Hurricane Sandy
Radio Appearance: Morning AMp, Vocalo Radio 90.7 FM Chicago
Last Chicago-focused post until next week- I promise.
However, this one’s not a “downer” like the other posts. In fact, I’m happy that I can share this with readers.
Back on Friday, February 8, I blogged about a terrific piece on Chicago-area preppers and guns that was done by Aurora Aguilar, a project editor over at Chicago public radio station WBEZ 91.5 FM. Published on the WBEZ website two days earlier, “Preppers: Guns are the most important tool in preparing for the end of civilization,” was the second story in a series by Aguilar entitled “Our Guns,” which are “conversations with gun owners.”
Now, later that Friday, Ms. Aguilar invited me to participate in a local show she was to be appearing on at the start of the next business week. I accepted, and on Monday, February 11, I found myself on the Morning AMp, a call-in talk show hosted by Brian Babylon and Molly Adams on Vocalo Radio 90.7 FM Chicago.
(Editor’s note: I didn’t have many details about the show beforehand, so I didn’t alert readers about the event)
From the show’s archive section on the Vocalo website:
Preppers: Preparing for the end of civilization with guns
George describes himself as “half-hillbilly, half-Viking.”
WBEZ’s Aurora Aguilar talked with George Drouillard (a pseudonym) about his preparedness plan. It maybe a devastating blizzard or a government takeover, either way George is ready with canned food, extra batteries, shovels, and lots and lots of guns. Aguilar joins hosts Molly Adams and Brian Babylon in the studio while Christopher Hill, editor of Survival and Prosperity, calls in to discuss the lifestyle choice that George has made and the community that supports it.
Brian and Molly were gracious hosts and were great to talk to. Aurora was terrific- again. As for me? I thought I could have done better, quite frankly. But I really appreciate having been given the opportunity to appear on the show and contribute what I’ve observed and learned over the last couple of years. Thank you so much Brian, Molly, and especially Aurora.
You can listen to our discussion of Chicago-area preppers and guns on Vocalo here (click on the “Play” symbol under the photo of “George” near the top-left-hand-side of the page).
By the way, before I said goodbye to the group that morning I pointed out there were still people without electricity as a result of Hurricane Sandy, which hit the East Coast last October. CNBC noted the Friday before the interview that some 2,000 people in New Jersey and and New York were still without power from the costly severe weather event.
By Christopher E. Hill, Editor
Survival And Prosperity (www.survivalandprosperity.com)
GDP Drop Blamed On Hurricane Sandy, Republicans
In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, some talking heads on the TV were saying how the U.S. economy would take a significant hit from all the destruction. I remember turning to my girlfriend and saying, “Well, there’s their out.” I went on to explain that if the economic numbers for the fourth quarter ended up being crummy, the White House would just go ahead and blame Sandy.
So while I was a little surprised to hear about the drop in GDP today (I thought enough “stimulus” was already coursing through the financial system), the same can’t be said about what the White House said this morning. Alan Krueger, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, wrote on The White House Blog today:
According to the “advance” estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis today, real GDP edged down 0.1 percent at an annual rate in the fourth quarter of 2012, amid signs that Hurricane Sandy disrupted economic activity and Federal defense spending declined precipitously, likely due to uncertainty stemming from the sequester. This was the first quarterly drop in real GDP in three-and-a-half years (see first chart below). Over the last fourteen quarters, the economy has expanded by 7.5 percent overall, and the private components of GDP have grown by 10.9 percent. During the four quarters of 2012, real GDP grew by 1.5 percent, the third consecutive year of economic expansion.
(Editor’s note: Italics added for emphasis)
Don’t get me started on that “economic expansion” bit, as it’s been oh-so-terrific for many Americans.
Hurricane Sandy’s economic impact and a decline in government spending last quarter is repeatedly mentioned in the blog post, leading some to believe that the Obama administration is blaming the economic contraction last quarter a good deal on that late October storm and the Republican Party. Reuters’ Mark Felsenthal wrote on Yahoo! News this afternoon:
The White House on Wednesday blamed the surprising contraction of the economy at the end of last year at least partly on Republican “political brinkmanship” for threatening to let defense cuts take effect.
White House spokesman Jay Carney said similar threats over a looming March 1 deadline when defense and other cuts take effect absent a broader budget deal could similarly hurt the U.S. economy and taxpayers.
“This is political brinkmanship with one primary victim, and that is American taxpayers and the American middle class,” Carney said at a briefing.
“Our economy is facing a major headwind … and that’s Republicans in Congress.”
(Editor’s note: Italics added for emphasis)
Since the campaign for the 2008 U.S. Presidential election, Barack Obama and the Democratic Party have consistently blamed George W. Bush and the Republican Party for the nation’s ongoing economic woes (I submit both major political parties are truly at fault and the damage began decades earlier). Believing that this strategy worked to retain the Oval Office in 2012, and based on Carney’s words today, be prepared to hear even more blamethrowing of this type going forward in President Obama’s second term.
In the meantime, the financial house of cards keeps growing more unstable with trillions of dollars of debt being continually heaped upon it.
Hurricane Sandy. The GOP. How about the “stimulus” being injected into the cancer (debt)-ridden patient is perhaps becoming less effective over time? Instead of a strong, sustainable economic recovery, we’re seeing a weak one that’s requiring constant assistance.
What QE are we on again?
Furthermore, Washington and the Fed are “running out of bullets.” It’s somewhat amazing they’ve managed to “kick the can down the road” this far.
Looking back on today’s GDP announcement and related events, it’s apparent the blamethrowers are alive and well in the nation’s capital.
And the proverbial brick wall- or our “financial reckoning day,” as some like to call it- keeps getting closer.
Be advised.
By Christopher E. Hill, Editor
Survival And Prosperity (www.survivalandprosperity.com)
Sources:
Krueger, Alan. “Advance Estimate of GDP for the Fourth Quarter of 2012.” The White House Blog. 30 Jan. 2013. (http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/01/30/advance-estimate-gdp-fourth-quarter-2012). 30 Jan. 2013.
Felsenthal, Mark. “White House blames Republican ‘brinkmanship’ for GDP contraction.” Reuters. 30 Jan. 2013. (http://news.yahoo.com/white-house-accuses-republicans-brinkmanship-spending-cuts-181022857–business.html). 30 Jan. 2013.
Preppers Under Attack, Part 1
“There are those who think the Doomsday Preppers is an extreme model of self-preparedness; I just see them as an extreme model of selfishness.”
-Valerie Lucus-McEwen, emergency manager/blogger, Emergency Management website, November 29, 2012
I don’t know about you, but it seems to me that “preppers” are coming under increasing attack these days. Maybe this animosity stems from numerous reports of preppers making it through Hurricane Sandy in decent shape while many of their neighbors suffered. Or maybe it’s because modern survivalists and the fruits of their labor are visual reminders to others that they’re lagging behind in providing for their/their family’s safety in a dangerous world (Sandy was yet one more reminder that government can’t always be there for you). There’s probably envy too, where if I don’t have an emergency food supply, then you can’t have one either. Hoarder.
Since the end of November, I’ve been watching a series of posts by Valerie Lucus-McEwen, an experienced emergency manager and blogger on the Emergency Management website. In her Disaster Academia blog on November 29, Lucus-McEwen penned a post entitled, “Doomsday Preppers are Socially Selfish.” You can probably guess by that title that she’s not a big fan of those preppers featured on National Geographic Channel’s hit show. From that piece:
You might wonder why someone like me, who has been in the business of encouraging disaster preparedness for a very long time, is so critical of people who are doing just that. It’s because they are being socially selfish – preparing themselves and the hell with everyone else. Instead of spending time and energy making changes that would benefit the larger community, in their very narrow focus of loyalty they are more concerned about themselves.
Now, to set things straight, Lucus-McEwen’s beef in this post seems to be with the “Doomsday Preppers,” not preppers in general. She said the Doomsday Preppers were “being socially selfish – preparing themselves and the hell with everyone else.” And she does seem to have a point- in a number of cases. Lucus-McEwen falls victim to generalizing here (who hasn’t at one time or another?). Or not watching enough episodes. Because right off the bat I can think of two preppers from season 1- Preston White and Bruce Beach- who were willing to share their seeds with and provide shelter to members of their community in the event of disaster.
As for the “socially-selfish” preppers, one thing to keep in mind here that a lot of people forget (or never realized in the first place) is that Doomsday Preppers is part of National Geographic Channel’s “American Outliers” programming. So it should be of no surprise that the preppers featured in this TV series might be a little bit “different” from other preppers who I’ve heard say time and time again that they’d share their food, water, and other preps with others “until it hurts.” So much so that they’ve gone out and acquired above and beyond what they need should it come to that.
Finally, are any preppers really “socially-selfish?” After all, the preparations they’ve made to take care of themselves/loved ones/neighbors free up government resources to assist others in the community after a disaster. Looking at it this way, the argument could be made that prepping is actually a socially-responsible activity, rather than a socially-selfish one.
Anyway, Lucus-McEwen’s blog post subsequently generated a lot of “attention” from preppers. So much so she’s followed-up “Doomsday Preppers are Socially Selfish” with:
“DOOMSDAY Preppers vs. DISASTER Preppers- What We Have Here Is A Failure To Communicate”,
“Doomsday Preppers: Mea Culpa”, and
“OK, I Get It. Preppers Aren’t Selfish. I Was Wrong. I Apologize …”
Yikes.
Part 2 will be published after the weekend.
(Editor’s note: Part 2 has been published here.)
Nor’easter Could Strike East Coast By Wednesday
While the politicians are busy prematurely patting each other on the back and the mainstream media continues to candy-coat the carnage and conditions on the East Coast post-Hurricane Sandy, more severe weather looks to be heading into the devastated area by Wednesday. From the Associated Press tonight:
A nor’easter taking shape Monday in the Gulf of Mexico was expected to begin its march up the coast, eventually passing within 50 to 100 miles of the wounded New Jersey coastline on Wednesday. The storm was expected to bring winds of up to 55 mph, coastal flooding, up to 2 inches of rain along the shore, and several inches of snow to Pennsylvania and New York.
One of the biggest fears was that the storm could bring renewed flooding to parts of the shore where Sandy wiped out natural beach defenses and protective dunes.
“It’s going to impact areas many areas that were devastated by Sandy. It will not be good,” said Bruce Terry, the lead forecaster for the National Weather Service.
(Editor’s note: Italics added for emphasis)
“It will not be good.”
I first blogged about this potential nor’easter last Friday.
Electric companies in the region warn that the approaching storm could cause more power outages in the coming days. From a Consolidated Edison news release earlier today:
While Con Edison continues to return electricity to customers since Hurricane Sandy moved out, the company is monitoring the rain and wind forecasted for later this week. The company said high winds and heavy rains could delay work on homes and businesses affected by Hurricane Sandy and could cause additional outages.
(Editor’s note: Italics added for emphasis)
Mother Nature continues to be in a tizzy these days. Prepare accordingly.
Source:
“Nor’easter on track to hit weather-beaten New York, New Jersey.” Associated Press. 5 Nov. 2012. (http://www.foxnews.com/weather/2012/11/05/noreaster-on-track-to-hit-weather-beaten-new-york-new-jersey/). 5 Nov. 2012.
New Yorkers Eating Out Of Dumpsters After Hurricane Sandy
Trying to get a clear picture of Hurricane Sandy’s effects on New York City and the rest of the East Coast has been challenging.
If I rely on what the mainstream media has been showing and telling Americans, then I might be under the impression that U.S. President Barack Obama is masterfully-coordinating government assets in the clean-up of the region.
How did I get this impression? Well, there’s plenty of photos and video going around the Internet and on TV of the President looking all authoritative and on top of things these past couple of days, whether he’s in the White House “Situation Room” or with government officials from devastated areas.
Maybe he did take away something from the Benghazi terrorist attack (in addition to a guilty conscience, as a growing number of voices suggest he should have).
In fact, I might be convinced the recovery after Hurricane Sandy is doing just fine since New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has decided to let the City’s famous marathon take place as planned this coming Sunday.
The thing is, I’m not convinced.
First off, it’s the more-often-than-not liberal-leaning mainstream media we’re talking about here.
As much as I hate to say it, many journalists realize President Obama doesn’t have much of a record to run on, so they’ll do anything they can to paint him and his administration in a positive light in the run-up to Election Day.
Don’t believe me? Observe how many media outlets are wording the increase in the U.S. unemployment rate today.
Thankfully, the rest of America is catching on, albeit slowly.
That Jay Leno. What a funny guy. Even he gets what’s going on.
Whatever happened to watchdog journalism?
Maybe it never existed in the first place.
Second, when I see run-of-the-mill New Yorkers getting food out of a dumpster behind a supermarket, I know for a fact the MSM is not telling the whole story.
“Hungry New Yorkers Eating Out Of Dumpsters After Hurricane Sandy”
YouTube Video
Looting, violence, flooding, power outages, food/water/fuel shortages, now dumpster diving for food. I’ve seen enough now to realize this recovery is not as smooth as it’s being portrayed.
That being said, I know a lot of people are working their butts off trying to help those poor individuals on the East Coast- President Obama and Mayor Bloomberg included. I respect that and thank them for their efforts.
But enough spin already. Show us what the hurdles actually are- one might think listening to MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell the other day that donated clothes or canned goods aren’t needed for the massive relief effort- so we can get this part of America truly back on its feet again.
And fast, since a nor’easter looks to be headed their way.
‘Panic Buying’ Before Hurricane Sandy
Speaking of tension, I’d like to take Survival And Prosperity readers back a couple of days to Sunday afternoon, October 28.
Hurricane Sandy was still out in the Atlantic Ocean.
Ignoramuses were still saying the approaching hurricane was “over-hyped.”
And one Yahoo! Finance writer ventured out into her Manhattan neighborhood to buy last-minute necessities before the storm struck.
Stacy Curtin wrote:
So, with less than four hours until the transit system closure, Whole Foods was my store of choice.
Upon my arrival to the store around 3:30 pm ET Sunday, there was a shortage of carts and shopping baskets as customers flooded the store. And so, my shopping experience began by waiting in line at the exit for the next available cart that was no longer being used…
I have this picture in my mind of exiting customers handing off their carts to arriving customers with arms outstretched like they were receiving a baton in a relay race.
Stacy’s account was an interesting glimpse at what the “panic buying” was like in New York City prior to Hurricane Sandy’s landfall- and yet one more reminder of why it pays to be prepared for these types of events.
You can read the entire piece on the CNBC website here.
Tensions Grow On East Coast After Hurricane Sandy
Not pleased to hear about the following, but not surprised it’s happening either. From the FOX News website earlier today:
State troopers have been deployed at all gas stations along the NJ Turnpike and Garden State Parkway, where dwindling gasoline supplies are causing frayed nerves as the region endures its third full day with massive power outages.
Frustration with gas supplies topped the list of issues causing tensions to boil over in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut, the states hardest hit by power outages in the wake of superstorm Sandy. Residents jockeyed for fuel at the few stations still pumping, searched store shelves in vain for batteries, struggled with sporadic cell phone service and found themselves unable to buy necessities at supermarkets.
And I just heard the “vast majority” of ConEd customers who lost electricity from Hurricane Sandy might not have their power turned back on until the weekend of November 10-11.
Oh boy.
You can read the rest of the FOX News article on their website here.
Looting In New York City After Hurricane Sandy
We are supposed to come together as a community during times of crisis, not pick at each other like vultures. Next time I’m getting a gun.
-Roy Troyano, owner of Joann’s Discount Wine and Liquors, Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York, in a New York Daily News article earlier today
I figured it was only a matter of time before the looting started in New York City and elsewhere along the storm-ravaged East Coast in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Joe Coscarelli wrote in a brief piece on the New York Magazine website today:
During this trying time, most New Yorkers are doing their absolute best to help people out and be polite. Unfortunately, there have also been numerous reports of looting from Coney Island to Queens.
(Editor’s note: Italics added for emphasis)
And from Nancy Dillon and Matthew Lysiak on the New York Daily News website today:
A wave of looters followed the Sandy storm surge in Coney Island, creating a double-whammy for business owners trying to pick up the obliterated pieces.
The thieves started down Mermaid Avenue Tuesday morning as the chest-high water receded, turning the seaside community known for its hotdogs and tourist attractions into a lawless free-for-all.
According to one store employee at the famous tourist spot, 50 to 100 people took part in the looting spree.
Finally, Emily Anne Epstein and Adam Shergold wrote on the Daily Mail (UK) website Wednesday:
Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz has called on New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to put a stop to the looting ravaging South Brooklyn.
Police have so far arrested nearly a dozen people for the crime, but Mr Markowitz said that the FDNY, police, and other first responders are overwhelmed in the borough and desperately need relief…
Although there have only been reports of a dozen or so arrests related to lootings, media coverage and online accounts indicate the actual problem is much more widespread.
(Editor’s note: Italics added for emphasis)
The Daily Mail crew did a real fine job illustrating the looting problem going on in New York City. Check out their work here on the British paper’s website.
Sources:
Coscarelli, Joe. “Reports of Looting Follow Hurricane Sandy.” New York Magazine. 31 Oct. 2012. (http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/10/reports-of-looting-follow-hurricane-sandy.html). 31 Oct. 2012.
Dillon, Nancy and Lysiak, Matthew. “Looters target Coney Island after Sandy sweeps through.” New York Daily News. 31 Oct. 2012. (http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/looters-target-coney-island-sandy-article-1.1195080). 31 Oct. 2012.
Epstein, Emily Anne and Shergold, Adam. “‘Even momma got outta house to loot new shirt’: Looters brag on Twitter.” Daily Mail. 31 Oct. 2012. (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2225663/Even-momma-got-outta-house-loot-new-shirt-Looters-brag-Twitter-stealing-flood-hit-stores.html). 31 Oct. 2012.
Hurricane Sandy Latest
WHY is everyone in SUCH a panic about hurricane (I’m calling it Sally)..? Stop projecting negativity! Think positive and pray for peace.
-American actress Lindsay Lohan, Twitter, Sunday, October 28, 2012
Watching The Weather Channel as I downed a bagel and coffee this morning, the situation on the East Coast post-Hurricane Sandy still looks pretty bad:
• 45 fatalities reported in the continental United States and Puerto Rico
• 8.5 million U.S. and Canadian electric company customers still without power
• 7 New York City subway tunnels under the East River flooded, forcing an extended shutdown of the system that shuttles more than 5 million riders to work and home every day. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority says it’s too early to tell how long it will take to pump them out and make repairs.
• 25,000 of the 50,000 residents of Hoboken, New Jersey, trapped in their homes and running out of essentials (New Jersey National Guard responding).
• Some New Jersey barrier islands- and their residents who didn’t evacuate before the storm- remain mostly cut off
• Total damage and lost business from Hurricane Sandy could reach up to $50 billion, making it the second-costliest storm in U.S. history after 2005’s Hurricane Katrina
Here in Chicago, now-“Superstorm” Sandy resulted in high winds, high waves on Lake Michigan, and flight cancellations/delays at the airports, but no flooding or other damage as far as I’ve heard this morning.
In my neighborhood on the Northwest Side, strong wind gusts seemed to diminish as the morning went on Tuesday, so much so that I didn’t really notice the wind during a quick trip to the bank close to lunchtime.
As for those power outages in the area that The Weather Channel was warning about earlier this week? There were none that I know of, although I did witness the lights in my pad flicker once yesterday morning.
Oh well. Guess that means I have to get off my butt later on today and put away a couple of emergency preparedness items I busted out Monday in advance of the “Frankenstorm.”
Better safe than sorry though, right?
By the way, about Ms. Lohan’s “tweet?” 8 hours ago the following appeared on her Twitter page:
My twitter was hacked, please ignore the last tweet
Nice.
Chicago Prepares For Superstorm Sandy
It looks like my backed-up plumbing won’t be the only “effect” of the now “Superstorm” Sandy here in Chicago.
The National Weather Service has issued a lakeshore flood warning for the Chicago area that began at 1 AM this morning and will remain in effect until 4 PM Wednesday.
According to Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications, winds up to 60 MPH could and waves as high as 25 feet are expected to impact the city’s lakeshore and beyond.
The National Weather Service is saying that waves are already reaching 17 to 20 feet high offshore- and could increase over the next 5 or 6 hours.
According to the Chicago Tribune website this morning:
Chicago Park District officials closed the lakefront trail from North Avenue to Ohio Street Monday night and have also been securing beaches. The CTA is prepared to reroute buses as necessary, depending on the waves, [OEMC Executive Director Gary] Schenkel said.
And from the Chicago Sun-Times:
Amtrak service has been suspended from Boston south to Raleigh, North Carolina, and from the East Coast to Chicago. Both O’Hare and Midway Airports reported normal operating conditions Tuesday morning, without any significant delays. At O’Hare, some 270 flights to and from the East Coast had been cancelled as of 7:30 a.m., while 70 flights were cancelled at Midway.
As of now, there are no plans to close Lake Shore Drive.
Here on the Northwest Side, I’m more concerned about losing power from the high winds- and have prepared accordingly.
And as I look outside (10:27 AM Chicago time) the wind gusts seem to be picking up.
Stay safe Chicago!
Sources:
“People urged to stay clear of lakefront as Sandy makes waves here.” Chicago Tribune. 30 Oct. 2012. (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-officials-warn-of-high-winds-possible-flooding-near-lakefront-20121030,0,2187506.story). 30 Oct. 2012.
“Storm Sandy winds arrive in Chicago.” Chicago Sun-Times. 30 Oct. 2012. (http://www.suntimes.com/16046778-761/storm-sandy-winds-arrive-in-chicago.html). 30 Oct. 2012.
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