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Since Texas had a visit from Harvey a few points... - 8/27/2017 6:13:53 PM

jlf1961

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Along the coast lines of the US you have two kinds of people, coasties and idiots.

Now Coasties have been on the coast for at least a generation or longer, idiots just kind of show up to spend a lot of money on boats and houses (that coasties wouldnt live in) and then cry when a storm comes along and destroys the house they built for a quarter million or the boat they spent a hundred thousand or more on.

There is a way to tell the difference.

Houses:
Coasties build homes on stilts or pilings that puts the bottom floor at least 4 feet higher than the record high water mark.
Idiots build homes on a standard foundation and wonder why their insurance premiums are five times higher than the coasties on the same water front.

Boats:
Coasties look at the storm warnings, the track and then put to sea with the optimal idea of getting as far to either side of the track as possible, thus making the chance of their boat becoming a submarine.
Idiots double up or triple up on mooring lines with the idea that the boat will not be swept away and insuring that their boat becomes a one use only submarine, and wonder why claims adjusters fight paying out the full claim.

Storms:
Coasties look at the warnings, projected path and then make a decision based on past experience whether or not to get the hell out of the way, and if it is get the hell out of the way, do so as fast as possible, the idea if the storm misses, better safe than sorry, and usually keep a supply of plywood in a shed to board up windows.

Idiots look at the warnings, listen to the advisory to evacuate, then go to the store and stock up on food that has to be cooked, booze and ice, then when they realize they fucked up, wait for some poor cop or fireman to rescue their sorry ass, all the while wondering why their pretty windows are being shattered.

Now a lot of these idiot types are the same idiots who scream about government handouts, big government and all the woes caused by government agencies and bureaucrats.

And they are going to be at the head of the line when FEMA opens the doors to start handing out grants and loans to rebuild.

And when they do rebuild, they will not listen to anyone about building on pilings or stilts because the houses wont look pretty.

Oh, every city and town along the projected impact zone of Harvey offered free transportation out of the high impact zone, because the last hurricane that hit, people waited till the last minute to leave and were caught by the storm on the fucking highways with no where to find shelter.

So the question I pose:

Is it really the responsibility for the government to rescue shit for brains idiots who watch their neighbors prep for the storm and then leave and instead of doing the same, decide its time for a party?

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RE: Since Texas had a visit from Harvey a few points... - 8/27/2017 7:18:13 PM

DesFIP

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Unfortunately, yes. I've got a family beach house on a barrier beach. Some hurricanes we'll ride out. Some we evacuate for. But after forty years we can tell which are which.

Now, the federal seashore preserve came asking for an easement so they can add sand to the high dune under a corner of the deck. We were delighted to agree. And then we got packages of incomprehensible forms, in triplicate, all requiring notarization. Three trips to the bank later, with the bank manager reading these things also to decide what I should be answering, I think I've given them everything.

The one that got me was the one asking if the people I'm giving this easement is a foreign national. Shouldn't the federal government know if they're a foreign national?

And now that we've done all this, none of the work is scheduled to begin before next summer.

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RE: Since Texas had a visit from Harvey a few points... - 8/27/2017 9:57:50 PM

jlf1961

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quote:

ORIGINAL: DesFIP

Unfortunately, yes. I've got a family beach house on a barrier beach. Some hurricanes we'll ride out. Some we evacuate for. But after forty years we can tell which are which.

Now, the federal seashore preserve came asking for an easement so they can add sand to the high dune under a corner of the deck. We were delighted to agree. And then we got packages of incomprehensible forms, in triplicate, all requiring notarization. Three trips to the bank later, with the bank manager reading these things also to decide what I should be answering, I think I've given them everything.

The one that got me was the one asking if the people I'm giving this easement is a foreign national. Shouldn't the federal government know if they're a foreign national?

And now that we've done all this, none of the work is scheduled to begin before next summer.

A good friend of mine, who's family has been on the Texas coast since before the Texans kicked Santa Anna's ass, built a 'house' a few years ago on land that had been in his family for over a hundred years and no one ever thought to build there.

House is a very VERY loose term.

First thing he did was cut a 40 foot wide, 9 foot deep channel from the shore to where he was going to put his home, then floated a barge to that point.

Then he used the barge like the foundation of a house, running water and sewage lines to through hull fittings in the barge hull, setting up the connection lines to the utilities on heavy duty hose coiling units similar to what they use on ships, with 90 foot flexible hose connecting them to the water and sewage systems.

Then he built his house on the barge, had 9 concrete and steel pilings set 20 foot into the ground and extending 12 feet into the air.

basically, the barge hull will float on the storm surge, rising along the pilings, and when the water recedes, it settles right back down where it started. It has ridden out every major storm that has come ashore since 2004, with nothing damaged but his dishes.

The major issue was insurance, the housing insurance people insist its a boat and the maritime insurance people insisted it was not.

He got the idea while he was living in Holland.

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RE: Since Texas had a visit from Harvey a few points... - 8/28/2017 4:21:48 AM

WhoreMods

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Clever guy. Very, very clever indeed. I had no idea they built like that anywhere in Holland.

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RE: Since Texas had a visit from Harvey a few points... - 8/28/2017 4:29:15 AM

bounty44

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quote:

ORIGINAL: jlf1961

Along the coast lines of the US you have two kinds of people, coasties and idiots.
So the question I pose:

Is it really the responsibility for the government to rescue shit for brains idiots who watch their neighbors prep for the storm and then leave and instead of doing the same, decide its time for a party?

there is essentially already a thread on this topic, in which you have participated. why start another thread?

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RE: Since Texas had a visit from Harvey a few points... - 8/28/2017 4:56:17 AM

WhoreMods

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quote:

ORIGINAL: bounty44

quote:

ORIGINAL: jlf1961

Along the coast lines of the US you have two kinds of people, coasties and idiots.
So the question I pose:

Is it really the responsibility for the government to rescue shit for brains idiots who watch their neighbors prep for the storm and then leave and instead of doing the same, decide its time for a party?

there is essentially already a thread on this topic, in which you have participated. why start another thread?

Maybe because he thought that a thread that wasn't started by an apologist for the shitgibbon might be untainted by the displays of shitflinging that pass for debate in P&R when two or three of your bloods appear in the same thread?

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RE: Since Texas had a visit from Harvey a few points... - 8/28/2017 9:49:31 AM

Hillwilliam

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quote:

ORIGINAL: bounty44

quote:

ORIGINAL: jlf1961

Along the coast lines of the US you have two kinds of people, coasties and idiots.
So the question I pose:

Is it really the responsibility for the government to rescue shit for brains idiots who watch their neighbors prep for the storm and then leave and instead of doing the same, decide its time for a party?

there is essentially already a thread on this topic, in which you have participated. why start another thread?

This thread is about individual experience and preparedness with nary a political bent

Try reading some day.

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RE: Since Texas had a visit from Harvey a few points... - 8/28/2017 10:27:30 AM

DesFIP

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I'd call it a houseboat myself.

We build on telephone poles ourselves. The shortest one, supporting the outside deck, inland side, is only four feet. The big ones are probably 10' poles.

With that said, in the hurricane of '38 the community next to ours lost almost every house. Four of them were found floating on the ocean afterwards, towed back to shore and put back up on their pilings. They've survived since then.

From what I've read, superstorm Sandy couldn't hold a candle to the hurricane of '38.

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RE: Since Texas had a visit from Harvey a few points... - 8/28/2017 10:41:42 AM

jlf1961

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Strictly speaking, the unit, once in place cannot be moved without redigging the channel to the open water, so by maritime code, it is not a houseboat.

And since it is not on a permanent foundation, the home owners insurance companies do not consider it a 'house.'

Hell he even tried to get it insured as a mobile home and got nowhere.

Considering the fact that Holland has been dealing with areas below sea level and subject to flooding, it would make sense if their solution were not adopted here in the states, especially in coastal areas.

The Dutch pioneered floating and 'float-able' homes over the last fifty years, with remarkable results.

There is a few options other than telephone poles, since the creosote they use to treat them is flammable. Of course the perfect wood for such applications is no longer able to be harvested due to new federal regulations concerning wetlands.

Swamp Cypress. Grows in brackish water, so it is naturally full of salts, is immune to most insects that would try to eat it due to high tannin acid content, hard as iron and does not warp over time, even when immersed in water (some square rigged and schooner rigged ships built of the stuff have yet to hog, and they are over 120 years old.)

If you can find it, the cost is as high as teak per board foot, if not higher.

In the old days, to cut em down, swamp dwellers used to cut a notch as deep as possible and pack it with blasting powder since it dulls an axe and saw in minutes.

The only legal way to harvest them is to find some that have fallen in storms due to what bit of ground around the roots being washed out.

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RE: Since Texas had a visit from Harvey a few points... - 8/28/2017 10:53:01 AM

WhoreMods

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I take it those grow a bit bigger in the 'States than they do over here, then? You'd think if the stuff was that useful and sold for that much, somebody would try planting a few groves of the things for logging away from the wetlands. Or do they have to be planted on or in salt water swamps to reach their full growth and badassery?

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RE: Since Texas had a visit from Harvey a few points... - 8/28/2017 11:42:09 AM

Hillwilliam

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quote:

ORIGINAL: WhoreMods

I take it those grow a bit bigger in the 'States than they do over here, then? You'd think if the stuff was that useful and sold for that much, somebody would try planting a few groves of the things for logging away from the wetlands. Or do they have to be planted on or in salt water swamps to reach their full growth and badassery?

They're a slow growing tree so you're talking a normal human lifetime from planting to harvest and the territory they grow in isn't exactly conducive to men or equipment.

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RE: Since Texas had a visit from Harvey a few points... - 8/28/2017 11:47:02 AM

WhoreMods

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Got you. A hardwood that grows far too slow for husbandry.

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RE: Since Texas had a visit from Harvey a few points... - 8/28/2017 2:45:15 PM

DesFIP

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If it helps, years ago nobody would insure Fire Island. Dad gave up on anyone in the US and went to Lloyds of London.

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