Cycling in Emergency Situations

[limewave]

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

[bmccasland]

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.

[Pedal Wench]

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.

[paiger81]

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.

[Aggie_Ama]

No advice but glad she is okay!

[skhill]

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.

[indysteel]

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?

[tangentgirl]

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!

[smilingcat]

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

[ladyicon]

Soooo glad your daughter is safe. Tornadoes scare me.