I learned some things from being stranded 12 hours in Houston, Texas. First a few weather facts and Tropical Storm Imelda trivia.
The National Hurricane Center began monitoring of an upper level low weather event off the west coast of Florida on 9-14-2019. The disturbance was given a low probability of development. It reached the Texas coast by 9-17 and then rapidly developed into a tropical depression. The depression then quickly strengthened into a tropical storm.
Most folks on the Texas coast acknowledge off shore disturbances, depressions, tropical storms. No one ignores a hurricane. Tropical storms come and go though. I would not say we ignore them, but as a rule no one intentionally shelters ahead of a tropical storm. Thursday September 19 started as a regular work day, no one was advised to stay home. It was business as usual for the Houston Independent School District. As a town that has endured numerous tropical storms and hurricanes the various municipalities do a good job of alerting the citizens. To say Imelda surprised us is an understatement.
In the Houston area Imelda dropped 24" or rain in 24 hours. Areas east received nearly double that amount of rain. In looking about on the interweb, I see there are some factual but slanted and controversial commentaries out there. Agenda written articles laced with hindsight are not nearly as useful as the writers imagine. Everyone has an opinion. One thing I have noticed about opinions is they are like warts. They don't move or change and if they are too visible they are offensive. Well, I hope this little write isn't seen as a wort.
Anyway, here are a few things I hope are helpful.
I was decently prepared for Imelda but I was fortunate too. The good news is we are not talking about far out things like fall out suits, gas mask and underground shelters. We know what we should be doing for the most part. Keep your fuel tank above 1/4, carry a bit of cash, water, a phone charger. Below are some things I picked up. Maybe they will be useful to others.
1) Low tech, old school pen, pencil and paper are handy. If you need to temporarily leave or abandon you vehicle a note may prevent be useful. Maybe it will prevent the car from being towed.
2) Pharmacies and Super Shopping Centers may offer some resources for temporary sheltering a storm.
3) I learned the world is still a big place. It is big enough for all these people with different ideas, perspectives and dreams.
4) Everything is black. The exterior and interior of my car is black. The inside of my backpack is black, my flashlights are black, my cell phone and its case are black. It makes it hard to find things in low light situations like a storm. When I can I sometimes buy things that are not black. :)
5) My pen light was useful when I briefly misplaced my black phone inside my black car. Despite what sells, the most useful flashlights are some of the least powerful. Being handy, durable, reliable with long battery life are important, as are being on your person. Frequent uses for my flashlight are locating cell phones, keys, pocket knives, and rifle cartridges I drop in the deer stand. Powerful lights are not necessary for these task.
6) I made efforts to be social, to be seen. I spoke with people. I forgot about politics, gender, ethnicity, and age. We were are all humans in uncomfortable circumstances. I listened more than I talked. No one I met wanted to be rescued. Most people have their own community, and also a cell phone.
7) One last thought, after this and other life experiences I have come to appreciate larger vehicles.
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