Prep Lessons from Puerto Rico

[ArgentineSteel]

Demand for Cash skyrockets after the Hurricane. ATMs and card systems down
Cash demand soars in Puerto Rico after hurricane hit ATMs, card systems

Before you're in a disaster you need cash as one of your preps.

I know from personal sources that some major industrial sites in Puerto Rico are still up and going despite the disaster. Pre-staged diesel generators and lots of fuel. Plus they should have a priority on power return just below hospitals and military.

Shipping goods may be an issue for a while though.

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[Siglvr]

Best lesson: if you haven't started to prep, start now.

 

[The Heretic]

There are lots of observations of the PR situation that are applicable in just about any natural disaster, even some man made ones.

The total breakdown of all infrastructure - comms, transport, water, power, and others - results in total chaos by the unprepared. The fact that PR was struggling to survive before the hurricane, with many people leaving the island over the years due to unemployment and government debt, made it pretty hard for many people to do any kind of prepping beyond possibly the basics, and even then, they were already in a day to day struggle.

This is an event, the results of which, will provide lessons for anyone interested in being prepared for disasters. This is especially applicable to the PNW should the Cascadian Subduction zone let loose - or even more so should N. Korea drop a nuke on Seattle or Portland or both (I kind of doubt that scenario though - their leader may be crazy, but he isn't an idiot, unlike ours which is a big idiot and somewhat crazy).

 

[Reco]

The Problem is the people affected by these modern disasters are going through hell learning the HARD WAY because our society doesnt preach self sufficiency any more. Were in a "the Government will provide" State of mind in most citizens mindsets. We need to educate and promote Self Sufficiency and education on how to find food clean water storing food and supplies for these events that seems to be occurring regularly. Im a compassionate conservative but damn if I wont ignore the Locust in the room when Grid Goes down.

Oh and Heretic TRUMP is your PRESIDENT =D

 

[bbbass]

unlike ours which is a big idiot and somewhat crazy).

You trying to start some sh*t? There's at least 50% of voters that you are pissing off. Not that you care, but we do have rules here.

 

[bbbass]

As regards lessons learned, the biggest one is don't live in areas forecasted to be vulnerable to disasters.

Self sufficiency, notice how recovery efforts are doing in Texas vs Florida, PR, Katrina... people who are used to handouts sit there and starve while others get up off their azzes and help out. Some PR workers/drivers refuse to help deliver supplies because they won't get paid. WTF?

 

[dangerranger60]

I taught my kids early on how to fix stuff and make the things they need. My wife asked me the other day " If we were in a disaster like that what would we do?" My answer was that I'd take the alternators and batteries from the destroyed cars and make generators out of them. Either connect them to old lawn mowers, or wind turbines . But I would have a working Refrigerator! Then I'd be selling them to other people. DR

 

[The Heretic]

As regards lessons learned, the biggest one is don't live in areas forecasted to be vulnerable to disasters.

Like the PNW where we have windstorms and floods every winter? Where we have wildfires every summer? Where we have active volcanoes? Where someday we will have an earthquake that will make the ones in Calif. feel like a dump truck passing by? Where we have droughts and the aquifers being depleted? Where we are getting the radiation from Japan? Where we may be the target of nukes from N. Korea? Where we have Antifa/et. al. riots?

No place has zero threats.

 

[The Heretic]

Oh and Heretic TRUMP is your PRESIDENT =D

And so was Obama.

I don't have to like either one of them.

 

[Sgt Nambu]

First of all.....don't live in a quasi socialist state......oh..wait.

Never mind!

 

[CountryGent]

Concerning having a cash stash on hand, I think it is a must, and we started such a thing. It is, naturally, hidden and secured. Considering a Cascadia Rising type event, our ability to access funds at the bank and investment management company would be difficult, or impossible. The way we built it was slowly overtime rather than a huge movement at once. Doing things such as:

• Every time a bottle return was done, the bills went into the storage.
• When there were a bunch of ratty old ones, fives, or tens in a wallet, transferred over.
• When gift cash of larger bills came in, in the box it went.
• And other methods.

Over time, it really builds up. In addition to bills, we added a roll of quarters for vending machines, etc. too.

Beyond that, there are a lot of lesson learns from Puerto Rico. Other than the news media, I am also getting scattered reports from my friend and colleague who lives in the suburbs of San Juan. Random thoughts from both news sources:

• A big event going down will screw up everything: supply chains, power, communications, finance, transportation, law and order, etc.
• If there was any doubt, and I'd wager there hasn't been from the folks here, the government (local or federal) cannot be counted upon for relief. The last I heard, it could be months until power is restored.
• My contact there cannot get his family out (his wife, elderly parents, and others) due to the transportation mess. I have little doubt they have the financial resources to bug out, but he tells me there aren't commercial flights out.
• A friend of my supervisor is a private pilot in Florida. The boss talked to him about flying into San Juan to get our guy (and his wife) out. He was open to it, but said he would only have enough fuel to get to PR, and he wasn't certain he could refuel there. He also cited safety concerns of desperate people trying to get into his plane. In fairness, his concerns are real world.
• The contact in Florida offered to help the fellow in San Juan and his family, I (albeit in far away in Oregon) offered the same, and he has family New York City. Despite our open invitations, there appears to be no way for them to get here, so it is a moot point, at least for now.
• Potable water is worth its weight in gold. My friend tells me it is in short supply.
• Fuel runs out fast. I'm told that gasoline and diesel is almost unobtainable. They can't get supplies from the ports into the city due to lack of diesel fuel.
• I am reminded that we need to move into solar power. The generators are great, but if propane and gasoline are unobtainable, they are nothing more than a collection of parts.
• All sorts of diseases will become rampant in short order. There are reports of just that.

Parenthetically, I recently read a book entitled The Nautical Prepper: How to Equip and Survive on Your Bug-Out Boat, by Capt. William E. Wilson (an officer in the U.S. Merchant Marine). With our location, background, etc., it wasn't applicable to us, but I, quite literally, read just about everything preparedness that I can get my hands on. The situation in Puerto Rico actually is one in which a properly equipped nautical prepper could have bugged out to the mainland or to some other destination.

 

[albin25]

Option #1- If you are living in a bankrupt, rapidly declining, third world socialist utopia with a pre-destroyed infrastructure, and dead work ethic, and then you hear that a monster hurricane is predicted to hit you in a few days. Go to your shtf emergency stash of cash and use it to get you and yours off of that island hellhole before all flights are cancelled.
Option #2- If you actually like living in a bankrupt, rapidly declining, third world socialist utopia with a pre-destroyed infrastructure, and dead work ethic... stay put.
Your just gonna LOVE what's coming.
Plus, as a perc if you are an island politician that is responsible for the bankruptcy and now the cleanup, you get to whine, complain, demand from those that are there to help, like a spoiled child.

 

[cigars]

Spontaneous, overly aggressive post of the day right here.
What rule says we can't call scumbag politicians by name?
I voted for the guy but in no way does that mean i think he's a saint.
He just happened to be slightly more appealing than the other most likely Victor.
People who thirst for power need a swift end.

I would like to think that there is a difference between NWFA and Craigslist. I hope that most of you feel the same way. People pay to support this site for a good reason, quality. Please don't screw it up.

Edit: Heyjoe I wasn't directing that you personally, rather I meant to shotgun it out as a general statement.

 

[bbbass]

Epithets, labels, and generalizations against another person or group of people, whether they are members here or not. These serve absolutely no purpose other than to divide us, directly opposite to our goal of uniting gun owners. This is especially relevant in regard to political labels

2. Religious and non-firearm political content is prohibited

bb

 

[bbbass]

Like the PNW where we have windstorms and floods every winter? Where we have wildfires every summer? Where we have active volcanoes? Where someday we will have an earthquake that will make the ones in Calif. feel like a dump truck passing by? Where we have droughts and the aquifers being depleted? Where we are getting the radiation from Japan? Where we may be the target of nukes from N. Korea? Where we have Antifa/et. al. riots?

No place has zero threats.

Not zero but a huge amount less... areas abound!!! Can't help all'ya'll livin near Hood, Portland, Seattle, Rainier, coastlines, fault zones, political hotspots, big cities, etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc. However, I'm sure you will find something I missed.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Well at least their internet is down so they can't bubblegum and moan about it. lol

 

[MrMillspecer]

We have around month or so supply of food and water. We can cook off our wood stove or camp stoves. We have a small generator to keep the fridge running and have some lights. Just in anticipation of the quake.

Now if I new a HURRICANE was coming ? Sometimes you have to fend and prepare for yourself.

The sick and elderly suffering and lack of food and water is a shame. And much of it can be blamed on poor planning.

 

[Sgt Nambu]

The situation in Puerto Rico actually is one in which a properly equipped nautical prepper could have bugged out to the mainland or to some other destination.

That's if the hurricanes didn't smash it or send it to the bottom! I hope that your friend and his family come through this ordeal unscathed!
In an earlier post I referred to Puerto Rico as a quasi socialist state, and not without reason. The liberal government there has long had a policy of everything for everyone and the citizens suck it up like honey. The infrastructure has been crumbling for a very long time, the island is bankrupt from giveaway, and they want rich old America to make it all better! Sounds like a couple of places a bit closer to us, doesn't it!

 

[The Heretic]

I think there was mention made of surviving on a boat?

Boats in area after the hurricane:








Ever been on the ocean in a storm?

BTDT. And it was on a boat meant to survive a storm, not a pleasure craft:



Not recommended as something to ride out a hurricane in. If we had a choice - which we usually did not - we chose to remain on land in a sturdy shelter.

 

[CountryGent]

Concerning Puerto Rico's local government, while I will grant they have made some strides towards good governance, corruption is still beyond rampant. I've done business down there for a long time and it is clear how things operate there. A lot of their financial woes are borne of corruption and incompetence.

Regarding my friend/colleague, I hope he pulls through, and wish I could provide some kind of help. He should have, frankly, got out before it went down, but that is with the benefit of hindsight. Beyond that, I know he was offered a job in Washington DC a few years back, but decided to stay in PR because he, in his words, wanted to do what is right for his people. We didn't want to lose him because he's been a good representative there. It turns out he should have probably taken it.

The latter reminds me of an event in my own life; when I was younger, I went through the hoops to apply for a position in New Orleans. I was jazzed about it early on, but the second interview was pretty bad and the HR gal was more than a little wacky (and I'm being charitable with that characterization). I didn't get the job and I was a little bummed. A few years later Hurricane Katrina hit. I lived in Eastern Oregon in that time and thanked my lucky stars it didn't work out.