The Ideal Hurricane Setup - What Would Yours Look Like?

[SingleTrackMind]

Here in Northeast Mass I thought I'd practice setting up if we got some stormy weather out of Hurricane Irene. I could either practice setting up in foul weather, or pitch a tarp beforehand to see how it holds out.

However, having just heard latest forecast where they've predicted a Category 2 in my general area, I'm starting to have second thoughts. From what I heard this level will produce 110 mph sustained winds, with 140 mph gusts.

Then that got me thinking...

If you had to, and if you had unlimited access to all of the finest equipment, what would your Category 2 setup look like? Widow makers and all.

p.s. Just having fun here. Besides, I'm not sure they even make stainless steel tarps

[deerfu]

The thought of hangin in the back of a van comes to mind.

[SingleTrackMind]

The thought of hangin in the back of a van comes to mind.

With your van parked inside or outside of your garage

[TFC Rick]

My setup would be the same as always, just in the evacuation area. Hurricanes are serious stuff man.

[AaronAlso]

If my rusty physics is correct a 1oz object traveling 140mph has 1.3lbs of force; I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong. Either way, at those velocities even the most benign objects become deadly and a tarp isn't gonna stop them. This is one of those times when fortified shelter is mandatory.

[Cannibal]

A Kevlar tarp for starters!

Agree with TFC Rick, a hurricane is no place for a hammock and tarp. If you were to do it, I'd go with the smallest tarp I could find to reduce the surface area the wind can interact with it and I'd setup somewhere with as much possible coverage from the terrain as possible, while staying well clear of any structures that will start hurling pieces of themselves at my rig. Biggest problem will be finding bungee cords that are strong enough to suspend the hammock with me in it. I've watched trees bend over and touch their toes so-to-speak in hurricane winds, so you're going to need suspension with lots of give.

In all honesty, I'm probably (check that, definitely) dumb enough to try something like this in a weak to moderate Cat I. I've been on foot going door to door in those winds and they are doable. Beyond that however, and there is no way I'm risking my gear to Mother Nature. She can do what she wants to me, but my gear is worth more than I am and I hold no illusions it would survive those kinds of prolonged winds and debris.

[Acer]

went thru 2 typoons in the mid 1970 in Vietnam,,the second one had 225 mph winds,,and there we were,,,9 of us marines,,hunkered down in the corner of a one room shack with no roof on it for over 2 weeks and surrounded after the storm,,by over 30' of water,,and we were also 30 miles from the South China Sea. We were on a abandonded hill compound surrrounded by people and probably half were the VC..Hurricanes and Typoons are a rough cookie...you better stock up as your liable to be without electricity and water for a couple of weeks if the way its sounding about taking out the electrical grids in the NE..

[pgibson]

I did work in the path of Katrina 2 months after the storm. The really bad damage that I saw more than 100 miles off the Mississippi coast was caused by tornadoes that spun off the storm, they would drop down on a house and rip it apart like it was built with match sticks. A few hundred feet would be torn apart though the woods, then gone. Best place to be......500 miles in the other direction. I wouldn't even think about it.

[obmit]

Then that got me thinking...

If you had to, and if you had unlimited access to all of the finest equipment, what would your Category 2 setup look like? Widow makers and all.

Unlimited access?? I would be flying to Hawaii and hang between two palm trees, drinking something out of a coconut!

A hurricane is nothing to mess around with.

[JaxHiker]