I have seen enough! Fabricating incidents so that wars can be fought; taking all privacy and right to due process from us in the name of national security; pipelines of our communication on a straight line to Maryland to protect us from terrorists; bailouts that paid for bonuses for the one percent; America sold for oil, gas and nuclear power; crumbling infrastructure while members of Congress drive Lexus; more and more homeless, many of them veterans, while our president takes his friends to Hawaii in Air Force One.

In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. Dwight D. Eisenhower

websites could be taken down because the Justice Department (DoJ) says the site is conducting infringing activities

The Congress and the House of Representatives have come up two separate bills to further curtail our freedoms. I guess it is just too hard for the poor peeps to tackle something important, like sending jobs overseas, corruption on capitol hill, the environmental dangers posed by fracking and the XL pipeline, climate change, the disappearing middle class, etc.

Oh, but they have time to write the bills that will take away the few pleasures left to the public that is struggling to work, live and pay taxes.

Congress is about to pass Internet censorship, even though the vast majority of Americans are opposed to it. We need to kill the bills – PIPA in the Senate and SOPA in the House – to protect our rights to free speech, privacy, and prosperity.

S.968 – PROTECT IP Act of 2011

PIPA -Establishes process by which a

. The DoJ or the copyright owner would begin legal action and the DoJ could demand that search engines, social networking sites and domain name services block access to the targeted site.This could all be done without anyone being heard by a judge.

Stop Protect IP Adresses (PIPA) – Read the bill here.

H.R.3261 – Stop Online Piracy Act

SOPA – Basically the same as PIPA, with some additions: . . . against any site they deem to have “only limited purpose or use other than infringement,” . . . It would also make unauthorized web streaming of copyrighted content a felony with a possible penalty up to five years in prison. This bill combines two separate Senate bills — S.968 and S.978.

Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) - Read the bill here.

People are saying these bills will break the Internet.  In protest many of the large websites, like Wikipedia are “blacking out” their websites tomorrow 1/18. I have decided I will add this post to all my blogs as a public service announcement,

Flash Floods

On Monday, January 9, black clouds loaded with rain and wind moved across Houston from southeast to southwest. These same clouds had flooded Katy and Richmond, Texas.  In Westbury, 5-1/2 inches of rain fell in less than 4 hours.  At the medical centers, staff rushed to shut the flood doors in the basements.  Streets, garages and parking lots in the area were flooded.  In Montrose, stranded motorists stood on the median in the rain, waiting for the water to recede. Flash flood warnings were issued for several counties.

The City of Houston conducted 20 to 30 high-water rescues, including sending dump trucks to evacuate two elementary schools that were cut off due to flood waters.  In the afternoon, South Loop 610 between Beechnut and Bellaire flooded as storm drains, blocked by fallen leaves, were unable to drain into Braes Bayou.  Braes Bayou came close to leaving its banks.  Meyerland flooded and several residents had to be evacuated.  Most vehicles were in the water until it receded and tow trucks could haul them off. Over 20,o00 homes were without power until the waters went down and repairs could be made.

Turn Around . . . Don’t Drown

At Highway 288 and the South Loop, traffic was stalled by rising flood waters. Drivers who braved the water found their cars, trucks and 18-wheelers almost completely submerged.  The video below shows why Texans always say, “Turn Around. Don’t Drown.”

Bobbing for Cars

If you cannot see the roadway for the water, turn around!  Two feet of water will float most cars. However, a car can be washed away in less, depending on the speed of the current, the design of the car, whether the car is sideways or end-on to the current, and the type of bottom. ]]

Where the current is swift and the bottom hard and smooth (like concrete roadway) and the car sits low to the ground, as little as one foot of water with a speed of 6 mph will move most cars. If the car is heavy and has plenty of clearance, the bottom is sand or gravel (like riverbed) and the current slow, it may take deeper water to move the car. (cfspress.com/carwater.htm).

Cars and trucks are not waterproof. A car or truck will quickly fill with floodwater.  How quick?  After Hurricane Alicia, they found cars in underpasses. The occupants were still in seatbelts, the keys were in the ignitions and the cars were in gear. There was no time to even attempt to flee.

Tornadoes

A tornado touched down along Highway 6 in Sugarland, southwest of Houston, damaging several businesses and flipping four mobile homes. Meanwhile, in Texas City, roughly 40 miles southeast of Houston, a tornado damaged the roof and wall of the Mall of the Mainland.  Several reports of tornadoes were made, but these two incidents were verified.

Could be Worse

No lives were lost on Monday, which is a miracle. The scenario could have been much worse. The front causing this weather dumped nearly 11 inches of snow on Midland in West Texas!  Is this Texas?  Sure!  Never be surprised by the weather.  Be prepared.

Preparing for Disaster –Part Five – Secure Your Home

Securing Your Home – Prepare in Advance

Make a few modifications to your home and yard may save your home.

• Identify outdoor items that should be brought inside and those that should be secured outdoors.
• Ensure that all dead, diseased or damaged branches are removed from trees. Cut all branches reaching over your house, whether healthy or diseased.
• Purchase 5/8″ plywood, have it cut to size to cover your windows and doors. Starting from your front door and counting clockwise, number your windows. Mark each piece of plywood with number. Have some pieces cut to brace your garage door and cover roof vent holes.
• Purchase nail gun and nails.

If Airborne Contaminants are a Possibility (chemical leak, radioactivity)

• Purchase nail gun, nails (for plywood) and enough duct tape to secure plastic (below).
• Purchase 2-4 mils. thick plastic sheeting. Cut plastic to cover windows and doors from the inside. Use waterproof marker to mark each piece of plastic with number or room name. See diagram below for proper placement. Save enough plastic to secure air conditioning unit and roof vents.

Cover all doors, windows and vents with 2-4 mil. thick plastic sheeting.  Cut the plastic sheeting several inches wider than the openings and label each sheet. Duct tape plastic at corners first, then tape down all edges.

Trouble Coming Soon

Last Minute Chores

• Secure outdoor items or move them inside.
• Remove window and door screens and store them inside.
• Secure windows and doors by closing and locking each one. Cover windows and doors from the outside with 5/8″ plywood. Leave back door uncovered. Cover this door when you leave.
• Strengthen/brace garage doors from the inside with 5/8″ plywood.
• Remove outside antennas.
• Remove roof turbines and install 5/8″ plywood over the hole. Alternatively, cover the turbine with plastic and tie down. Leave plumbing vents uncovered.
• Wrap air conditioning unit in plastic.
• If you think its necessary, you may want to seal your windows and doors from the inside with plastic (see picture above). This WILL NOT keep water out. It is to be used if you need to keep dust, ash or contamination out.

The Getaway

• Check the radio or TV one more time and ensure evacuation is still necessary.
• Move your cars into your garage unless you are driving out.
• Move furniture out from walls a foot or two.
• Stash non-perishable food you are leaving in suitcases in different areas of your home.
• Fill your bathtubs and sinks with water.
• Hide your waterproof, fireproof lock box in a place of your choosing.
• Empty your fridge, leaving door open. If you are driving, pack snacks, fruit, water and ice into an ice chest and take with you.
• Unplug all electrical appliances.
• Open all interior doors in your home and secure with tape, doorstop, brick, etc.
• Shut off water, gas and electricity at the source.
• Confer with your neighbors, friends and family. Let them know where you are going and offer them a ride or encouragement if needed.
• Place a small sign saying EVACUATED in a front window of your home so emergency workers will not waste time checking your home or apartment.
• If you decide to leave your animal behind, leave a week’s supply of food and several water sources. Put a sign in the window:  DOG/CAT INSIDE-RESCUE ME, where the animal normally stays.
• Take a moment and think about what you need to do and make sure you have everything you need: medicines, maps, money, emergency information, weather radio.
• Remember that you have already secured what is important to you and your family. Relax and remain calm.
• Grab your getaway bags, family, animals and go.
• Lock your back door. Cover back door with plywood as you leave.

If You Decide to Stay

It is your choice to stay when the evacuation order is issued. However, if you decide to stay, please write your social security number on your arm, using a waterproof marker. Doing so will make it easier to identify your body. Please remember that someone has to risk their life to check your home for bodies. There are bodies remaining from Katrina that have not been identified.

Also realize that you may be cut off from water, heat, electricity, gas and trapped in your home for up to 30 days. You may not be able to drive out to get food, potable water, lanterns, etc.  Your roof could be damaged or gone, the windows may be broken or missing.  What you have in your home is your lifeline until the emergency is over.

By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail – Benjamin Franklin

Written by Eileen Trainor aka CyberCelt of Texas RV Travel and Texas RV Travel blog All rights reserved, but please feel free to distribute, as is, to others. Originally written in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina. Updated Wednesday, September 17, 2011.