Cycling in Emergency Situations

I'm looking for stories.

Last night, a tornado ripped through Tuscaloosa where my daughter is in school. She was in a shelter and is fine. But the tornado cut a 1 mile wide swath through town making it impossible to get from one side of the damage to her home (or anywhere else) on the other side. This was due to massive damage, emergency services, and AUTOMOBILE GRIDLOCK. of course, with a bike, she would have had complete mobility in the aftermath.

I'm on a local task force for cycling where we've discussed the role that bicycle transportation might have in a disaster.

Does anyone have stories to share where your bicycle has been critical to you in a crisis situation?

First, I just wanted to say that I'm so glad your daughter is safe and wasn't injured in the storm.

In '96 a devastating tornado hit a nearby town and demolished most of the homes and getting around by bike was optimal because of the debris littering the streets. In Vilonia, AR, a tornado hit and ripped up the asphalt of the streets so having an ATV or mtb would be to your advantage. Having a bike with Stan's is my choice set up as there is so much that can puncture car tires, much less bike tires. Emergency and relief workers often carry Fix A Flat for their vehicles when emergency transportation is critical. Tornados are scary and I hope you never have to experience it first hand.

I don't have a story either but so glad your daughter is safe! How scary.

Mr. Bloom - I'm glad to hear that your daughter is safe.

The husband of a cousin of mine rode his son's bicycle out of New Orleans before Hurricane Katrina hit. Apparently he didn't leave with the family, so was stuck without a car by his own choice on the day before the storm made landfall (let's not get into the family dynamic, they're a tad disfunctional). His boss begged him to leave - so the guy hopped the bike and rode some 30 miles north past the gridlock. This is a man who never did more than casually tool around the neighborhood.

I road my 3 speed when I got home (post Katrina) partly because gas prices were so high, or stations weren't open. And I figured I'd be less likely to get a flat than if I was driving my car. So for local stuff, it was on the bike. I even bike commuted until traffic got heavier and I was scared I'd get hit by a car. Sometime in there, I did get multiple nails in my car tires, and had trouble finding a tire shop that was open.

Kinda related, after 9/11, my (long-distance) BF and I put together an emergency plan that's basically we drive as far as we can then use bikes to meet up in a town that's halfway between us.

My mother and brother might be considered "survivalists" (they prefer the term "prepared") so bicycles have always been the backup plan for any emergency travel situation.

No advice but glad she is okay!

So glad your daughter's OK. It's hard to really comprehend the destruction down in AL.

I have used my bike for transport in a natural disaster. It was an ice storm, of all things. Since I don't have a garage, my car was parked outside, and ended up encased in more than an inch of ice. There was a day when the main roads were basically ice-free, but I still couldn't chip my car out of the ice, so I got around by bike. Not pleasant, but it worked.

Mr. B, I'm so glad your daughter is safe. I thought of you when I saw the new last night. Do you have any other family in the area and are they okay?

No actual experience, but I was just thinking about this yesterday. I should probably keep my hybrid in shape and/or put cross tires on my old roadie.

My bf and I have also talked about getting enduro sport motorcycles in case of emergency (ok and for fun too) - traffic would be a major cluster, and we might need to ride over things. If we needed to get out of town in a hurry, that would be a good choice.

Glad your daughter is all right, Mr. Bloom!

Always have a pair of work gloves, a pair of boots in easy reach for disaster. Boots/shoes are really important because of the debris outside. Lots of broken glass after a disaster. You should also keep two 8x11 sheets. One with We're OKAY! in big green letters. A second with NEED HELP!! in big red letters. When the disaster hits you can tape the appropriate sign on the front window where it can be seen easily.

Have a MTB instead of regular road bike for the same reason. Having a panier available for your MTB would be good too. Keep emergency supply in the panier along with first aid kit.

And if you have an amateur radio license, keep a hand held charged up with your emergency supply. My partner and I keep a set of 2-way radios, which doesn't require a license. You can pick them up at a sporting good stores, Radio Shack, Fry's etc. Being able to communicate is really important after a disaster.

We were a part of local disaster preparedness group. And I thought of joining DCS until they lost ... oh never mind.

Lastly to all, if a police car or fire truck goes through your neighborhood without stopping don't get angry. They are assessing the damage first!!

KI6YMF

Soooo glad your daughter is safe. Tornadoes scare me.

No personal experience, but I've seen a couple of news articles about renewed popularity of bicycles in Japan post-earthquake/tsunami.

Glad your DD is OK. How scary for everyone involved!

Glad to hear that your DD is safe. I'm sure you were worried sick last night.

First, Thanks for the good wishes. I'm feeling blessed and grateful tonight. Dd's best friend suffered a broken back and is in surgery in Birmingham (with a good prognosis) as I type this; another sorority sister's body was found today:(

Also, thanks for the stories and thought provoking suggestions. Please keep the experiences and ideas coming! I particularly like the Katrina stories...I've got this vision of one wicked fast tailwind pushing that guy inland like greased lightening!:D

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Originally Posted by Mr. Bloom

Dd's best friend suffered a broken back and is in surgery in Birmingham (with a good prognosis) as I type this; another sorority sister's body was found today:(

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glad to hear her best friend will be ok, but oh no about her sorority sisters. :( I'm so very sorry...

So do they just not have the preparedness that we have in Tornado Alley? I know they said people had an hour warning in many cases, but I'm wondering if they don't have storm shelters, sirens, places to hide. It just breaks my heart for them. At least we are ready for it, but when you're not used to it and don't know what to do.... :( :( :( :(

I have outraced a thunder storm with lightning on my bike, squeeked in under the overhang of a shell garage as the first bolt hit about 1/2 mile away behind me. This was followed by marble sized hail.

We also rode into a town and found shelter in a gas station from a major windstorm and a small tornado that went through about 5 miles from us on the cross country.

Because the storms blow up so fast in Texas, I always check the radar and then keep an eye out for storms and if the wind suddenly changes direction, temperature or intensity, I start looking for bail out points or if out in the country, a nice ditch away from power line and trees with somewhere to put my bike away from me or on the other side of the road.

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Originally Posted by Tri Girl

So do they just not have the preparedness that we have in Tornado Alley? I know they said people had an hour warning in many cases, but I'm wondering if they don't have storm shelters, sirens, places to hide. It just breaks my heart for them. At least we are ready for it, but when you're not used to it and don't know what to do.... :( :( :( :(

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We definitely don't. We're not used to serious warnings, and most people don't pay that close attention to the news. Most people do not have shelters or access to shelters (official shelters were only opened here after the storms passed and people were left homeless), there aren't sirens (well - the sirens we have for a nuke plant and a university I don't believe are keyed into the system). Lots of homes (I would guess more than 1/2) don't have basements - so you're options are limited. There are also lots of mobile homes in the rural areas.

So sad:(

I would say a mountain bike with tubeless tires or slime tubes is going to be most beneficial. Second thought would be a cross bike again with slime or super tough tires. Lights or at least little blinkies, even in daylight this draws attention with chaos it is helpful. So sorry for your daughter to lose a friend, at least she has her sorority family to help her and vice versa.

We don't have basements in Texas but do know the proper drill, we practiced it often in school. My husband and I have had to cram into our guest bath tub (most interior part of house) with our cat and dog. No matter how often you've done it you never get used to it. A tornado hit the next town (F1 scale) but it sounded like it was closer than 12 miles with that storm.

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Originally Posted by Blueberry

We definitely don't. We're not used to serious warnings, and most people don't pay that close attention to the news. Most people do not have shelters or access to shelters (official shelters were only opened here after the storms passed and people were left homeless), there aren't sirens (well - the sirens we have for a nuke plant and a university I don't believe are keyed into the system). Lots of homes (I would guess more than 1/2) don't have basements - so you're options are limited. There are also lots of mobile homes in the rural areas.

So sad:(

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That makes me so sad. :( We don't have basements here in OK, but like Amanda said- we've practiced enough and know where to go to be safe. When there's severe weather, you KNOW there's a possibility for tornadoes and you mentally prepare for what to do in case of emergency. It's in our DNA.
I'm so very sorry for your communities. So very sorry for the loss of life (and as the numbers keep rising, my heart breaks even more).
In OKC, we had an F5 tornado come through in 1999. It was on the ground for hundreds of miles and devastated some very populated areas, yet the loss of life was only a handful. We know what to do, and I'm so sorry that you guys were hit with such devastating storms and were so helpless in protecting yourselves. It's just not fair. :(