Hurricane prepping for newbs

I have 4 of the O2 ones and have had them for 3 yrs. at least and am quite happy with them. Battery life is good and lasts over 30 hrs. on mine. Plus if you need to use them when power is on they come with a plug. Fairly quiet tho one of the 4 is louder than the others. Whatever brand works for you as long as you have one! (or more)

Not to mention phones being down for months, having to go to call centers, waiting in lines for everything, no cable TV for a couple years

This is one reason why people go with:
TV = Dish Network instead of cable (you may want to take your dish down before the storm if it is a big one coming)
Internet = Broadband VI / Choice instead of Innovative.....no outage or a few days vs. months for anything on WAPA poles
Phone = Cell vs. Innovative....easy decision

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Atlantic+Tele-Network+assesses+impact+of+Hurricane+Marilyn.-a017533657

Beeski: For how many days can Broadband VI provide service in case of a prolonged island-wide power outage? Do your access points have generators or batteries?

All tower sites have battery banks and backup generators.
Some secondary sites do not have generators.
We own portable generators in case the main generators fail....and we have a good relationship with Reliable Rentals on STX.
We own a diesel re-fueling rig, and have good relations with fuelers.
We have a 1000 gallon diesel tank on STX.
We have a couple of backup towers (in sections and one crank-up).
We have lots of spares on-island, do a big ramp-up of additional spares every May/June.

How about STT location and the tower on Inner Brass. I do realize that is problematic and dependant on sea conditions.

How about STT location and the tower on Inner Brass. I do realize that is problematic and dependant on sea conditions.

STT is the same as STX, Generators at every tower.
Inner Brass is solar powered.

a new be on this thread wanted to know if a roof could stand up or on a building with a hurricane rated at 5. I would recommend you get off the island if you have the opportunity, you have no idea what a hurricane 5 can and will do, The aftermath is worse than the storm.

Is that the protocol? Just get out? How does our airport facilitate that?

There is no protocol by the Airlines, or the Govt. the Air Lines will stop flying in anticipation of the number 5 coded hurricane. The Govt will tell you to hunker down. Like I stated "if you have the opportunity to get off the island DO IT!".I had been thur HUGO and never,never,never want to do that again, if i can help it. It's good that you prepare, but if your house blows away so does your supplies. Don't think for a moment that you are going to safe when the big one is over, The VI National Guard and VIPD couldn't handle the looting, crime etc., they had to bring in US Army. US Marshals Service, FBI and the ATF to keep people safe. That's a matter of record and Fact!

The majority of people that live here and own property do not have the luxury of "abandoning ship" especially when we have family and animals to take care of. Yes, the aftermath can be worse than the storm, unless you lose friends or family however ask anyone that went thru Hugo and Marilyn. We got thru those, tho it took a long time to "come back" and it it not something I ever want to do again, nor would wish on anyone. It does make one resilient.

First priority is to get the tourists off as they shall just be a drain and a liability. Conchadoo should speak of what he knows instead of what he imagines or has not experienced, himself.

Alana,
Don't really know what your problems are, however your reading comprehension is in big trouble. I was on St Croix when Hurricane Hugo hit, I assume you were on St Thomas. There was NO PROTOCOL or a simple plan to get the tourists off the island by the Air Lines or the Govt of ST Croix. There is no protocol or plan today either. On St Croix there were two (2) deaths attributed to Hugo and between 80 and 90 injuries (my wife and son) being among st the injured. The islands don't really have shelters that you can go too. The Govt expects the people to HUNKER DOWN THE BEST WAY THEY CAN! So my advice again (if you have the opportunity to leave the island DO IT!) Hugo damaged or destroyed over 90% of the buildings on St Croix with an estimated loss of one (1) billion dollars. Oh and there were plenty of dogs and cats left to fend for themselves, and never reclaimed by the owners. The VIPD and VI National Guard could not keep pace with the looting, and crime on the Island. The US Army, Federal Marshall Service, FBI, and ATF were put in place to help control the civil disobedience. Power wasn't restored for over 6 weeks, 25% on the roads couldn't be used. So I speak from what I Know and have experienced myself. The majority of food and water was supplied by the Red Cross , the US Army, (and Hess).

You are right Conchadoo. I misread you. All I remember is that normally the Gov. attempts to get tourists out prior to a storm as hotels and guest homes, vacation villas do not encourage them to stay and have the liability if something severe happens. That doesn't mean everyone gets out.

I spent Hugo in the hurricane hole in Culebra on a 55 ft. sport fishing yacht. It took us over a week to get out of the harbor after the storm there because of so many sunken boats, debris and missing persons from those boats that were destroyed. Communication with friends and family in STT/STJ was difficult or non existant and upon arrival back in STT, I was shocked at the damage here even after we got pounded for a solid18 hours in Culebra from Hugo. There were boats on top of boats, inside homes along the shore, some across the road from the water with the anchor still in the water and others just pancaked on top of each other under the bridge. I never wanted to see that again and unfortunately Marilyn showed us that Hugo was not the only life altering storm we would deal with. Power was restored in my location in STT just a couple days before Thanksgiving. In Marilyn we did without WAPA power until a couple of days before Christmas. That's a long time to deal with listening to yours and everyone else's generator, lugging fuel, ice, etc. STX got the worst in Hugo and STT got slammed in Marilyn. Pretty amazing when there is not a leaf on a tree and one's home and contents are spilled across the hillside.

Let's just pray that we do not endure any more storms like those. Prepare for the worst, Pray for the best and keep cash on hand.

In many ways, we prefer to be on island rather than having to try to get back onto stx. Took us 10 days after Hugo to fly back in, on the first commercial flights that went, and only got that because we had been holding tickets for the day after Hugo and AA kept calling and postponing day by day. At least when we were on island we could start the cleanup the next day, and limit the damage that comes with time.
Got hit by Sandy in our other house, it took 5 days to empty that house out so it could be gutted...never easy. It took my husband a week to get back north from stx!
Living without current is an annoyance but not the biggest item on our list. Gets old after a few months, but I remember folks living in tents in front of their houses months after Hugo...you've got to figure whatever the issue, it always could be worse.