| Hurricane Michael survival report [message #338073] |
Mon, 22 October 2018 18:31  |
caspar dioge
Messages: 7
Registered: July 2013
Location: Richmond, KY
Karma: 0
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Junior Member |
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Hi Folks:
Since Ken Henderson checked in as safe, I wanted to let folks know we and the coach weathered the storm well, if curiously.
As the storms predicted intensity rose, I had a number of offers to park the coach in more protected spaces. A friend offered me his shed. Another his paved driveway. Another, a parking place on some land adjacent to the old Panama City, Florida airport.
In the end, I ran out of time as the Storm intensified and we bugged out, north to Anniston in a car. I left the coach parked right in front of the house, exposed to the weather. Needless to say, I was quite concerned as I watched the aftermath of the storm, returning Panama City and the adjacent area to near third world conditions,
Amazingly, while trees fell over over our yard and the wind wiped out the adjacent forest, tore roofs off houses, etc., the coach just stood there in the 150 mph wind, pretty much unscathed. The Zio-Dee awning heads got ripped off somehow, but that was the only damage to the coach. The awning deployed and probably protected the coach from the 10 inches of rain that fell ... judging from the dry interior.
Had I parked the coach in the offered "dry"; shed, it would still be under the pile of bricks and twisted sheet metal. In the driveway, it would have been crushed under the trees. By the airport, it would have been a pile of metal and plastic,
And, of course, when I got back, we used it to somewhat normalize life without power or running water. Matt Colie coached me in bringing the Generator back to life. Turns out, the fuel house from the drawer swivel to the fuel pump needs to be replaced every 40 years or so ...
Highly recommend everyone check and replace that hose if you can't remember replacing it.
All in all, the coach survived well. Due to the massive clean up in my back yard from fallen trees, I won't be able to make the Chattanooga rally.
See you guys at another rally soon. Thank you for everything, folks.
Frank Sundram
77 Palm Beach with MSD Fuel injection and a working generator,
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| Re: Hurricane Michael survival report [message #338076 is a reply to message #338073] |
Tue, 23 October 2018 07:25  |
77Royale
Messages: 461
Registered: June 2014
Location: Mid Michigan
Karma: 6
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Senior Member |
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Great news and glad your okay. The GMC has served as a lifeboat a few times up here with massive ice storms in the winter which knocked power out for a few days, and with summer power outages. The neighbors dont seem to mind it parked in the driveway as much since the Onan saved about 4 different refrigerators and their contents in the last summer storm. If anything just having a hot cup of coffee for someone and a place to sit and warm up or cool down is nice to have and offer.
Best of luck in the clean up efforts.
77 Royale, Rear Dry Bath. 403, 3.55 Final Drive, Lenzi goodies, Patterson carb and dizzy.
Mid Michigan
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| Re: Hurricane Michael survival report [message #338082 is a reply to message #338076] |
Tue, 23 October 2018 17:59 |
tphipps
Messages: 3005
Registered: August 2004
Location: Spanish Fort, AL
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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As one who went in 3 days after the storm, helping provide emergency radio commo from the afflicted area back to Florida EOC, the destruction was terrible. The air force could not have provided the massive amount of destruction.
As much as the news focuses on Panama City, Mexico Beach, and Tyndall, there are many very small rural communities that are also gone.
No homes, no businesses, little infrastructure.
Tom, KA4CSG
2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552
KA4CSG
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