Abilene Motor Express....A New Place To Call Home

Stay safe, my man.

 

That's seems excessive when the USX yard in Atlanta is just as if not more secure than Chester.

Good luck with battening down the hatches. I closed most of my storm awnings when I left 2 months ago, but will have to get my brother to close the ones left open. On the plus side the house is empty so no personal belongings to get damaged if the roof goes or water levels rise.

 

Good job on the miles, after hitting my personal best earlier this year I no longer push the limits of the clock. I was down to 3 mins drive time when I hit the exit ramp for the truckstop.

Sucks about the sleep, I have had a few days/nights like that. Nyquil comes in handy, but it's no good trying that if you don't have the hours to get a decent sleep. Unfortunately, too often I don't realize I need it until it's too late into my break.

Rockstar has a variety of drinks that have 240mg of caffeine per can. I keep a stock of those on the truck for such emergencies. As I don't drink coffee or anything else with caffeine on a regular basis, one can gets me fully wired.

 

I didn't see any trucks out front at the yard today. That's not to say they have none available, just that I wouldn't be able to take a guess based on inventory.

I was speaking to a new hire a few weeks ago and he got a Mack until a Volvo came available. In all honesty, I would concentrate on getting something reliable. I would rather a running Mack than a shop queen Volvo or anything else. Breakdown pay is there, but it doesn't compare to what you earn running.

 

I've been thinking about you a lot the past few days. Hope all will be well with you, Lesli, the dogs, and the house. Question, if you're on the eastern side of the eye, and the winds are 130mph, how will everything hold up? I'm guessing nothing this strong has hit your area in a LONG time.

 

Good luck to you JB!

 

The key is whether the wind speeds quoted are sustained or gusts. 175mph grabs the headlines and keeps people glued to the TV, however the sustained speeds are usually lower.

The danger from wind comes from flying debris. If something carried by the wind hits a window or door and caves it in, the rising air pressure inside the house can lift some or all of the roof. If that happens it's game over as walls can come down next if the roof isn't there to tie them together.

Since Andrew in '92 resulted in damage mentioned above, building codes have changed to make roof securement to the walls more robust. Storm shutters and the like for windows and doors are much more advanced and their use more widespread. Imagine that, regulations doing some good. You wouldn't think so the way the current administration lines to bleat on about rolling them back.

Flooding like that seen in New Orleans and Houston hasn't been much of an issue despite FL being so flat. Beachfront properties do suffer from flooding but that's due to storm surge causing sea level to rise. Still damaging, but it isn't the lingering high water we are seeing in Houston now.

 

If they are reporting 180mph winds, that is sustained. Gusts will be over 200, they are saying up to 225mph. The national weather service is not after "ratings."

 

Sorry to hear that, JB.