Did you know that during hurricanes asphalt roofing shingles act like flying blades? More on that momentarily….
Today Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was in the Punta Rassa area of South Fort Myers to celebrate a remarkable accomplishment. The Sanibel bridges and causeway are open to civilian traffic. {Direct Rumble Link}
The massive, albeit temporary, repairs to the three spans and spoil islands have been completed three weeks after Hurricane Ian wiped them out. A genuinely remarkable feat of engineering and git’ r done roughneck effort. Truly an incredible accomplishment. To check out the scale of it see PICTURES HERE.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that emergency repairs to the Sanibel Causeway have been completed in 15 days, more than a week ahead of schedule. As of this morning, access to Sanibel Island has been restored for residents, reconnecting Sanibel Island to the mainland. WATCH:
“The work that has been done to restore vehicle access to Sanibel Island has been historic,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Cutting through bureaucratic red tape and delivering on our promise to get Sanibel Island up and running has been a top priority. By restoring access over the causeway, repair crews, first responders, emergency vehicles, business owners and residents will be better able to expedite recovery from this storm.”
“I am grateful for our dedicated team members who quite literally built a road in the Gulf in 15 days,” said FDOT Secretary Jared W. Perdue, P.E. “While the bridges were largely undamaged by the storm, portions of the causeway which connect bridge structures together were washed away by Hurricane Ian, leaving the bridges unconnected to the mainland or the island.
A project like this, under normal circumstances, could take months. However, FDOT, along with our law enforcement partners at the Florida Highway Patrol, Lee County and Florida Department of Emergency Management made use of strategic and innovative techniques to rebuild the causeways quickly. Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, and thanks to the hard work of hundreds of FDOT employees and contractors, we were able to relink Sanibel Island to the mainland.”
On October 4, Governor DeSantis directed FDOT to prioritize repairs to the Sanibel Causeway with an estimated completion date by the end of October. On October 11, the Governor announced that due to steady progress on repairs to the causeway, a one-time convoy of more than 350 vehicles for utility restoration would be able to safely cross the bridge onto Sanibel Island.
Damage from Hurricane Ian prevented vehicles from being able to cross the 3-mile-long bridge, delaying the delivery of needed services and supplies to the hard-hit Sanibel community. Crews worked around the clock to restore drivable access for the over 6,000 residents of Sanibel Island. With the completion of the temporary emergency repairs to the Sanibel Causeway, FDOT will now work with Lee County on plans for permanent repairs on the causeway.
FDOT, in partnership with Lee County, has completed emergency repairs to several other damaged bridges in the Lee County area, including repairs to the Pine Island Bridge in less than three days in addition to Big Carlos Pass, Big Hickory, Little Carlos Pass, and New Pass Bridges.
Access to Sanibel Island via the Sanibel Causeway will be managed by Lee County. For more information, please visit www.leegov.com or follow Lee County on Facebook at www.facebook.com/leecountyflbocc.
[More Pictures Here]
Governor Ron DeSantis has done a great job, and those who wash with Lava soap and degreaser are inspiringly awesome. Check Out This Video:
On the home front a few expected and unexpected challenges remain.
First, my apologies for not being able to post more content at CTH. Electricity and water service have been restored, but internet service is still a considerable challenge. Most of the current CTH articles are written from weak hotspots or travel to temporary business centers which have been established for use.
It is a wee bit challenging, not just for my efforts here but much more so for businesses in SWFL that rely on stable internet to process business transactions. Remember the pre-hurricane advice about having cash and not relying on electricity and internet?… Yeah, in some areas that aspect is still an ongoing issue.
Then there’s the goofy stuff. Just about everyone who was fortunate enough to have a stable structure remaining, has some form of a tarp roof. It’s like living in a tent, but a house, with plywood. Think about Bagram AFB with cinder block walls… lol… Hey, it’s home. Permanent installation roofers will be busy here for years; however, on a positive note our insurance adjuster (cool guy) said they were expecting 200,000+ claims, and so far only had 30,000. So, perhaps the major structural issues are more isolated.
On a directly related note, did you know that asphalt shingles are like flying razor blades in hurricanes? Ask me how I know this, and I will show you a shingle about 6 inches squared that sliced through the front grill of the truck and we found embedded in the radiator today. She was overheating, and now I know why. Crazy stuff.
Also, any gearheads out there with good advice on the best quality long-term patches for tires let me know. Roofing nails are hobbling everyone (also raises hand), tire shops look like the entrance to Trump rallies….
….which also look like the line for internet service appointments.
Apparently, whoever at Comcast/Xfinity came up with the script, “to report your internet outage, please go on-line to www.”, didn’t quite think through the process.
It reminds me of that sign I saw on the stairs years ago that I just had to take a picture of (see above). Hey, we need to laugh because the alternative isn’t healthy.
Back to the hurricane tip part. You can always tell those people who have been through hurricanes before by how they parked their cars. I have never included this in the hurricane advice before so it’s worth a mention.
Regarding hurricane damage, if you lose your Florida garage door you will more than likely lose your roof. That’s just the reality of having a massive opening in your structure to 150 mph winds that will lift the trusses.
First tip, if you have two vehicles, put one vehicle inside the garage with the front bumper against the door to help stop the flex (do this carefully). Put the other vehicle outside blocking the garage door facing down the driveway. Use the aero dynamics of the car to push the wind up away from the door.
Second tip, if you live in a flood zone, or if you are concerned about storm surge, the day before impact take your #1 car to the nearest airport or hotel with a parking garage and park in the upper levels. Take an uber back home if you don’t have a friend or partner to help you. This way you know you will have one workable vehicle, just in case.
I’m going to compile a list of oddball prepper stuff after learning even more from this event, and I will share it.
Stay strong; keep a good thought and be thankful. Again, the alternative provides no value.
Love to all,
~ Sundance
Lord, I cherish the lessons in patience, but please remove the blue circle of misery from my computer screen.
Here in CA … the project would have already been slapped with 100 lawsuits. No, that’s not an exaggeration. Every “Friend” of every Mollusk … Fish … Manatee … and oceangoing mammal would have filed separate lawsuits DEMANDING a multiple focused EIR. And don’t mention the Climate Justice lawsuits … yes … your road repair cannot POSSIBLY be built without honoraria payments to the newly disaffected “black community”
You’re right Kenji, without pointing out the true lunacy in California. … At every repair project in California there would be hundreds of protesters at any project, that has already started. …. The Californian protestors would wear ~costumes depicting the various animals; claims, sea otters, fish, and even 10 or 15 people crammed into a very large Gray Whale costume. … Lunacy has replaced Zaney in California. = One more reason, many Americans are leaving the Late Golden State.
there’s a story about a bathroom being built in downtown SFO that will cost $1.8 million and take four years to complete
one. bathroom.
and they wonder why people want to leave california.
when the big one hits the san andreas fault, that’s the end of that
Currently, San Francisco has about $14 ~billion dollars to spend for about 900,000 people.
Chicago has close to 3 million people with a budget of $13 ~billion dollars.
New York has 19 million people with a budge of $101 ~billion dollars.
The USA spends about $5.8 ~trillion dollars currently. …….. The USA has a ‘continuing resolution’ ~ and NOT an actual budget. … … +There’s 1,000 millions in a billion, and 1,000 billions in a trillion.
…….. With billions or millions of dollars to spend = here and there, it’s very possible for politicians and their cronies to become very rich.
But when I went to get my car from the parking lot the power was down and I couldn’t pay the charge to get the car out and they wouldn’t let me pay in cash because they couldn’t print a receipt and their computer was down… 😉
“Look, I’m calling you on the phone to tell you my Internet is down… why do you give me advice to use the Internet to report loss of service? ”
Or…
“You left me a message in my voice mail with the password to get my voice mail? Huh? ”
“I can’t get my email”
“We changed your email address”
“So, how can I get my email now?”
“Tell the people who are trying to send you email that you have a new email address”
Thank God it wasn’t IT who was in charge of rebuilding those causeways.
Very sadly, that level of incompetence with NO common sense has become rampant in this country! It’s especially troubling how much is present in medical facilities!
“I’m calling to survey you regarding your recent appointment and to remind you you need to call for an appointment with Dr. XYZ.”
(This is a routine, NON-EMERGENCY appointment!)
“I will take care of that later when I return from my sister’s funeral. It’s tomorrow, and it’s out of town.”
“You need to go ahead and schedule, because the appointments may take 6 months.”
“I am quickly packing right now and leaving tonight! At this point, I have no idea when I will be returning.”
(More inane questions…same response over and over…woman will NOT STOP verbally meandering! Hate to hang up on her…)
“So, you will be making the appointment in the morning?”
“Aaaahhhhh!”
Pfffttt! Just hang up already–or throw the phone on the couch and let ‘er talk! Life’s too short for that kind of . . . Bottom Sediment!
That flimsy gate that is generally there, give her the correct amount, mebbe a bit more, put your truck into first gear, and leave. If they have those spiky things to prevent exit, sorry, game over.
A radio ad for Medicare Plan C insurance played repeatedly during enrollment period, at the end of the ad. . .
“If you don’t speak English, call 800 blah blah blah.”
fyi – many merchants still have the old machines that imprint your credit card
on a receipt as a back up.
Humorous, informative, entertaining, uplifting,, continue the good work,, Carry on…
Sundance – Excellent report and I believe that all Treepers on CTH fully understand and have no issue with the somewhat fewer articles per week on CTH since the hurricane. You have hit all the big topics at least once or twice with substance… so, ’nuff said about that.
Interesting tips about handling vehicles and garage doors in hurricane prepping. I think anyone who hasn’t lived through several hurricanes such as Ian would even have an inkling of these more detailed points.
Stay safe and please let the treehouse know if there are any specific things needed that we might be able to supply.
I think we should buy Sundance his own Starlink setup.
Not kidding, $600 for the hardware and I think about a hundred monthly, a pittance.
We can do it!
I’d be on board with that if SD is game.
Only reason I haven’t switched is due to the setup equipment. I also have to run it by work IT bc they have security requirements (hardwired), and I am not sure Starlink has those available. Monthly fee is about $10 more per month.
Anything to get away from Xfinity, absolutely refuse to even consider AT&T.
VPN works fine.
Have been researching Starling myself looking at land in SC, good alternative.
South East U.S. won’t be open to Starlink until 2023…. boo for me.
sign up for the ‘RV’ version, it’s mobile, movable and works most everywhere
https://www.starlink.com/rv
Get RV version,works fine.
I’d be one board too.
I anticipate a sooner than later recovery from CTH content. I have prayed on it and understand the works of a man can never be measured properly without acknowledging that great strife does happen.
So this is the reasons why I pray. I pray that God lifts up all of us, that we never lose sight and purpose of what this treehouse means.
in the end, it about telling the truth and caring about each others and others.
God Bless America
I don’t know about hurricanes but that note about the stairs…….
I’ve never been able to figure out how someone can drive across the US and back on vacation without a single accident but as soon as they walk into a grocery store will run smack into you because they insist on driving down the wrong side of the aisle.
Always puzzled about that, myself!
It’s happened to me usually because they’re looking sideways at the product on the shelves instead of looking where they’re walking/pushing. OTOH, I was on the right side of the aisle but also looking sideways and didn’t see them coming at me.
The good news is neither of us were going more than very slow walking speed so no harm done.
Maybe they’re British…
Or from the Virgin Islands.
There’s a wrong side of the grocery aisle, I had no idea until covid and I have promptly forgotten.
The problem is having product on BOTH sides of the aisle…I think.
I don’t know how anyone these days “can drive across the US and back” (or anywhere else, for that matter)! Seems to me no one knows which way north is from a hole in the wall. Of course, they all depend on their handy little GPS–which doesn’t work out in the boondocks!
If they don’t know N, S, E, and W, it’s no surprise to me that they don’t know their left hand from their right hand!
Wow, those pictures are unreal! Credit for the fine job is all theirs, what an accomplishment for the locals.
Fricken awesome video.
Isn’t it amazing that the travelers and road repair workers were able to navigate without the assistance of government employees? As I have heard many times, we just need the government OUT OF OUR WAY!!! Great job there!
That’s 98% of Americans. Get out of our way and let us get it done.
Great state leadership and rainy day funds for Florida. Disney probably paid for most of it now that they have to pay taxes.
I’m here on east coast, we were so lucky this year, best to all of you, was in contact with friends in St Pete, they got spared.
One of the things I’m working on now is where in the hell were all the components to assemble the temp bridges and who was the contractor that had the contacts that it made happen.
Oh I’m sure there will be gouging charges coming./s
I get the fill, base, what ever we dig holes here in FL every day and almost all shell rock is FDOT property, I want to know who had the rest of the legos???
Another example of American exceptionalism. So inspiring to see it’s still there quietly behind the deception we are seeing daily. The greatness of the American heart filled with patriotism and love of country.
May God continue to bless America.
Sundance,
From the other side of the Atlantic I have followed Florida, you, and marvelled at the value of simple people.
Americans are a great people — I exclude those who do not worth a coin.
I was amazed feeling the Faith everywhere.
Continue the good work.
By the way… I dislike some mixing between a Chief and a Politician. Do not blame deSantis when he is deciding as a Chief.
Desantis has got it together like no body has ever seen.
This is true and I am grateful. But, I am not so sure it would have come together like this on less powerful barrier islands in Florida. Sundance mentioned some serious donations to make it happen. In 2004, my barrier island was without power for 3 weeks. Many downed powerlines, flooding, minimal damage to most structures. No damage to causeways.
Maybe he had advice from a builder, PDJT.
Great point, NurseSusy!
IMHO…Infrastructure often has ‘risk assessments’ done well in advance (and more so I would assume), in the post 9/11 and post Katrina worlds.
So I am assuming that there are also plans in place for infrastructure response and recovery.
Our lurking emergency manager types here in the Treehouse could enlighten us as to some of the details and players.
Either way, it is an awesome thing for this to happen so quickly!
55 years ago, or so…a ship ran aground–loaded with rice cargo and can we say “smell” of fermenting rice???– in the Panama Canal…it took the feds a year or more to fix that…
So this is awesome for Florida!!!
Wow amazing Sanibel is accessible this quick.
I look forward to your updated hurricane list.
Only advice on tires if you havent already.
Buy tire plug kits and plug em yourself.
Take care!
It is simply amazing how fast the recovery really is progressing.
Otterly Perfect!
WordMan will get you for that. 😉
He ain’t the only smart ass here! 🙂
The Dollar Generals have the “tire plug” kits. Plug the hole then fill up with stop leak. That will work until the tire place takes over.
At least they used to have them at DG…People over there have probably found them.
Curious observation Monday. I had to drive over to my M.D. 3 month thingy in Palm Beach, and I go over Hwy 80 through Clewiston and Belle Glades. They built low income and/or Section 8 two story apartment looking places on the west end of town near the high school I’d say 4-5 years ago. To make a long story short…the low bid single job got ripped up pretty bad on the upper units. That was about 50-60 miles from the eye wall, but open sugar cane fields all around and nothing there to serve as wind breaks.
Irma eye wall damage was more extensive at my location (113 mph), but Ian damage (and shingles especially) seemed more extensive over there. The blows are all different. Tornados also spawn randomly during the wind.
If you’re moving down here…trees are wind breaks and they are your friends about 30-40 feet from your roof.
About that stop leak…..
It will corrode your rims and make them unusable to put a replacement tire on…..
Oatmeal slurry will do the job, at least on farm equipment tires. Plugs and more plugs.
For years on the farm, dad would break the seal between the tire & rim with a sledge, feel around the inside for nails etc, remove them, remove the valve stem, then stuff an inner tube in the tire. Many times this type of repair out lasted tire plugs, that garbage foam etc. Not much difference in the balance once the tube is fully inflated
Awesome! Florida has done a remarkable job. DeSantis deserves plenty of credit for making it happen too.
Just a “What if”, for perspective.
Suppose Gov DeSantis tol the contractors and agencies “cut thru the red tape, and do everything you can to SAFELY get those causeways operating again ASAP.
And, those agencies then threw EVERY safety regulation “out the window” and rebuilt the causeways in a slap-dash fashion.
And, at some point later, the causeways collapsedwith many cars on them, a tragedy.
RDS is NOT an engineer; he told “the experts” to do it as fast as SAFELY Possible, in (dare I say it ) “warp speed”.
IS a Governor, or POTUS for that matter then responsible for the resulting loss of life?
Food for thought,…?
It would depend on whose professional stamp was on the plans.
If I had to guess a lot of that fill work is a long used and accepted “standard detail” for that type of construction.
Plus, Florida’s DOT has lots of experience rebuilding roads after hurricanes and the chronic maintenance required with constant storms and salt and a growing populace. The major roads here generally have portions under reconstruction at all times. Makes driving a challenge.
Plus record plans of how it was originally built, subsurface investigations on file, and maybe there’s some institutional knowledge left in the area from when it was originally designed and built, or the last time it was rehabilitated.
As opposed to a ‘safe and effective’ ‘vaccine’?
Red tape does not provide safety. They sacrificed durability for timeliness not safety. They will redo the parts they need to do for durability after they complete this phase. They cut out the bureaucratic overhead, which has no impact on safety.
Hopefully you’re the lucky lotto winner Sundance!
I’m in awe of how work in Florida gets done. I’m in California. We’d be in a standstill for decades if that all happened here.
#RonForGovenorNotPresident
Not yet but its coming
That’s a good report…
…still two steps at a time…family, neighbors, CERT stuff, CTH stuff,…..and a blue circle on the screen, too???? I’ve never prayed about a blue circle before, but will now go there………….
I was so glad to hear the news. Best to all.
I found a tab of a shingle sliced into a tub I used to collect oil. The tub was empty. How it happened to accomplish this I will never understand.
I am in tornado alley and we hear stories of plastic drinking straws driven through trees….a shingle through a metal tub would be nothing
My husband is from Kansas. He says he remembers in the 1950s in Udall, KS, a PAPER STRAW was stuck in a plate glass window and the window wasn’t broken. The glass was inside the straw.
Weird stuff happens in Kansas!
That was one big straw to contain a picture window.
I’ve seen a pine needle stuck in a 2×4 after a tornado. Crazy.
I have seen a pine needle go thru a pine tree after Camille.
Seen a 2×4 thru a telephone pole after a twister. Weird stuff.
Loved the drone work in that vid.
My Dad was a “Storm trooper”; an Insurance adjuster who went in after disasters, to settle as many claims as possible, as quickly as possible (got paid “peacework”).
He did Hurricane Betsy, in New Orleans in 1965, and a storm in Portland (IIRC, I was 10 y.o.) before that.
He had pictures of a street of houses, with someone driving their boat “down the street” just like a car.
And a piece of straw, driven into an oak tree, like a nail.
A demolished house, but the back fence not only standing, but with glass bottles, sitting on the fence and still filled with the colored water the homeowner had filled them with, as a kind of decoration.
at the northern end of Tornado Alley here in IL….in November of 2013, a little town named Washington, had a tornado in Novwmber. I found business paperwork on my lawn, from that town and I am 120 miles north of them. I was able to call and ask if they needed it….
https://www.weather.gov/ilx/17nov13-tor2
Don’t know about shingles, straws and trees…sounds impressive though…
one of my brothers owns a roofing/construction company for over 40 years now……we are not anywhere near the hurricane zone but he prefers the veneer-type shingles rather than the old felt tar-dipped ones…they are stronger, don’t flex as much, and carry a much longer manufacturer guarantee…..normally twice as long
I wonder if NBC/ABC/CBS Nightly News is covering this incredibly competent recovery effort and progress in FL?
Anyone know?
I’m assuming those networks just *might* think it’s too big of a match too light under the butts of other not-so-competently run States and their Politicians.
I’d *love* to be wrong about that, if anyone has info.
Retired Magistrate here: I spoke with my cousin in Clearwater, Florida a week ago and had to tell him what recovery efforts are going on in his state. The local affiliates are not covering anything. For the week after the hurricane that is all they covered, devastation, death, damage, etc. Not anything on the recovery efforts.
I will call him tomorrow and tell him about the Sanibel Causeway being open to residents. He will be thrilled.
Most people in the main media are cowards. Their payment depends on facts and they do not understand a thing about if there is a small chance for the money stop coming.
RE: “Also, any gearheads out there with good advice on the best quality long-term patches for tires let me know.”
Best is dismount tire, wire wheel inside behind puncture, apply glue and patch, then remount and pressurize. But this is a pain. Fastest is tubeless plug kit. Pull nail, goo the string, push it in with the tool, and cut off excess, air up tire. If you have a lot of punctures, the tire is going to ultimately be toast. Plug it and move on. Get new tires or good used ones later.
A decent 12 volt DC tire inflator is handy. $30 to $60 on Amazon.
Tubeless tire repair kit, $6 Harbor Freight or Autozone,
Best kit I know of is Autown tire repair kit Amazon $20.
Future reference: Plywood around Heat Pump or AC condenser outside prior to storm. Those can get punctured too by flying debris.
You can also purchase plugs in bulk so once you have the kit more plugs are cheap. 12v air compressor is the way to vs. fix-a-flat cans. Long term way less expensive.
Agreed. The Fix-a-flat cans can ruin a tire. Once injected, you have to drive “at speed” for an hour to spread out the goop or it fuses into a lump and makes the tire unbalanced, permanently. Plugs are OK for tubeless tires if you goop the strings first with the glue stuff.
Uh oh. I bought two fix a flat cans to keep in car for emergency.
I didn’t realize it would fuse into a lump if car not driven for awhile. I carry a small, but effective an air compressor, too. Do you think getting a tire plug and using would be best bet or could I still use fix a flat and be okay?
It only lumps if you put in the tire and don’t drive it for a while. The goop goes to the lowest point and firms up. If you use that stuff in a tire, you have to drive the car soon after injecting it so the goop gets evenly distributed inside the tire. After 15-30 mins of driving, it firms up enough so that it doesn’t clump up. You’re ok after that. Those cans are an emergency fix, not a permanent fix. And the tire shops hate it because when they dismount the tire, the goop gets on everything. Better off with a plug in the puncture.
Sorry I just saw your reply. Thanks so much for the information, most appreciated!
The little inflators are slow. However they can put out serious pressures. The point?
Do’nt hook up a little inflator and walk away. My dad did that. The explosion was heard for blocks! LOL
Exploding tires are no joke, two piece aircraft wheels are even more dangerous if they blow up, kill a man easy, after reassembly they are inflated in a metal cage.
It’s results that count and FDOT proving they are among the very best!
Amazing what can get done when folks are focused on what really matters, and not silly inconsequential things like ‘wokeness’.
We live on Clearwater Beach.. we were supposed to get the brunt of Hurricane Ian… we live in a condo with storm shutters… terrifying 150 mph for 24 hours… sitting in the dark with battery candles (a blessing for us and our neighbors on our floor). We knew we were 13 feet above sea level.. storm surge expected to be at 10 feet… we didn’t sleep one minute, just held one another listening to to horrific winds … 26 of us stayed in our building, with 14 floors, which was built in 1974… first built on this island… we understand the terror felt further south… and by God’s grace we plan to help in small ways all those where Ian hit further south…. we, as all Americans and Floridians are resilient… our Coast Guard, and all those who have and are helping, along with our strong, steadfast Governor DeSantis and our people, and volunteers are courageous, incredible people… we come together in crisis… we are rebuilding… one step at a time, but steadfast… God Bless everyone… we will heal, rebuild, and celebrate. We all know we will rebuild in record time. God Bless. Grateful. 🙏
Was all of this facilitated by that ‘snake in the grass’ RDS? Mmmm, pretty impressive from an ‘establishment Repub’, huh? Ron just keeps the media on its knees and his state flying high. Love the guy, sorry not sorry.
No one,, and not Sundance, has said RDS isn’t a good, even great Governor.
Just looking at facts, patterns of behavior that SUGGEST, STRONGLY that he has “higher ambitions” and is taking steps, and forming associations that point in a certain direction.
Thats all. As for his Hurrican responce, its what any GOOD Governor, SHOULD do, and one more example of why we ‘should’ focus much more attention on our State and Local Governments, and less on Congress and POTUS.
The point Sundance was making was that somebody wealthy and powerful is funding the road rebuild so that DeSantis can make things happen faster for that community. If DeSantis and the community had to solely rely on the state without those funds, it would take months to get contracts authorized and pull things together without financial guarantees. The work would get done but it would take months without those donated funds. Might be multiple wealthy, powerful people that donated.
“Lessons learned” from Katrina and we all remember what happened to Ray Nagin in his post Katrina world.
For this one, I am seeing a future campaign ad. But the people need to come first.
A sly manner of vote buying? The people needed access to the homes. Number one priority.
Ahead of schedule and under budget.
I made a post about emergency management and such…infrastructure weaknesses have already been identified and I assume there is a federal, state and local framework in place to cover what the most likely failures will be be and how to respond and recover. There is more to it than that but updating and enacting it in a timely and specific manner is what matters.
In California, the California Coastal Commission would require that all of it would be returned to the state as habitat and access would be restricted, except for the homeless, in perpetuity!
Another trick they have is the old “We found artifacts; sorry, no rebuilding here.”
My Great Grandfather lived in Kansas which is as flat as a tabletop. Many/most of the section lines have rows of planted trees and other vegetation called windrows that break the wind, so the topsoil doesn’t blow away. They also plow straw in the ground for the same reason. My Grandpa had a picture of a fence post after a tornado that looked like a porcupine had attacked it. The straw was sticking out of the fence post 2-3 inches and unbroken. Grandpa said you could pull the straw pieces out of the post and see they had penetrated 1/2 – 3/4 of an inch from the force of the wind.
Good to hear about the Sanibel bridge/causeway fix! So amazing…
As for your tire repairs, you can get kits on Amazon and here is a video on how to do it:
Good luck!!!
I have used those cans of goo that you push into the hole (sorry, can’t recall the name of it). Works temporarily but not sure if you can find that in a local store so if you can get Amazon deliveries (I heard they are getting through), maybe order the plug kits.
I love seeing these accomplishments, and the credit due to the blue collar guys and gals. I come from a proud family of working people who seem to specialize in doing what can’t be done, especially my husband.
Maybe it’s just my imagination, but sometimes it seems to me that society is trying to leave these people behind in these days of the perpetually hip, weak, woke, offended and those who don’t even have sense enough to look in their pants and know what gender they are.
Even my church, the Catholic Church, seems to have few working class people these days, except for our Hispanic members.
I am thrilled to see this progress for all Floridians.
«doing what can’t be done» is a gift from God.
In Church I see the same you see. However, God will cure everything that has no cure.
Thank you for the update. God bless.
Just an aside to do with your sign. I went to a Catholic high school of 1500 girls. The nuns’ strict rule, when we were walking the corridors, was “single file to the right!”
Hope you’re doing well, Sundance, and I hope radiator repairs/replacement aren’t too much of a hardship!
That bridge is absolutely amazing.
DeSantis is 100% MAGA. No question about it.
stop pretending that DeSantis isn’t funded by the WEF !
WOW it looks like it was really bad for some in Florida…This is a friend of mine who just got internet yesterday.
“7 days no water, 13 days no power, and 3 weeks no internet.” He is still awaiting TV.
WOOD screws, NOT similar looking sheet metal screws; they won’t work.
Remove the roffing nail, the shaft of which has smooth sides, and so lets the air out of the tire.
Replace the nail, with an approriately sized wood screw; get small packages of several different sizes, both diameter and length.
Just put the end in the hole the nail came out of, and screw it in by hand, with a screw driver.
The threads on a wood screw are DEEPER than on a sheet metal screw, and will seal the hole. Screw it all the way in, the head will wear down over time, but its the threaded shaft that is plugging the hole.
Hope this helps, Sundance!
Exactly what I tried to do today on a broken microwave handle for a temporary solution, Dutch. Used duct tape as an insulator…it has that gooey side.
Gearhead here; on tire repair plugs from the link
https://safetyseal.com/product-category/kits/truck-repair-kits/
Everyone/anyone should get one of these kits and keep it in the vehicle ,purchase two.. keep one in the home toolbox.
These work 1st time every time. Gar-oan-tee!
Just do it !
Beautiful! Thank you for the welcome news, and the prepper tips! So grateful you have all survived and your sense of humor is intact!
Your update is much appreciated! Take care and God Bless.
Compare and contrast:
San Francisco is spending $1.7 million to build a single public toilet and it won’t be done until 2025.
https://twitchy.com/dougp-3137/2022/10/19/lets-compare-floridas-massive-speedy-hurricane-recovery-to-san-franciscos-effort-to-build-a-single-public-toilet/
Pete Buttigeig is Transportation Secretary even though he never fixed the pot hole problem in South Bend.
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/cortneyobrien/2020/12/16/buttigieg-critics-he-couldnt-even-fill-potholes-in-south-bend-n2581670
And Berlin, New Hampshire. They have 17% poverty. Biden gifted heated sidewalks to the town for $20 M two years ago. Spare me. THe Interviews are amazing.
https://www.foxnews.com/media/jesse-watters-biden-cant-make-knows-how-take
where there is a will, Americans are incredibly creative and forceful.
Never forget this basic truth about Americans.
it is literally in our BLOOD, that we seek to make what ought to be, what is.
Why? Because this has been the legacy of our original foundation.
A nation paying obedience to God in our laws and in our ways.
The difference is timeless.
God Bless America
I couldn’t watch the last video. Spent last Saturday on Fort Myers Beach working on two different properties neither mine. It was eerie driving past the lanai kai and seeing the gulf through the entire first floor from the street. So many familiar sites with nothing left but a few pipes sticking up out of the foundations. I spent many hours tarping roofs and can tell you most of those flying shingles came from roofs that should have been replaced years before the hurricane. My own was redone only a few years ago and didn’t lose a single shingle. Something tore a small hole and gouge in the ridge vent as it went by. Placed a six foot tall about four inch wide piece of iron against my garage door then a four feet section of two by six and placed my bumper against it. During the second half of the storm while in the garage, I could see my car move several inches rocking against the transmission with each gust. The door held and operated fine the next morning. If I lived in a storm surge likely area and had to remain, I would park my vehicle(s) elsewhere and walk back if I had to in order to make sure I had transportation post storm. Internet and cellular service both have been a little off but, not terribly so where I live and work. Verizon shut me down post storm morning until early afternoon except emergency calls only before opening the phone lines back up to text or voice calls.
Pre storm of course I never fought the crowds preparing having at least a two month personal supply of non perishable food and at least three cases of water for myself on hand throughout the year. Plenty of ammo, batteries, flashlights/lanterns etc. Rely on a Yeti for cooling. A generator would be nice but not necessary for primitive campers. Have back up for phone juice in this case for sure if relying on others for recharging. Personally, I could go days without a phone but, they are so darned handy when you really need one. You can really lengthen the time on your battery by shutting the phone down when not actually using it.
The day Ian made landfall, I was watching Ryan Hall Y’all (https://m.youtube.com/c/RyanHallYall?fbclid=IwAR16dCNtRADpmR8c6JDSogsZL1_8osPWeA8CxbgKpmJplDTjBp6wYQ7FegI), a YouTube weather analyst.
They mentioned some big things showing up on radar in the eye of the storm. Turns out it was large flocks of birds, trapped by the storm.
I can’t wait to get back to the island and have some wonderful clam chowder at the lazy flamingo
Thank You
What an incredible video-
Would love to see the rest of island – red coconut and car wash areas were also completely obliterated .
I would have never been able to recall all of this , what a wonderful gift
Thanks again
The Treehouse community is well, you have prepped us. Carry on.
I don’t know if this would work, but maybe it would: Suppose you wanted to drive your car, but you also wanted to protect your tires from getting punctured by debris in the road. Maybe you could do this for each tire:
First get a very strong net, whose holes are about 3″ across. Cut the net about 5′ by 5′. Attach the net around the tire. Make sure that the net is securely attached so it won’t come off, and make sure that it won’t get caught in the car’s axle.
There should be some space between the net and the tire. After you attach the net to the tire, the diameter of the net should be about 2″ longer than the diameter of the tire.
Now lift up a piece of the net, and shove in an old rag or towel, so that the rag is between the net and the tire. Keep doing this, until the tire is covered with about an inch-thick layer of old rags and towels, with the net holding the rags in place. Make sure that the rags are held securely and safely in place. (Or maybe use pieces of old tire, instead of rags?)
If you do this, then you’ll have about an inch of protection around your tires, to protect the tires from sharp debris on the road.
Would this be safe? I would drive it no more than 20 MPH, so that the rags didn’t come loose and get into the car’s engine. Is there a chance that the rags might catch on fire, being so close to the engine?
For safety, I’d have a car mechanic check it to make sure that I could drive it safely at up to 20 MPH. But would it work?
Unlikely to work, wouldn’t stay on, and dangerous.
I initially thought you were going for a joke riffing off the effectiveness of Coupvid masks wherein the theory involved would suggest that chain link fences protect one’s home from mosquitos!
Honestly though, the forces a tire endures are substantial and “add-ons” are rarely a happy thing.
Lol, thanks for the awesome humor!! Amongst the chaos are true warriors!! Thankyou for being one!
Be careful out there
After the Joplin tornado of May, 2011 I talked to many people. Spared the destruction, but had family and friends who were devastated by that beast of an F5. One day I was working beside a paramedic who was describing what he saw in the immediate aftermath. He said that by far the most gruesome and heinous injuries were from asphalt shingles. They act as indiscriminate blades of doom. I won’t go into the details that he filled us in on.
Thank you for the hurricane parking tip.
Thank you for your dedication to this site.
You have the patience of Job waiting on that circle to talk to us.
Thanks for all the updates, Sundance. Goodness knows you’ve had your hand full between your damage and those you’ve been helping, too.
The repairs have been astoundingly fast. So grateful on behalf of all Floridians affected.
Question to anyone there: Did the phone lines, landlines I mean, collapse too? If so, have they been repaired?
Best and prayers to all 🙏❤
I’ve used Slime in my mower tires and van tires without damaging the steel or aluminum wheels.
https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/slime-32-oz.-tire-sealant-for-all-tires-10009/10021770-P?source=certona
Love to see this post from you, SD!!! The Lord is right there with you…and has a lot of humor!!!
First thought…I just jerry-rigged a broken microwave handle ( the top plastic innards broke) by folding up Duct tape inside the broken PLASTIC handle and thought to screw the original screw through into what was leftover in the hole (temporary until parts come in). COULD NOT GET THE SCREW THROUGH THE DUCT TAPE!!!!! I had to keep piercing the tape with a VERY sharp small flower snip because the tape has a tendency to self-heal.
Might be a bit slippery though!!!!!
Just a goof, but hopefully someone knows how to solve the nail issue.
“Second tip, if you live in a flood zone, or if you are concerned about storm surge, the day before impact take your #1 car to the nearest airport or hotel with a parking garage and park in the upper levels. Take an uber back home if you don’t have a friend or partner to help you. This way you know you will have one workable vehicle, just in case.”
If I am in a flood zone, I will take Taller Half and both cars (if we had two) to the hotel parking garage upper levels…and CHECK IN!!!!!!!!!
🙏 ❤️ May God bless you!
They laughed when I drove 5’deep screw anchors and stretched 4″ wide trucker’s ratchet straps over the top of my motor home near the Peace River last year. They don’t now. She didn’t budge where many are gone!
However the water got up to the windshield outside. Only 12″ inside.. Old Winnebagos are tough let me tell you and darned near water tight. An old motor home in no way compares to someone’s house but she was my oHIo escape pod.
Drying her out to see if she can be saved.
Now, I premise this by the fact that this is ALL new and 25′ above sea level. And, of course, CBS has to rub it in for older Floridian homes that cannot simply compare…yet built to 150 to 175MPH standards.
https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/new-florida-community-designed-for-resilience-survived-hurricane-ian-virtually-unscathed/
I’ve often contemplated how to build a home to handle everything with aplomb so I can just watch the world blow by during the crazy stuff, happy to see people doing the like for realz.
Didn’t a concrete geodesic dome shrug off a hurricane in Louisiana?
Wouldn’t doubt it, though storm surge could still be an issue in the bonkers place we seem to build these days.
Yes, Great, Good Job !!!!
Now, maybe reevaluation of building codes are in order.
1) Pontoons for every house
2) All structures unable to fitted with pontoons must withstand 350 MPH winds and be water tight up to 30 feet high
Rebuilding is a waste of resources, time, and money – it serves no one to have to rebuild – Build it right the first time.