Hurricane evacuation plan

[JennBell0725]

Im in southwest Louisiana and I was wondering what would be the easiest way to transport my torts in case we have to evacuate.

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[Shelly]

Tuck one under each arm and run like hell.

 

[gregcalverley0327]

I always keep a tub big enough for mine right by the cage, recently had a fire and it worker perfect, put the torts in the tubs and got out


0.3.0 sulcata tortoise
(Manavi, aspen, Bronx)
1.0.0 Russian tortoise
(Ivan)
1 Great Dane
(Koko)

 

[JennBell0725]

Lol luckily we normally have more notice than that.

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[Moozillion]

We live in southeast Louisiana (Covington) so we have the same problem. I have only 1 tortoise: a modestly sized Hermann's. One of the many factors I included in choice of tortoise was ease of transport in case of a hurricane.

DISCLAIMER: THis is my first hurricane season as a tortoise owner, so I am NOT an expert by any means- this is just my current plan.

My evacuation plan has 2 phases: the actual travel/evacuation part and the longer-term stay in an uncertain location for the other part. For the first part, I plan to get a Rubbermaid tub big enough for her to turn around in and move in, but not big enough to take up the whole back seat of my car since there will be 1-2 cat carriers back there with her. I will put enough substrate in it that she can bury herself completely if she wants to (helps her feel safer) and will keep the bottom 1/3 of the substrate pretty moist and will have probably 1/2 of the top covered to keep humidity (and substrate!) in. There will be 1 thermometer/hygrometer in there with her. The other thermometer/hygrometer, a temperature gun and a gooseneck type desk lamp with an incandescent bulb will be in the plastic bin that I soak her in. I am not bringing any artificial UV light since I don't expect to be gone more than a week at the most.

The part II of the plan depends on where we end up, and that is dictated by whatever direction we have to go in to avoid the storm. If we end up near a large town that has a Lowe's or a Home Depot etc, I can easily buy a bigger tub and more mulch. If we end up in a smaller town, I'll still get a bigger tub, I may just have to search/scrounge a little more. I plan to buy greens from the stores like we do in winter time. I will put her outside WITH US during the day whenever I can, keeping an eye on her temps. She will NEVER be outside without us present and will always be inside with us at night.

I hope this helps. And if any more experienced tortoise transporters have other helpful ideas I have overlooked, I am grateful for additional input!!!

 

[sueb4653]

heck sounds good to me

 

[wellington]

That plan sounds good to me too. The only thing I would do, and don't know if you were planning on this or not, but I would have the transport box all set up with everything it needs, so all you have to do is get the tort in it and go. Less to grab at the last minute the better.

 

[N2TORTS]

Tuck one under each arm and run like hell.

OMG .... ha ha ha .... I was going to say the EXACT THING!!!!!!
TOOOOO FUNNY!!!!!!!! ^5

 

[JennBell0725]

Thanks for the ideas. Im going to try to get everything together this week.

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[N2TORTS]

Ok …now on a serious note….Being a Ca native and not having to deal with hurricanes. I have often wondered why folks don’t build more “ underground” in these areas prone to Hurricanes . I’ve been a licensed contractor out West for 30 years and it would seem logical to some how design a home that would be more sub- subterranean , so if and when a Cane’ hits , family members could seek refuge within this area. I believe in the old days they were called storm cellars. But now with modern tech , concrete and rebar , along with digging equipment , no one has done this? We do some crazy builds out here right on the oceans cliff , thus cutting into the side of mountain and then shoring with retaining walls. Roof angles and eve’s are the flight of destruction in 100 mph winds. How about a domed roof?….thus allowing air to pass? I know the reality … is most of the homes back there are probably 50-100 years old and this was never taken into consideration at those times.… thus when these disasters hit you see the mass destruction.
Just my brain ranting away ……

 

[JennBell0725]

Well I promise the last place you want to be near the coast is underground. I can't speak for everyone but where I live the water table is too high to have anything underground. Unless you have a bunker or something. Worse case scenario here is wind/tornados. The hardest part is no electric, high temps and humidity, and horrible swarms of mosquitos and other displaced wildlife (water moccasins are always bad) People closer to the coasts have more to worry about like storm surges and flooding.

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[Madkins007]

https://sites.google.com/site/tortoiselibrary/health-and-medical/emergency-planning

 

[tortadise]

Ok …now on a serious note….Being a Ca native and not having to deal with hurricanes. I have often wondered why folks don’t build more “ underground” in these areas prone to Hurricanes . I’ve been a licensed contractor out West for 30 years and it would seem logical to some how design a home that would be more sub- subterranean , so if and when a Cane’ hits , family members could seek refuge within this area. I believe in the old days they were called storm cellars. But now with modern tech , concrete and rebar , along with digging equipment , no one has done this? We do some crazy builds out here right on the oceans cliff , thus cutting into the side of mountain and then shoring with retaining walls. Roof angles and eve’s are the flight of destruction in 100 mph winds. How about a domed roof?….thus allowing air to pass? I know the reality … is most of the homes back there are probably 50-100 years old and this was never taken into consideration at those times.… thus when these disasters hit you see the mass destruction.
Just my brain ranting away ……

The soil systems down there dont allow for such structures. The water table can be found some locations just inches under the top soil. Not to mention the flooding that takes places. Good thoughts though.

I say just have a tub with a heat pad/lid all set up with enough bricks of coco coir to expand to fill the tub, extra water bowl, lamps etc.. Put in the vehicle and go wherever you need to be away from the storm. A good thing too would be some hot hands heat packs from wal-mart. They last 12 hours for like a $1. Pick a bunch of those up and in case a hurricane hits in the latter part of the season and no power is available you can supply some heat.

 

[N2TORTS]

With buildings built into or below the water table some redundancy must be designed into the system, Now I understand it’s not economical for the average homeowner … but it is done all the time … Here is a building at Sea Level…with underground parking




Ok so now …. If I couldn’t dig in my area .. I would build one Big Azz mountain of dirt and build into the side of the hill……

 

[wellington]

Wouldn't you have to build at the top of the hill? On the side, your still at ground level, well i guess depending how high up the side. it would have to be a big hill, with no digging aloud, that could be hard to do. Then, where do all the torts go? Now, it might be easier to build a tree house. Wait, the torts would eat the leaves. Well, as long as they don't eat the branches. But, wait, I've seen your torts eat, they are always eating, they probably would eat the branches. Now what, I guess your back to the hill Just had to mess with ya

 

[N2TORTS]

Wouldn't you have to build at the top of the hill? On the side, your still at ground level, well i guess depending how high up the side. it would have to be a big hill, with no digging aloud, that could be hard to do. Then, where do all the torts go? Now, it might be easier to build a tree house. Wait, the torts would eat the leaves. Well, as long as they don't eat the branches. But, wait, I've seen your torts eat, they are always eating, they probably would eat the branches. Now what, I guess your back to the hill Just had to mess with ya

v^v^<pinch>v^v^v^.....Touche'....... ya got me Barb!