----- Original Message -----
From: "Kevin Tarr" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Sunday, June 03, 2001 3:23 AM
Subject: Re: Energy Crisis
> Okay Rob, you are near Galveston. How many times has there been a direct
or
> near enough hit since 1900?
Doesnt really matter, Kevin. Indirect hits are bad enough. I was born in
1957 and I have ridden out many instances of hurricane *weather*. Only 3 or
4 were direct hits in my general area, but a hurricane within 100 miles is a
frightening experience, within 200 miles it is troubling. If one hits
anywhere on the Texas coast it means some bad weather in my area. You seem
to be minimizing the size and power of these storms.
In '83 or '84 when Alicia hit I spent 14 hours watching the storm (I mean
hurricane type weather), then I spent 20 minutes outside in the eye, then
another 12 or so hours of storming.
>
> > Cuba isnt that far away from here.
>
> In terms of hurricane speed and distance Cuba is far away. I was on a ship
> when a few hurricanes got into the gulf. We had plenty of time to do what
we
> had to do, go where we had to go.
If a hurricane is halfway between Cuba and Houston, it is rainy and windy in
Houston (likely Cuba too).
Would you want to be nailing those 4 x 8 sheet of plywood in the wind and
rain when you could have done it earlier?
>
> What was funny was reading Geography web hits about Galveston. All of them
> said the port was an importer of plywood.
I dont doubt it. But I am also sure that the plywood is consigned and not
available to the public.
Galveston is an importer of everything and exports practicly nothing.
Tourism and services are about the only businesses in Galveston.
Side note: The port of Houston is more or less taking over the port of
Galveston. Galveston is a poor port and doesnt have the clout to upgrade to
service newer ships.
>
> > Aside from the fact that Texas is immensely incredibly huge, Louisiana
> > is the nearest state to Galveston, being only a few hours away.
>
> If a storm was in the gulf Louisiana people would be first thinking of
> selling plywood to other Louisiana people while non-gulf states wouldn't
> have to worry about storm damage, other than off-shoot tornadoes but who
can
> predict those. I knew people here in PA who drove to FL to make money off
of
> lumber.
Ok.....I didnt make that clear enough. Texas is freakin huge and we have
more than enough plywood with out other states being involved. Also,
northern Louisiana is much closer than AK. or OK.
>
> > Most people store plywood in their garage attic around here. It stays
> > dry year round and remains in good condition for 15 to 20 years.
> > Then you might have some dry rot.
>
> If most people are stocking up on plywood then why did the town decide to
> make the law? (I know you aren't the source of John's info, just
wondering).
> I have 22 windows. Even if I could cut sheets in half to cover two windows
I
> couldn't imagine having 11 sheets in my attic. (or garage attic, which I
> have neither of)
Most garages here are not dried in. That means there are no inner walls, so
the studs and ceiling joists and rafters are visible and accessable. Its a
real good place to store things like lumber and a great many people here do.
Many newer homes do have dried in garages (especially attached garages)
these days so those folks dont have a place to store much at all.
>
> > The only storm shutters I can recall seeing here are the decorative
> > kind that dont actually work. They just look good.
>
> There are real storm shutters that work and they look good.
Yes, I have seen them in movies and on TV, we just dont have them here for
some reason.
Side note: During Alicia, the wind blew so hard, the brick walls hummed with
the speed of the wind for hours.
It was irritating and thoroughly frightening. You could put your hands on
the walls and feel them moving. I watched air conditioner units blow off the
roofs of my neighbors apartments.
I was alone the entire time and I was pretty scared the entire time.
Alicia was a catagory 1 storm. The weakest that is called a hurricane.
xponent
rob
