Texas Mayor on blizzard: Be A Part of the Solution!

[jwinfield]

Pieces of shyt.

 

[BaileyPark31]

I need to learn more about the power grid structure in Texas and the US in general.

 

[Lord_nikon]

He cant spell or write

Crazy how ppl this stupid end up in positions like mayor

one thing I have 100% learned from the last administrations, law and politics in the US,,,,,,,,all these CAC's will stay on Code, No frat or sorority required. And the nepotism is another story

 

[Voice of Reason]

Black folks need to get up on survival strategies and gear

 

[invalid]

For those not paying attention still, including @boy, this has nothing to do with personal responsibility and bootstraps, and everything to do with Texas and their shytty government elected officials. Only state not connected to the national power grid, allows companies to run deregulated. No winterizing on their equipment, which is a regulation they get to skip out on, caused massive utility failures. Cities in Texas that are connected to the national grid are having NO issues.

I'm not co-signing "personal responsibility" and "bootstrap". I said his message isn't all the way off base, that part of the message was.

My question is this of which I asked before...

The Texas State government comes out and takes responsibility and says that right now they don't have the capacity to fix the issue immediately but they are working around the clock to get it fixed.

Electricity is still going to be out. What are you going to do?

Trying to find blame for the problem is not going to turn your lights back on.

The next logical step is to find solutions to address your needs.

And then say "what can I do so I'm not in this vulnerable position again?"

Part of the message the mayor was giving was being proactive about the situation. And I agree with that. I don't agree that it is because of laziness or wanting handouts or that the utility companies owe their customers nothing. But I do agree, that as long as someone is in that situation, they need to be proactive, on top of calling to complain or whatever else.

I get it, the bad parts of his message overshadow any good.

But I tell you what, I wouldn't be sitting in any place with icycles dripping from the ceiling hoping and wishing for power to be restored. That puts my livelihood in the hands of others. And I don't play that.

 

[invalid]

Black folks need to get up on survival strategies and gear

@DrBanneker made a wonderful thread about this.

Spoiler

Ok, I want to state outright this is not some end of world, Walking Dead type preparedness thread. Nor am I advocating building emergency bunkers and shyt like some of those wackos on NatGeo survivalist shows.

I do, however, think emergency preparedness is something every household should think of. We can all look back at Katrina and how Uncle Sam was there for us on time (not!) to understand how critical this is. Tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes all happen and in the worst case, civil breakdown given an extreme event. You should know how to care for you and yours if necessary not relying on anyone else.

Maybe it was more second nature to me since part of my fam is in the Bay Area but most people need to be able to take care of themselves for at least 3 days (1-2 weeks is better) if something happened to limit your access to 1) food, 2) water, 3) medicine. In that vein I am starting this forum out with some knowledge that I have

1) Water - most crucial. You need 1 gallon per adult per day, minimum for hydration. You could maybe get away with 1/2 for small skids but 1 is best. You will need another gallon per person for cooking if you aren't going to eat dry goods. If you have no water, you are dead in usually 3 days tops. If you keep anything, I would keep this.

What to buy: simplest thing is the 1 gallon or larger flats that you can get in the grocery store. You can buy bottled water but it is more expensive and bulkier per gallon. If you want to save space and not buy water, you can get a large container like the 15 gallon one here:

Plastic Drum - 15 Gallon, Closed Top, Natural S-19418 - Uline

or a larger 30 - 55 gallon size. MAKE SURE it is food grade plastic (FDA) before you buy it. Multiply the number of people in your house times the number of days you want to cover to figure out how much to buy.

2) Food - Typically canned food or stuff like granola bars lasts longest. Getting a variety (meat, vegetables, starches) to give everyone 2,000 calories per day is a must, though you can live off of less for a while with food.

Basic food for preparedness is protein (tuna, sardines, peanut butter), canned fruits/vegetables, crackers, granola bars, and things you may want like juice boxes or condensed milk.

Some good ideas:
The 10 Rules For Your Emergency Food Pantry

3) Medical kits

First aid kit is a must and you should try to have backups of any essential prescriptions. Also learn CPR and take a first aid class if you can

4) Leisure stuff - can't play 2k so books or whatever to fight boredom

5) Communication - if you have a landline phone, you are in the best position since cell coverage and Internet can go down pretty easily. Battery operated radio (AM/FM and/or shortwave) or even a CB can help to hear what is going on or get help.

6) Random stuff - flash lights, candles, matches, blankets, there is a lot to think about.

7) Protection - if legal where you live, buy a firearm and know how to use it (i.e. go to the range, don't just brag about it). This will be controversial with some folks but even if you can't buy a handgun like in NY, you can buy a rifle/shotgun almost anywhere. Keep about 200 rounds of ammo on hand at least. Just sayin.

One of the infuriating things if you read a bunch of these prepper books and sites is how sure they are that in a SHTF (shyt hits the fan) scenario the nikkas are going to rise up and come robbing, raping, and stealing so here is some advice--don't think the friends and co-workers are going to save your ass and may even view us as a threat or 'problem' to be dealt with. If Ferguson (which like most of Missouri and West Tennessee is on the New Madrid fault line) had an earthquake, I guarantee they will use the opportunity for "Negro removal" like they tried in NOLA. Same in Memphis, Orange Mound, etc. Don't be caught fam.



Good links for more details:

Red Cross Emergency Guide
http://www.dcma.mil/Emergency_Resources/files/RedCross_Emergency_Prepardeness_Checklist.pdf

FEMA emergency preparedness guides
https://www.fema.gov/pdf/library/f&web.pdf
Emergency Supply List | FEMA.gov

Spoiler

See below for good advice on cooking without power and a good list of foods to store for emergencies.

How to cook in the event of power outages

How to cook in the event of power outages
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Judy Walker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune By Judy Walker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
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on August 27, 2012 at 6:31 PM, updated August 31, 2012 at 9:09 AM

Hundreds of thousands in the metro New Orleans area were without power after Hurricane Isaac passed this week.

Here are some coping ideas for those who are hunkering down at home.

First of all, your freezer and refrigerator. An unopened full freezer will keep food safe to eat for about 48 hours without power; a half-full one for 24 hours.

If the contents still have icy crystals inside them, they can be refrozen, although texture may be affected.

Several variables can affect how long food will stay cool or frozen. Chest freezers may keep contents safe longer than upright ones. One big factor is the ambient temperature. The hotter the area where the appliance sits, the sooner the food inside will warm, too.

In an unopened refrigerator, highly perishable food will last four to six hours.

The American Red Cross suggests keeping an instant-read thermometer to check the temperatures of foods. Or test by feeling the package of food. The temperature you want is 40 degrees (refrigerator temperature) or below.

If food is refrigerator-cold or if it has been above that temperature for less than two hours, it probably is safe to use. In general, perishable food held above 40 degrees for more than two hours (at a picnic, on a buffet table or in a refrigerator without power) may be unsafe to eat, because bacteria can multiply rapidly between 40 and 140 degrees.

Ice or dry ice can be put inside a refrigerator or freezer to keep contents cool when the power is off. Thirty pounds of dry ice should keep the temperature inside a full, normal-size freezer below freezing for at least a couple of days, according to the LSU AgCenter's Food Safety After Power Outage publication, which is available online.

Dry ice should never be touched with bare hands; place it on cardboard or empty shelves in the freezer.

As a storm approaches, turn the temperature gauges on your refrigerator and freezer to maximum to get things as cold as possible, in case the power goes out. (And remember to turn them to normal later when the threat is over.)

Fill all available space in your freezer with containers of water, to make it more efficient and serve as a backup water supply later. Blocks of ice last longer than cubes. Water can be frozen in all sizes and kinds of containers; just remember that liquids expand as they freeze, so don't fill containers full. Water bottles of ice can go in coolers.

Ice can serve as your signal, too. If you leave town, put a bag of ice cubes in the freezer. When you return, look at it. If the cubes are intact, you didn't lose power, or at least you didn't lose power long enough for them to thaw.

Another freezer trick: Put all food in the freezer inside garbage or other plastic bags, and then put it back in the freezer. If the power is off several days and you have to throw it all away, you will have much less mess to clean.

If the power is off and food inside the freezer feels cool enough to be "refrigerator temperature," cook the most perishable food, seafood and ground meats, first, as soon as possible.

In an emergency, you can heat or cook food on:

Grill
Camping cookstove
Candle- or Sterno-fired fondue pot, chafing dishes, candle warmers
Food also could be heated in an indoor fireplace. Be sure to open the flue.
Under NO circumstances attempt to grill indoors on a charcoal or gas grill, which will produce potentially lethal carbon monoxide.
Boy Scouts make foil packs of food, and you can too. Wrap seasoned slices of raw fruits, veggies or meats in heavy-duty foil, seal and put them on the grill.

You all know the foods list: Peanut butter, black beans and other beans;, canned fish and meat, crackers, etc. But check your pantry for these other items to add interest and a twist to dishes you create.

Canned coconut milk, shredded coconut
Boboli, pizza sauce in a squeeze bottle, summer sausage, dry salami. Don't forget the parmesan cheese in the green container.
Bulghur wheat (tabouli) does not require cooking. Hydrate, fluff it with a fork, add chopped vegetables and herbs.
Low-salt broth
Canned, chunk high-quality ham
Dijon mustard, Creole mustard
Dehydrated mushrooms to add to soups; reconstitute for other dishes
Real bacon bits in a jar to flavor bland dishes
Instant pudding to prepare with evaporated or powdered milk
Unsalted nuts
Individual tea bags that don't require hot water
Instant coffee, creamer packets
Small condiment packages

I learn something every hurricane season. This year: Parmesan cheese in the green can does not have to be refrigerated! At all!

These are items you may have stored in the refrigerator, but which will keep several days at room temperature.

Catsup, mustards
Jams and jellies
Peanut butter
Oils, butter and margarine (yes, the butter will get very soft)
Bread
Unopened salad dressing or other condiments
Hard cheeses (eat the Brie, cottage cheese or cream cheese, if they're still cold, right away, as they spoil quickly)
Barbecue, soy and Worcestershire sauces

Ethnic markets are a good place for vegetarians and others to find single-serving foods.

The Gulfport Patch has some good ideas, too.

This blogger has some recommendations including use of cabbage (it keeps much longer than overnight on the counter, however), ramen noodles, how to use powdered milk and couscous.

 

[Zero]

@boy

BOI

 

[invalid]

I can't even help breh. He's got a point and I get what he's trying to imply, but he done got himself into some shyt. @boy Why did you do this to yourself, breh? Like that fakkit cac mayor, you should have chosen your words more carefully.

It's a hard job but somebody has to be the voice of reason.

 

[invalid]

Bruh I think everybody gets what you are saying, but the reason nobody gives a fukk is because this whole situation was completely preventable hell it could have been prevented YEARS ago

I don't think you all are.

The whole situation could have been preventable.

But it wasn't.

Are you all going to continue to opine in the dark about how preventable the situation could have been or are you going to do something to address your immediate needs?

 

[DJ Paul's Arm]

 

[iBrowse]

I don't even live there and I wanna throw hands

 

[invalid]

Live in a republican state and think republican officials gone do right by you brehs...

But go ahead and spend all your time arguing about "fault".

 

[Dr. Acula]

If that's the case, we shouldn't pay taxes

and then this nikka wouldn't have a salary or an office to work in. All the perks that made him want to become mayor in the first place should be taken away if he was still around. Shortsighted dumb crackas.

 

[UberEatsDriver]

Lansing MI
Grand Rapids MI
Buffalo NY
Springfield MA
Providence RI
Fresno CA
Virginia Beach VA
Tucson AZ
Peoria IL

All of them listed have a sizeable black population. Like I said, ya'll want a place you LIKE that is affordable. Ya'll rather suffer to experience Disneyland, than thrive in a lesser city. Hey, its your life

Economy. People are always going to flock to the cities that have quickly growing economies or have established large economies.

most of the cities you mentioned have stagnant growth or declining populations (some have good growth) and I’m sure there is a reason for that.

 

[UberEatsDriver]

Live in a republican state and think republican officials gone do right by you brehs...

But go ahead and spend all your time arguing about "fault".

Most people just care about living in a place that has low cost of living and for some reason they put the politics of the area they are moving to behind them.