending to medical needs, catching stray dogs, restoring damaged telecomm/IT infrastructure... you get the idea.
All the suggestions I've seen so far are for materials and supplies for yourself -- that's all fine, just pack as if you're going to a third-world country to do mission work building a local well. Study work boots, sturdy clothing, hand tools, devices that don't need electricity of batteries (hand-crank radio and shake flashlights are essential), energy bars and MRE's for those times you can't find a kitchen or don't have time to stop to prepare a meal are all great. (Don't forget your own bedding.) But what do *other* people need?
As one poster alluded to, a high tolerance for FEMA (and even local authorities') interference is necessary. Expect to be blocked by red tape. Unless you are a card-carrying, picture-ID wearing member of Red Cross, you'll be blocked from doing a lot of things that would benefit people.
The BEST thing you can do is get in touch with the organization(s) or people in the places you are going down to and see what their CURRENT needs are. My wife just spent 10 days in Baton Rouge and before she went down, we collected a minivan full of supplies for her to distribute to people in shelters. She found out when she got there that the massive amounts of bottled water she took down were unwanted -- they'd been swamped with bottled water because that's what everyone thinks to give -- but the small medical supplies (gloves & masks, sterile instruments, prenatal vitamins for malnourished pregnant women, etc) were VERY welcomed. She also took down tons of bedding because that particular shelter was short on it.
You might be surprised at what's needed. We were told not to bother bringing clothing donations, because the Red Cross and Salvation Army had collected and distributed plenty. That was true, but what nobody'd thought to send was underwear. Most of the people who'd been staying in the shelter for 3-4 weeks had only one pair of underwear. My wife and a couple others on her team went to Wal-Mart and spent nearly $1000 on simple necessities, mostly underwear, to distribute. (And, BTW, got in trouble with the shelter management for doing so, because it was against policy. Though the management weren't planning to fill that need in any way.)
One other thing -- it might be tempting to take lots of Bibles down and plan to do some gentle ministry efforts. If you're going to an area controlled by FEMA or any government organization, or Red Cross, don't count on it -- proselytizing is explicitly forbidden in shelters. (Although religious groups providing humane aid are welcomed.)
God. Because apparently it was his Acts that caused this mess to begin with.
I would bring my voter registration card to make sure that I will have the chance to vote for a competent administration (republican, democrat, or green ) in the next election( federal, state, or local ).
Take duct tape, not gaffer's tape. Gaffe tape frankly sticks too well for most jury-rigging jobs, and it's much more expensive than duct tape, which will do the job just as well in almost all cases you'll encounter. Throw in ten rolls of electrical tape in cases where waterproof seals are a requirement, and you'll be golden for half the cost.
Virg
Try it and you'll be amazed at how close you are to passing right now.
:)
Hmmm, I tried it:
You scored 17 correct answers and 18 incorrect answers from a total of 35.
When do I get amazed?
Lots of constructive comments here (including "don't come"), but I'll try to answer your question simply, without trying to analyze your motives. Bring a hydration pack, a 70 or 100 oz. one. I live here (Bay St. Louis), and regularly do hard outdoor work -- especially these days. It's almost impossible to keep moving all day in this heat without a constant supply of water. Yeah, things have started cooling off, but a hydration pack is still key to any hard work. Get a good one, plan on spending $50 at a bare minimum. The $30 ones at big box stores won't cut it.
The kind that measures .45 inches across, and moves at 260 m/s.
I grew up on the MS Coast and live in North MS now. I have family and friends in New Orleans and on the coast.
I understand that the MS Coast is in much better shape than New Orleans. My grandma lives north of I-10 in Gulfport and her power/water/phone have all been restored. She's even had the boil water ban lifted in her area. I don't think you'll have a problem getting water. Even if you have to boil it.
I understand that in New Orleans, power is still out in a lot of places and very few stores are open. That means no refrigeration and access to food may be difficult. Plan and pack accordingly.
Most likely, you'll be clearing debris. That means hard work handling all kinds of materials from house parts to car parts to signage to downed trees some of which may have been exposed to various household chemicals. So appropriately grungy, durable and protecting clothing would go a long way. It's better to be hot in heavy jeans than to get cut by a rusty nail covered in nasty back bay mud or worse whatever was in new orleans' streets when the water rose. New Orleans wasn't a very clean city to begin with.
If you are in a flood area, you'll be trudging through some of the fowlest mud you've ever seen or smelled so appropriate footwear would go a long way. Maybe even bring a few pairs of waders.
There's a good chance you will be working inside or around houses that have been flooded. That means you may be handling insulation, moldy dry wall, household chemicals, roofing materials and debris with all kinds of sharp parts.
If anyone in your party is asthmatic or has severe allergy problems, leave them behind. There's a ton of mold and stuff all over everything and this week has seen bad allergies for a bunch of my coworkers. I live 5 hours north of the coast.
There's been a lot of standing water all over the place. Mosquitos will be an issue. A big issue. And they carry west nile virus here so you want to mitigate that risk.
So, if you're not careful you could find yourself hot, sweaty, sunburned, cut up, having an allergic reaction and being attacked by bugs and maybe even with a sprained ankle.
You should also bring clothing appropriate for the weather. This time of year, a cold snap is as likely as a a heat wave. You could see upper 80s or lower 90s in the day or lower 40s at night. So watch the weather before you come down. I would be very surprised if you see it much hotter or colder than that.
Here's a partial list of what I think the absolute essentials would be before you think about tools and other stuff:
-Bug Spray (lots of it)
-Sunblock (Heavy duty, sweatproof. I like No-Ad sports 45)
-Allergy Medication (lots of it)
-Heavy duty, protective clothing
-Dust masks
-Rubber gloves (sturdy thick ones)
-Leather gloves
-appropriate footwear
-First aid stuff including wound cleaning supplies, bandages, OTC pain killers and anything else that could be useful.
-Safety Glasses (It would sure suck to get insulation in your eyes)
As far as supplies to donate:
I think that most of the damaged roofs have had tarps put on them but it never hurts to bring a bunch of tarps just in case. Also, the roofs with tarps will need repaired so roofing materials would be great. Right now, there's a severe housing shortage so if you can get houses livable for the families that own them, you'd be helping a lot. That means fixing roofs, tearing out carpet and helping people dispose of water damaged belongings as well as tearing down dry wall and/or drying houses. There are ways to do this but I'm not versed in them. Ask someone who knows.
Hey, you asked what I'd bring.
I'd be the most popular guy in camp, I bet.
...but as a trained rescue worker I'm telling you: if you don't know what to being and you haven't been told by your organization what to bring DO NOT GO. If you do not know what you are doing or are not being closely supervised by someone who knows what they are doing you will beomc e part of the problem rather than the solution.
I understand that everyone "wants to help". Unless you "want to help" enough to get properly trained BEFORE THE FACT, you are NOT REALLY HELPING.
I am the deputy coordinator of emergency operations for a very small river town in PA. I would LOVE to have more people interested in helping, but the bulk of people aren't interested in doing so unless we're currently underwater. At that point, it's pretty much too late to be trained.
I'm sorry if this is offensive to you. I'm sure you're trying to do a good thing. But make sure you are doing more than trying. Make sure you are going with someone qualified. Make sure you were properly invited/deployed and you are going with a rogue "assistance" group.
Do not fold, spindle or mutilate.
Ah well, anyway. Having lived through a multiple week blackout/debris field from Hurricane Opal in 1995(?) I can tell you that there will be a lot of people happy to see your help. Beyond bringing food or water or tools, a very nice thing to bring is entertainment. Toys for kids. Books. That sort of thing. You could probably have a quick drive for donations via your church. Parents of bored, hot, tired, fitful kids will thank you.
You say you got a real solution
Well, you know
We'd all love to see the plan
(The Beatles)
If you are not experienced with disaster areas, are not coordinating with FEMA or Red Cross, etc., have no idea what conditions you are going to encounter and have no idea what supplies to bring, YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM not a part of the solution. You don't even know where in the gulf coast you are going! Contact your local Red Cross chapter with your personnel and skills and ask them how you can assist, but go down under THEIR direction, since it is obvious you don't have any. Oh yeah, and get a tetanus shot.
I am from the Biloxi area and i would like to say that even if it is not seen or shown by many of the people that you will be helping, your service IS appreciated. During the confusion and devestation this storm caused the coast many people are too preoccupied with thier own losses. THanks again , its WONDERFUL to see people banding together like this to help. Some additional things that i would suggest you bring.. - Sweat towels (the humidity down here is hellacious) - Some type of identification (nametags) to help let people know 1. your form out of town and 2. you are REALY helping. - Insect repellent. I know it seems a minor thing to have, but you'd be surprised how much you'll appreciate not swatting bugs with drity sweaty hands. - Definately have water for each site you have people. Last time i was in Biloxi water was not a scarcity so you might be able to get away with getting it in town. - Flashlights/Propane lantern maybe. Even with power restored you never know how late you might be at the job(sometimes you just dont wanna quit). - Waterproof/Steeltoed shoes are a definate bonus too. There is debris everywhere and (not sure to date) there were some spots where sewage was free flowing. - Of course you need the tools to do the job, but you should know what you need for that. - Team/Project leaders (if divided groups) will help to keep things on task and give you a central person to answer other's questions (better to have all the asnswers come from the same mouth) - Communication equipment? Cell phones are working in the area again, however there are times of congestion where it is hard to get a call through, CB/WalkieTalkies will make this alot easier for you and save on the congestion of others on their phones. - Identical MAPS of the area you decide to goto. Mark relavent places for everyone to see. I have seen a few insurance adjusters lost and confused without too much but a piece of paper with crappy directions. Know your area and mark Useable roads for later reference. - Bug-B-Gone?...though it is getting better there is a HORRIBLE lovebug (if you know what they are) problem that has been going on down here..having something strong to clean teh crud off of windshieds to be able to see will he a great thing. I have had to stop and clean my winshield 3 times for a 100 mile round trip. - A renewal of yoru Tetnus shots might not be a bad idea (and this is from one who HATES shots) rusty nails and other things are all over! - Finally....a head full of patience. Things are ALOT better than a few weeks ago, but you know there has been alot of stress in the area. Another few tips maybe.. - stay away from soda...just make you more thirsty and doesnt help rehydrate the body too well. - dont be ashamed to take breaks. heat stroke/exaustion is a BxTCH. If you feel dizzy or sick..get to the shade stay hydrated. - keep your feet dry I really cant think of much else that i havent seen already. I hope that my input is usefull and i have given you a few things that other people have forgotten THANKS AGAIN for ALl that you have done and plan to do its great to see people comming together
Without studying you scored a 49%. Passing mark is 74%. So you've got 3/4 of a passing grade taking the exam cold. So after a single night of study you'd probably find yourself passing.
I want a new world. I think this one is broken.
Lots of buckets, a gun, and a competant FEMA director.
Lots of water & gatorade. You will go through it fast. A camelback type carrier (that holds at least 2 liters) is nice so you don't have to tote around lots of water bottles while working. Freeze some of your stuff before you come if you want anything even remotely cold (on breaks) while there. Bring energy bar type snacks. Food that doesn't require keeping cold or much prep. MREs are best (w/heater) if you can manage it. Dehydrated meals sound nice, but it is not easy to heat the water for them while out on the job. Sturdy boots (waterproof if possible in case you are mucking out houses). Good socks. Lightweight but protective shirts and pants. You will get tree sap all over them, so keep that in mind. You will also want something comfortable (and clean) to put on after working (shorts, etc.). Sturdy leather gloves! If your gloves are sketchy, buy some new ones. It is HOT and humid, so keep that in mind when picking your sleeping gear. Tent (w/rain fly) and a cot. Cots are a pain to bring, but you will be glad you have it. Put your misc stuff in one of those big plastic containers for easy carrying around. Backpack for meals and stuff while out doing work orders. Flashlight. Mosquitos might be a problem, although we didn't see many (thankfully!).
It was VERY hard work, but awesome to do. Enjoy!
I just got done with a stint provisioning an RV for a news crew down in Beaumont TX. Never having done it before, I hope someone learns from my mistakes.
This town was without running water, and gasoline was impossible to come by for 150 miles. Depending on your situation, YMMV.
- an appropriately sized gas-fueled generator
- gas cans (at least 40 gallons worth)
- a mini-fridge
- large coolers, stocked full of ice
- frozen meats (sausage, hamburger, with all the fixins)
- charcoal grill w/ charcoal
- fresh foods (much harder to come across in these situations than canned foods)
- multivitamins
- handi-wipes, or paper towels + a big thing of rubbing alcohol
- detergent for washing clothes
- lots of pairs of socks (with that fancy hiker "wicking" action if possible)
- coffee + coffee pot + filters (guaranteed to be appreciated)
- tons of plastic utensils
- regular and heavy-mill trash bags
- gatorade out the wazoo
- trail mix (Planters makes a hot trail mix)
- first aid stuff
- flash lights + rechargeable batteries
- linux cds
Evan
Nah. They can just steal a new one from the dresser drawer in the motel.
What people need most down here is
1.) Jobs
2.) Housing
3.) To even hear from their insurance adjusters
I appreciate you coming down but you are really coming a bit late to the party. Nobody down here should be short on supplies at this time, and especially not "in a few weeks". I really don't know what your group will be able to do to help anyone in Pass Christian at this point.
But once you get down here, any supplies you forgot should be available for purchase at Lowe's or WalMart in Ocean Springs or D'iberville (all stores in Gulfport are waaay to busy).
Most of what is going on down here now is debris removal and waiting. What can be salvaged out of peoples homes, pretty much has been salvaged by now.
There are only about 100-150 homes in Pass Christian that are inhabitable. Pass Christian is a ghost town. Hardly anyone is still picking through the rubble of their former homes anymore.
The remains of my parent's possessions are stacked in my garage (Ocean Springs, MS) and the only thing left to get out of their house in Pass Christian is lawn furniture.
There might be a few people left trying to save their homes by the time you get here so if you come, bring a camping toiliet, a good amount of water (though there is plenty at the supply depots if you run out), shovels, wheel barrows & saws. Keep in mind that there is still a 5:30 pm curfew west of Fleitas Ave (as of last weekend anyway).
You could probably skip the generator unless there is something you specifically need it for.
A team of covert Scientologists are on their way to abduct you.
Rechargeable or not, folks will have exhausted whatever flashlight batteries they still have.
Good judgement comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgement.
- W. Wriston, former Citibank CEO
Currently, the shelters have tons (literally) of food & water. The emergency responders have plenty of supplies too. Things appear stable on a day-to-day basis. What's so far completely undefined is how to get the economies of these cities up & running again - there's really nothing left of these communities but giant piles of festering debris. (The only signs of emerging capitalism I saw were some new cars on the wrecked car lots, and lots of plywood signs that said "Tree Cut'n, House Gut'n" with a cell number.)
The current premise among many is that the only thing you need bring is beer; with that, anything else can be easily bartered for. I'm not advocating that, but you get the idea. There's lots of stuff there now.
I'd agree with others: Don't go without a clearly needed purpose/invitation. I imagine the shelter personnel will need some rotation, but I'm unsure why those sheltered can't take over most of those functions.
If you're working at a shelter, just stay cool - it's really damn hot there. Boots, etc., aren't needed unless you're going into the hell zone. In those climates, I wear scrubs - cheap, light, and they don't soak up all the rain & sweat, so they dry quickly. Soaked t-shirts suck. If you're prone to sweat a lot in places like this, bring Gatorade for your own electrolytes. Drink lots of water (it's everywhere) - and a bottle of Gatorade a day. It's more important than you think. Coolers (even without ice) do a good job of keeping drinks drinkable.
(I drove from Montogomery thru Meridian to Hattiesburg - the most dense outbreak of lovebugs I've ever seen coated my car with guts that then baked onto the paint, wipers, glass, etc., and has been a giant pain. These bugs quickly obscure the vision through your windshield, and truly become a problem in several ways. Rain makes the situation worse, too. A non-scratch scrubby will help you get them off your glass & paint, and you don't want to wait.)
In any case, if you have a specific purpose/reason/invitation to participate, go. If you don't, contribute money if you can - on-site, you'll likely become a burden.
I think the biggest thing ALL OF US can do is to push our Governments to do better, and to hold them accountable. Just throwing our money at Halliburton or Bechtel doesn't really fix much. Like Rob Corddry says, it's not about a reduced size of government, it's about a reduced effectiveness.
Unfortunately I moved to the Gulf Coast the week before Katrina, to work for a local casino. Here's a list of some of the supplies we've found invaluable for personal and professional computer recovery work:
.iso images and gigs upon gigs
of "personal files" people would store on their local machines)
1. CAT5 and an unmanaged switch
a. Either have a dozen sets of various lengths
b. Bring a box of cable & a crimping tool
2. Gaffers tape (duct tape leaves residue all over the place, gaff won't)
3. USB Keys (I can't tell you how invaluable these are!)
4. USB hard drives (I have a 250Gb with dozens of
5. Small KVM (I use a 4-port from Belkin)
6. Small computer toolkit (I use a 55 piece kit from Belkin)
7. USB external drive kit/enclosure (I use it to pop drives out of computers, then connect the bare drive to my laptop via the USB enclosure and this thing has been a lifesaver)
8. Leatherman (of course)
9. Cellular connection (I use T-Mobile and a v330 that has been getting me connected at nearly ISDN speeds)
9. TETANUS SHOT!
Sidenote, I (currently) live off E. Second Street in Pass Christian, MS, and in my area (about 2 miles EAST of downtown) we have power and water. Food is easy to come by thanks to the generous relief efforts of churches such as yours. However downtown Pass Christian is obliterated. It is unimaginably ruined and will be years before businesses or residents are able to have a "normal" life there. The area simply must be leveled and everything rebuilt from scratch. The level of destruction is so complete that very few, if any, locations can be "repaired."
Also, you don't need boots. I didn't have any and haven't worn any and I've been climbing through anything and everything for a month. Converse has served me well! And you don't need any other "survival" supplies. There is plenty of water and food and shelter. Right now we just need sheer manpower and (for complex technology-related issues) expertise. If you want to do home repair work, bring your power tools. If you want to help recover PCs, bring your tech tools.
Finally, thank you. I say that 50 times a day. To the FEMA guys who helped 3400 people at my casino fill out their paper work, to the linemen who came from North Dakota to restore power to our neighborhood, to the CableOne crew who connected a new connection for our office, to the Bellsouth repairmen who hooked up my grandparents line on their only day off in three weeks, to the National Guardsmen from Arkansas who gave us water and ice for two weeks, to the Cops from Winter Park FL who patrolled our areas at night to keep out looters, and to the endless churches who brought food and HOPE to us when we needed it the most.
-Jon
Some facts. The 4 restaurants that are open north of Biloxi close at 8:00pm. Most people have to get home before a curfew somewhere. After a long day you will be hungry and hot food may be impossible to find.
Walmart and Gamestop are sold out of PS2. Gamecubes and x-box are still on the shelves. But every day angry parents with bored children line up to get a PS2. You could make a truckload of money with a trailer of PS2's.
The vast majority of people either want a new job so they can move outta state, or the schools to magically be rebuilt overnight. Beware the increase in beer drinking, and high school kids turned hippy. Also daytime trafic is either stop and go, or blindingly fast and aggressive like the wild west.
Police at curfew road blocks are armed, and will either turn you away or bring you to jail. Some good id and documentation is a must after curfew. Beleive me, talking doesn't work. The have heard it all by now.
David Michael Grouchy II
I live on the south shore of Lake Pontchartrain. Friends of mine live in Slidell. Bring:
- Mosquito repellent
- Lots of water
- Sweat towels (if you're like me and sweat easily)
- A chainsaw
- Good, durable work gloves
- Gas cans in case gas is still hard to find
- Food to distribute to residents
Shane
I took my exam on 10 September, and was in the FCC database by 12 September. The ARRL welcome package showed up about a week later, then another week and my official paper package from the FCC arrived. The entire process was painless. And yes, the recent disaster scenarios played into motivating me to actually go take the test.
I'm licensed Technician, but I passed all the written exams up through Amateur Extra. I studied pretty hard for the Technician exam, and I must admit that the practice exams over at eHam.net were a great help. I went to the exam session intending only to take the Technican test. I got 100% on the test, so the VEs (Volunteer Examiners) convinced me to take the General test. There's no cost, and they said "it's more of the same kind of question. You'll need to guess a bit on certain ones, but given your score on the Technician exam, you'll probably pass." So what do I have to lose? I took the test, and missed three questions. Repeat the same scenario for the Amateur Extra test. On that, I missed 13 questions, which is barely passing. But in the spirit of pass/fail college couses, D-minus is passing, so I'll take it. (Incidentally, taking the Amateur Extra exam motivated me to go back and review the question pool to see what questions I answered incorrectly and why, so it actually got me to go study some more after the fact.) My credit for the written exams lasts for 365 days, so somewhere in that period I need to learn Morse to get upgraded to full privileges.
So I agree with the Parent's statement that you should go out and get your Technician license. It's not complicated, and you should draw confidence from the fact that your survival skills are enhanced a bit. No matter how badly the power or telepone infrastructure is damaged, radio propagation still works.
I didn't see it mentioned before, but you will definitely want to bring a good Deet-based mosquito repellent. Mosquitos are always bad in that area of the country, but with all the additional standing water they'll be much worse. This is not merely a convenience item, either. West Nile is pretty big down there, and you don't want to come down with that (or worse) for your philanthropic efforts. Might also want to take some citronella candles and such for when you're sitting around at night.
Also, when you're working, make sure you wear jeans, long socks, long sleeve shirts, and a good set of work boots (steel toed, preferably). There are going to be a lot of deer ticks in the areas you're in, and you don't want Lyme's either.
Take a good sunblock (and plenty of it), and wear a hat with a brim, to keep the sun-effects down. And make sure you drink lots of water. It's hard enough to do the work you're going to be doing without adding a 3rd degree sun burn and/or heat stroke to the mix.
For tools, there are plenty of good lists above, and the tools depend on the job you're going to do. Good general tools are crowbars, shovels, hammers, chainsaws (with gas), a sawzall, sledge hammers or wrecking hammers,
For gear, bring sturdy jeans and long-sleeve work shirts, plenty of dry socks (you will definitely want to get out of the nasty sweaty ones pretty often) thick leather gloves, good steel-toed work boots, safety goggles (preferably the sunglasses type) and a good backpack, rucksack or workman's belt to hold the gear. Make sure you put a good, comfortable insole in the boots, to keep down blisters, and add some blister balm or heel balm every now and again. You'll also need to bring along a really well stocked first aid kit, since a lot of the people doing the work will be untrained. Band-aids, gauze, disinfectant pads, antibacterial creams, burn cream, aloe, blister cream/ointment, tweezers (lots of splinters), latex (or latex-free) gloves, splints/slings/braces, etc... Also, have everyone carry their ID with them, and a card or something with their name, any medical conditions or allergies, contact information for emergencies, their primary care physician's information and such, just in case. A good place for that is http://www.incaseofemergency.com./
As for what the people down there will be needing, your time and assistance are probably the best thing you can give. Outside of that, they'll need the basic daily necessities: food, clean water, medical/first-aid supplies, diapers, baby formula, etc... Just remember Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs when you're thinking about what to take for the victims. Fulfill the physiological needs first (food, water, etc...), then you can work on the others.
Kudos to you and others like you who are doing their part to help. Good luck down there, and let us know how it goes.
Set the bar high, then bring a tall ladder.
I helped out through our church immediately after hurricane Charley. Much of what we did was clear debris (mainly pine/oak trees, same as MS) from damaged but recoverable homes. This required chainsaws, but also lots of hand-operated tree saws (sharp blades), as chain saws aren't practical when you are working off of the ground. Extension ladders are also extremely useful. Lots of hand tools for dismembering piles of debris (crowbars, nail pullers, shears for cutting sheet metal, hand-held sledges, etc.) will be needed. Twine and rope for lashing/hauling debris is nice to have. Plastic tarps and roofing nails for temporarily patching roofs are also extremely useful. We also took down some plywood and roofing paper, so we were able to do a fairly decent repair job on a few roofs. Metal rakes are useful to clear safe paths for homeowners. You will be amazed and the amount of dangerous litter covering the ground.
Regarding personal supplies, you will want plenty of liquids when you are on the job, but you will probably find that there is more than enough bottled water, food, etc. at the staging areas, so maybe don't waste space hauling in too many supplies. You would be better off hauling in construction material as it is in much shorter supply than food/water. Leather work gloves and wrap-around sunglasses or safety goggles are a must. Stuff will be flying everywhere, especially around the chainsaws. You will without a doubt get cut, scraped, bruised, etc. so make sure you have some basic first-aid supplies, aspirin, and a current tetanus shot.
The city or county will probably be picking up debris at the street, so generally you would only need to haul the debris a short distance. After Charley, the debris was separated so that vegatative matter could be chipped/mulched, and aluminum could be recycled.
Regarding the whole evangalism thing, lead by example. The people you are helping are smart enough to know who you are and why you are there.
RIGHT NOW get everyone together and learn safety. There is a great need for people who know how to operate chain saws. Someone who doesn't know how to opporate a chain saw will cut (until they blade goes dull) as much wood that someone who does, but they are also likely to cut things like their leg. The hospitals down there do not need to re-attach legs, so make sure it doesn't happen.
There are special chain-saw pants and shirts, wear them. They are hot, so drink plenty of water and trade off.
There is a reason they put small gas tanks on a chainsaw: after using a cup of gas you need to rest, and the blade needs to be sharpened. Learn how to sharpen the blade. Also learn how to mix the gas (all chain saws are 2-cycle, so you can't use pump gas).
A chainsaw is the most obvious danger, but it isn't the only one. You may be working in hazardous waste.
Be willing to work hard. I hope you are in good physical shape. If not start getting in shape now, so you can handle being on your feet working physically all day. You are grunt labor, the only thinking you should do (Unless you have experience in something they need, then look for areas to help in that!) is is this safe.
Leave the unhealthy home. Bring the teens. If there is a retired person offering to help have that person cover a shift at the local McDonald's for a kid (pay goes to the kid), though this can be hard to work out. I bring this up because the elderly are often have the time to help, but their body is failing so they are least useful.
There are other posts about footwear and hardhats and gloves and whatnot, so I'll throw in my two cents with what else I'd take:
* Assorted shovels
* Assorted prybars
* Strong rope (50' of kernmantel climber's rope ought to do)
* Many, many, many water containers. Filled. With the heat and vigorous activity, plan on 10 quarts per day per person. Well-stocked military surplus stores should have hard plastic 5-gallon jugs.
* Speaking of surplus stores, you may want to pick up a web belt, some canteens & canteen carriers, and some accessory pouches for holding stuff.
* Large zip ties
* Waterproof flashlight and a couple sets of batteries. I like the 4 D-cell Maglites, myself. Also may want to consider a headlamp in addition to a "normal" flashlight.
* Wet wipes. Forget the soap, you won't be showering, and it's a waste of water anyway.
* Duct tape. 'nuff said.
* Gasoline. Enough to get your vehicle out of the disaster area to a place you can buy more. Guard your gas supply in your vehicle and in any containers as if it was gold.
* Clothes made with a durable, breathable fabric, preferably ripstop. Oh, and the more pockets the better.
* High-energy "handy foods" like beef jerky, trail mix, and protein bars that won't melt, require no preparation and no refrigeration.
* A sturdy lockback knife or three. A swiss army knife is good to have stashed away in a pocket, but you'll want a good sized (3-4" blade) lockback for serious cutting chores.
* FRS/GMRS radios and either a shitton of batteries or an auto charger.
Hope this helps. Good luck and Godspeed.
MacTacToe - for every problem, an elegant solution
Being a volunteer in Search and Rescue I would recommend that you include at LEAST everything in a standard "24 hr pack" (Google is your friend)
First things first: Thank you and thanks to everyone else that has been helping.
I live in Slidell, La and work in south Miss. My house and office are in places that didn't get flood but had many trees down. I've been in *some* of the really bad areas in Miss(aunts and uncles and grandmother lost everything there). I've read several but not all of the comments about rubber boots, gloves, shovels, generators, etc. All are great comments. I've tried to think of what hasn't been mentioned and will attempt to give an overview of the actual conditions here and status of communications.
I checked your weather report for Lincoln. Sounds pretty nice up there. Your group should be prepared for the HEAT and HUMIDITY. Though today is very 'nice' outside since there is a 'cold' front moving through. Supposedly that front is going to protect us from the latest storm in the gulf. Next week will be a return to normal weather. I've been working with people from out of state lately and I worry about them handling the heat but mostly the humidity. You don't have to go very far to find someone giving out water down here. Remember it doesn't do you any good if you don't drink it. Dehydration and/or heat exhaustion will take the toughest man down quickly. "Camelbaks" or similar items are great. You want to make sure that you get one that allows for air to move through the space between your back and the pack. These are worth every penny. You can save a few bucks however if you check out the 'Outdoor' line of these type of water systems. I bought one from Target for around $20-25 last year and it has held up rather well for me. It has been with me hiking, kayaking, cycling, camping and now surveying hurricane damage.
The heat will return and the sunshine isn't going away unless it starts to rain. Bring SUNSCREEN... and use it, good lightweight hats for shade, maybe some aloe vera for those that do get burned.
BUGS... We've got plenty of mosquitos. Bring good bug spray. Right now there is a swarm of lovebugs. They can't hurt you, but are really annoying. They fly into every open door and window they can find. Spraying is pointless. The only advice I can give you is to have a good squeegee in the car and maybe a bra on the car if you are worried about your paint. Gas stations have squeegees, depending on where you'll be gas stations can get rather busy now. Getting gas in Slidell isn't that bad. But Miss is another story.
We've got lines that dwarf the lines at any rollercoaster park. They are everywhere for everything. The Red Cross lines cause a lot of traffic jams. Those "comfortable" shoes that someone else recommended will be handy at Walmart. I know for sure that one Walmart in Slidell is open. The other one probably is too. *Home Depot and Sam's are also open.* Everything is on limited hours. Curfews are still in affect.
Several radio stations are up. NPR is broadcasting. Some other stations are up. Nobody is playing music. The radio is rather depressing most of the time. Think about the news coverage for the weeks after 9/11 and apply that to the radio.
TV is down. I have CBS and FOX at home. Both are snowy and BW. Cable is down. Satellite sales are up!
***CELL PHONE*** coverage. It is spotty in some areas. Other areas it has been mostly restored though not able to accept a full load. It is weaker in Miss. Some areas if you stay in one spot to make a call you'll be ok. If you move around and the call tries to move to another tower it will likely be dropped. I don't know anything about media minutes working on the cell phones. Text messaging seems to work better than anything.
Antibacterial lotion and LYSOL especially if you really plan on doing real work. Some areas stink really bad. Enough to make you throw up. I avoid these areas and leave that to the professionals. BRING MASKS. Latex gloves are a good idea, depending
As a safety issue, I also use a thermal switch for a clothes dryer as a safety switch -- in case the unit is left on and gets too hot.
Free Software: Like love, it grows best when given away.
My church rounded up 500+ bibles to send down south. We heard through the grapevine that many of the evacuees had asked for them.
Yea, I've also heard everyone in the Bush family blamed, the government blamed, the military blamed, greedy corporations blamed. ... in other words, the Democrats blame the Republicans and vice versa.
Whoopi. I don't think it matters.
Bring a pack of playing cards for group entertainment in the evenings if there's not much in the way of electric power, etc.
"Provided by the management for your protection."
Well,
While you are mostly correct, you could perhaps give people a little more explanation. To people not familiar with the reasons, it might seem a little arbitrary that in an emergency, they have to "stay the hell off the air". And, as I seem to recall, it's been awhile since I read part 97, the FCC does make exemptions for life-threatening emergencies - that you can operate unlicensed, or in areas of the spectrum your license does not cover, to save lives.
And, since the parent did a very poor job of supporting his statement, let me give you some reasons why you should not operate if you are unlicensed, unless it is a life-threatening emergency: chiefly, because untrained people can cause a lot of wasted time and interfere with communication in emergencies. In emergency situations, those who are best equipped to best serve the public, are those who have learned how to operate their equipment optimally (so as to most effectively use available radio spectrum), and are trained in standard procedures for quickly and efficiently passing communications.
When unlicensed, untrained individuals start hopping on the spectrum dedicated for amateur radio (or police, or whatever service is allocated that frequency), they can cause disruptions that could *cost* lives by disrupting command-and-control messages during emergencies (like, for example, health workers requesting that blood be sent to a specific hospital because they are running short and need more for transfusions, etc).
If you truly have a desire to help with emergency communications, anyone can get the training, and take the test to become an Amateur Operator, and for real emergency work, their are ham orginasations that provide additional emergency comms training (I'm a licensed ham, but, for example, I would generally stay off the air during an emergency, because I don't have the emergency training).
KB8UAQ
My cousin in southern mississippi said that right now send cash. they can't pay the extra high prices for gas and commodities that are more expensive due to goughing and just being plain scarce and hard to find. Wait till someone there actually tells you what to bring. If you are asking /. what to bring, you don't need to go, and should take what someone there wants you to bring and provide.
I appreciate the gut wrenching need to do something, but till there is some semblence of order and starting of the in place facilities to cope, outside help probably is in the way.
Her comment was that she can't keep the looters out of the stuff that is sent. So she buys what she needs when she needs it right now.
just what a cousin with 7 dependents sent her mother and my aunt via email.
YMMV
Jim
I'd really like to see Habitat for Humanity start building cob houses and combo cob/straw bale. You could build the ENTIRE house for $5000, and the house would (properly built and plastered) last for hundreds of years. And the cob walls (monolithic single-piece walls made of earth, sand and straw, like adobe only not bricks) are VERY heavy and won't blow away in extremely high winds, and they don't absorb water fast enough to slump in a storm.
The only problem is this idea in america that everything has to be done NOW. Things slapped together in short amount of time fall apart proportionately quickly. Cob houses take longer to build, but last for centuries. They're also way more beautiful. Go see <URL:http://www.cobcottage.com/> for pictures and information.
O~ Him that studies revenge keeps his own wounds green. -- Francis Bacon
The monolithic domes are in general a great idea. They do the advantages listed above, but there is a VAST amount of energy wasted in creating concrete. Gypsum (and maybe other minerals, I don't remember all the details right now) is heated to very high temperatures to make concrete. Natural building materials are every bit as good, slower, but WAY cheaper, usually free. And if one is rebuilding a lot of homes in devastated areas, the perfect (IMHO) plan is to take broken concrete chunks, readily availabe for free lots of places, build foundations out of them and take locally available clay soil and sand, mix in straw, and build your walls.
O~ Him that studies revenge keeps his own wounds green. -- Francis Bacon
Just got back from a short trip with our church. We took about 100 people to Moss Point, MS for 2 days (it was supposed to be 3 days but Rita changed the weather and we couldn't find a bus company that would give us transportation on Saturday evening, Sep. 24). The organizers of the trip coordinated with local pastors and the Chief of Police. Wound up helping people in the neighborhood called Kreole, who mostly don't have the resources needed right now. The coordination was valuable; the people were expecting us and we knew right where to go. Cleaned 2 church buildings and 20 homes. Here's the packing list we were given:
1. Work clothes for 3 days and relaxation clothing for travel home
2. Toiletries (including a towel)
3. 3-4 pair rubber gloves (kitchen/dishwashing brands) and some leather work gloves
4. Heavy boots/shoes
5. Hat for working in sun or rain
6. 2 cans WD-40
7. Alcohol hand wash (sanitizer)
8. Compact air mattress or sleep mat, and sleeping bag or blanket
9. Vaccination: Tetanus required, Hepatitis A would be good
10. 1/2 case of bottled water
11. Sunscreen
12. Insect repellant
13. One or more of these tools: flat shovel, rake, wheel barrow
14. Lawn type garbage bags
15. First aid items (small bandages, antibiotic ointment, tape)
Provided for us were dual cartridge respirators and splash goggles. The respirators were valuable when cleaning out some of the rotting and molding belongings in some of the homes. There were several chainsaws that were brought and came in handy. Several lawn mowers were brought and used. One person hauled a tractor with a front end loader, which was heavily used. The WD-40 wasn't for us to use; it was because during coordination of the trip we found that it was needed and hard to get down there. I would suggest bringing some snack food and power bars. Bring your Bible because you will want to read it if nothing else. There were numerous opportunities to pray with people; they were very thankful for that. And there were some opportunities to tell people why we came. Mostly there was grunt work hauling damaged, wet, moldy appliances and furniture, ripping up carpet, moving tree limbs and such. We are tentatively planning follow up trips in the same area.
Another one?!? Damn, I just got through hiding the bits of the last one! (Those Marcabs make excellent security systems.)
One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
I could see comfortable shoes being helpful...at night or whenever you get a break - you don't want to wear boots 7x24, mosquito spray, sun tan lotion with a severe SPF factor, crank radio (listed in Wired before), a hat (even a baseball cap) - depending upon your age. Now that my hair is thinning pretty good, I have to remember to wear a hat in the sun. If you irritate your scalp, it'll cause the hair to fall out faster. This is not to mention getting a sunburn on your scalp.
I can't donate anything, but I've tried to be creative in generating funds.
I would suggest you bring:
Something to sleep in [I've been back for about a week, and there were no hotel vacancies]
Mosquito repellant!!! [the mosquito count is insane come dark]
Enough clothing to last a couple days extra without washing
"Flip flops" [KOA/Campsite showers == athlete's foot].
Other than those things, just everything you would normally assume you need.
My wife just got back from the area and asked me to post this:
Guns ... ammunition ... food ... gasoline ... women.
I could think of more but I'm kinda tired.
The higher the technology, the sharper that two-edged sword.