Harvey flooding

[Krayziekid]

Down here in Houston myself. Hope all of you guys are staying safe.

I'm embedded documenting some teams gathering medical supplies (medicines, DME, etc) and some of the roads are rough. About an hour ago, I watched a couple of guys try to cross a deep, flooded intersection in a massive f150. Pretty sure I saw the thing float for a few seconds, but thankfully they made it across. If you're safe on dry land, please don't put yourselves in harms way again. Running water doesn't give a crap what you're driving! Stay safe!

 

[T4RZAN]

I work at Enterprise Rent-A-Car up in College Station and last week we rented out 8 15 Passenger vans, 2 Expeditions and a Ram 1500 to Task Force 1 (first responders. Over the weekend we rented out 15 minivans and suvs to a Fire Department. On Saturday we rented 22 suvs and trucks to the Air Force. Stocking up as we are hearing the Marines may be coming in as well.

 

[aa.allen]

I have friends I grew up with who live in Leauge City who were on social media several times and hour the last week or so who have now been silent for 24 hours now so I am getting worried about them. Another girl I was close with with growing up now lives in Spring I talk to her a couple of times a year but not a lot of contact with so I don't know how her family is. she a child with health issues so I'm concerned for them too it's troubling to sit back and think about. I'll be glad when the rain and flooding stops.

 

[crainiac]

Damn. I heard if you even do have flood insurance, it doesn't cover more than half your shit, is that true?

No. But if the damages exceed 1/2 the value of the property, you can't repair, you have to rebuild. You can get a private appraisal to try to make the numbers work. Contents insurance is a separate thing, though also available through national flood insurance. This is my 3rd flood in 3 years.


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[momo.75]

We are praying for all you guys. Stay safe!

 

[Krayziekid]

I work at Enterprise Rent-A-Car up in College Station and last week we rented out 8 15 Passenger vans, 2 Expeditions and a Ram 1500 to Task Force 1 (first responders. Over the weekend we rented out 15 minivans and suvs to a Fire Department. On Saturday we rented 22 suvs and trucks to the Air Force. Stocking up as we are hearing the Marines may be coming in as well.

I hear that man. All the places in downtown Houston are closed, so we are having a hell of a time getting rentals.

Pre-positioned with Emergency Responders in San Antonio last friday before the storm, and we luckily got some cars, but now it seems rental cars are becoming a scarce resource. Do you expect to still have some SUVs/trucks come this weekend? I am sure it is impossible to know at this point, but if rental locations around here don't start opening up, we might make a longer trek out of Houston to get the resources we need.

I hope everything is going well with you and anyone else who might have been affected. Stay safe man!

 

[5ontheFloor]

I have friends I grew up with who live in Leauge City who were on social media several times and hour the last week or so who have now been silent for 24 hours now so I am getting worried about them. Another girl I was close with with growing up now lives in Spring I talk to her a couple of times a year but not a lot of contact with so I don't know how her family is. she a child with health issues so I'm concerned for them too it's troubling to sit back and think about. I'll be glad when the rain and flooding stops.

We'll hope for the best they just ran out of battery with all power outages and such

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[preacher35]

The biggest problem in the short is going to be supply logistics. The creeks will take three to five days to fall back in their banks and the two major rivers surrounding Houston (Brazos and San Jacinto) will take a couple of weeks to do the same. Thus, we have to get trucks with food to the grocery stores and trucks with fuel to the gas stations. Problem two is temporary housing. Here in Friendswood alone we have a population of 40,000 people. And out of that, 3000 homes were flooded and are simply going to be unlivable for at least two to three months at a minimum, if not outright destroyed. And then, when you consider the population of Houston (4.5 million) and all of the adjacent communities (ballpark another 2.5 million) with displaced families, there is just no way to provide housing for all of these people. What's worse is how many people are going to be unemployed because their businesses, or their employers' businesses are destroyed. In that respect it's similar to Katrina, but on a much, MUCH larger scale. I have no idea how it's going to be accomplished, but I am assuming that Houston's population is going to have a dramatic drop in the coming days/weeks/months. I am grateful that my house survived without having water coming in, but things still look bleak; at least in the short run. On the bright side, and contrary to rumors, MOST people have power. In fact, most people never lost power through the entire debacle. I certainly didn't.

 

[LV4RNRTRAIL]

The biggest problem in the short is going to be supply logistics. The creeks will take three to five days to fall back in their banks and the two major rivers surrounding Houston (Brazos and San Jacinto) will take a couple of weeks to do the same. Thus, we have to get trucks with food to the grocery stores and trucks with fuel to the gas stations. Problem two is temporary housing. Here in Friendswood alone we have a population of 40,000 people. And out of that, 3000 homes were flooded and are simply going to be unlivable for at least two to three months at a minimum, if not outright destroyed. And then, when you consider the population of Houston (4.5 million) and all of the adjacent communities (ballpark another 2.5 million) with displaced families, there is just no way to provide housing for all of these people. What's worse is how many people are going to be unemployed because their businesses, or their employers' businesses are destroyed. In that respect it's similar to Katrina, but on a much, MUCH larger scale. I have no idea how it's going to be accomplished, but I am assuming that Houston's population is going to have a dramatic drop in the coming days/weeks/months. I am grateful that my house survived without having water coming in, but things still look bleak; at least in the short run. On the bright side, and contrary to rumors, MOST people have power. In fact, most people never lost power through the entire debacle. I certainly didn't.

Let me know how I can help. I live in Las Vegas, Nevada. Any ideas?

 

[MN4runnerman]

Let me know how I can help. I live in Las Vegas, Nevada. Any ideas?

All of the organizations are saying donating is the best way, whether it's money or supplies. I don't think they want people(who aren't trained)going into Houston doing rescue operations. Leave that to the national guard and local agencies.

 

[Krayziekid]

All of the organizations are saying donating is the best way, whether it's money or supplies. I don't think they want people(who aren't trained)going into Houston doing rescue operations. Leave that to the national guard and local agencies.

I echo this 100%. In disasters, cash is really king. So many times, people flood shelters with donations of clothes and other things, and it becomes a nightmare for them, mainly because they either don't have the logistics to deal with all of the donations, or people just give them stuff that is essentially garbage, putting more burden on them.

Finding reputable organizations and non-profits to donate money to is the way to go. You can google organizations to donate to and look at CharityNavigator to see if they are reputable.

 

[aa.allen]

We'll hope for the best they just ran out of battery with all power outages and such

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10 minutes after I posted that she posted a picture of the sun on IG so everything seems to be ok their house looked like it had not taken on water.

 

[5ontheFloor]

10 minutes after I posted that she posted a picture of the sun on IG so everything seems to be ok their house looked like it had not taken on water.

Awesome! Glad to hear it

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[CookieRoe]

I've been seeing that people say to save your car from electrical disaster, prior to it flooding, to disconnect the batter (even remove it). This way, no current is flowing through the electrical system thus the water NOT shorting anything. After the flood, have the car properly dried (whatever that means) THEN connect the battery.

Thoughts?
[MENTION=89791]preacher35[/MENTION] , and all those who are in Texas, stay safe!!

 

[007Tacoma]

I've been seeing that people say to save your car from electrical disaster, prior to it flooding, to disconnect the batter (even remove it). This way, no current is flowing through the electrical system thus the water NOT shorting anything. After the flood, have the car properly dried (whatever that means) THEN connect the battery.

Thoughts?

[MENTION=89791]preacher35[/MENTION] , and all those who are in Texas, stay safe!!

:doh:

uh... the car is still going to be ruined if it is flooded. If you have that kind of time and effort, why not take it to higher ground or put it up on blocks or something to mitigate water getting in at all???

That's like saying go to sleep before the car accident so you don't tense up. The damage will still be done. You just may not realize it as quickly. Better idea: do everything you can to avoid the accident.

 

[preacher35]

All of the organizations are saying donating is the best way, whether it's money or supplies. I don't think they want people(who aren't trained)going into Houston doing rescue operations. Leave that to the national guard and local agencies.

Yes, I agree. I went out earlier today to get a lay of the land and there are a ton of agencies in my town right now: Marines, National Guard, Red Cross, Police from all over the country, as well as many, many, MANY private parties (church groups, etc). It is such a mess right now. There is not much you can do remotely. I'm not one to tell people whether or not to donate money (as I am skeptical about how much actually makes it to the folks who truly need it) but if you so desire, I would say the Red Cross. There are here in force.

 

[preacher35]

:doh:

uh... the car is still going to be ruined if it is flooded. If you have that kind of time and effort, why not take it to higher ground or put it up on blocks or something to mitigate water getting in at all???

That's like saying go to sleep before the car accident so you don't tense up. The damage will still be done. You just may not realize it as quickly. Better idea: do everything you can to avoid the accident.

I agree 100%. Get the vehicle to higher ground, cuz once that water fills the cabin, the interior is ruined, the ECM is probably not going to be salvageable, water gets in the intake manifold, and therefore the throttle body. It is then a matter of repair cost vs. car value.

And while I am on this topic, let me just say that I am blown away by how many people got their vehicles stuck in the floods. I do not mean the people whom had their vehicles parked at their house and the water came up so fast that there was no place to go. No, I mean the jackasses who thought it would be brilliant to go galavanting around during the storm. You would be shocked at how many vehicles were stranded on the roads and highways around here; hundreds and hundreds of cars where I am at. There was plenty of time and warning to get your ass home and get prepared. Sorry, I just do not understand some people.

 

[CookieRoe]

:doh:

uh... the car is still going to be ruined if it is flooded. If you have that kind of time and effort, why not take it to higher ground or put it up on blocks or something to mitigate water getting in at all???

That's like saying go to sleep before the car accident so you don't tense up. The damage will still be done. You just may not realize it as quickly. Better idea: do everything you can to avoid the accident.

Totally agree, however, just wanted to see if there is any truth to the battery thing. If it someone went through all that trouble, I still won't want that car. Water gets into EVERYTHING.

 

[preacher35]

Totally agree, however, just wanted to see if there is any truth to the battery thing. If it someone went through all that trouble, I still won't want that car. Water gets into EVERYTHING.

Well, like anything electrical in your vehicle, with the battery connected, any short that occurs will blow fuses, relays and/or the main. Cannot say with complete confidence that some individual electrical component might burn out in the process. But as previously stated, it doesn't really matter as the car is probably a write-off regardless.

 

[JayceeP]

Unreal. Hopefully people are able to at least get necessities like food and water in the short-term.

I just cannot comprehend how intense precipitation can be in the US. How can rainfall be measured in FEET? Keep well everyone... wishing you the very best, for what it's worth..