Aftermath Of Disaster - One Armed Citizen’s Story (New Orleans/Katrina)

AMERICAN RIFLEMAN Magazine (12/05 issue) ^ | 11/12/05 | Martin K.A. Morgan

[phoenix0468]

The confidence was training and a Glock not a PC warm feeling and a toy gun.

Yeah we all know that happiness is a warm gun not a warm feeling.

[Candor7]

" believe him but, 4 feet of water ? " An ordinary Blazer or PU will go through four feet of water as long as the vehicle does not stop, or is NOT going too fast. 10 to 15 MPH will get the vehicle through, the exhaust gas pressure, if contant will keep the water out and the water flows down around the engine ( not through the radiator) withput impeading the fan. If the vehicle pauses or stops and water gets aropund the fan, that usually throws ware all over the engine and it gets into the air feed for the carb or FI. One can also dismount the fan belt for a very short run if this is a problem, the engine runs off the battery.

I think our man probably knew this fact about the water, being a military historian. It would be great to ask him though!

I found out this trick by 4 wheelin in the Canadian outback when I ran a survey crew with a mining exploration company.

[blam]

Good post, thanks.

[Squantos]

Ahhh yes......personal security in Combat Tupperware !....:o)

[Candor7]

Here is my looter deterrant,( Benelli Nova Tactical Pump), have two bandoleers one full of rifled slugs and the other 00 buck.

I can put 8 shells in the extended magazine which reaches the end of the barrel( grin). I can unload a full mag accurately in less than ten seconds. Reloading takes about 25 seconds.

Only problem is the barrel do get HOT!

[Para-Ord.45]

Probably some math and physics involved but,

wouldn`t 4 feet of water float a vehicle?

[gieriscm]

I'm glad this guy got out ok, but he made a huge mistake in leaving the vehicle unattended on the street. He should have stayed with it to guard it while his gf packed their stuff.

[gieriscm]

Depends on the vehicle. A "go-fast" sportscar, probably. A full-size truck, probably not.

Remember this was stagnant water, not swift-running water, which also has an effect. I'd take my pickup across 12" of non-moving water without a thought. If it's flowing, no way.

[Candor7]

"wouldn`t 4 feet of water float a vehicle?"

My Experience is with full sized pick up trucks with 500 to 1000 pounds of gear in the bed. I can say that four feet is not enough to float a 1/2 Ton or 3/4 Ton pick up with that kind of load, but I think it also depends on whether there is a current in the water or if the vehicle is going slowly or not.

I have seen green horns hit a ford with 4 feet of water over a distance of 20 feet at mid point, going 30 miles an hour and have watched the vehicle bog down in the middle of the stream. I have seen the same type of vehicle (PU) crawl through the same ford and out the other side (4WD of course). Much more than that will cause the ass end to float first and even then the front wheels still grab. If current gets under the floating ass end and pivots the truck, its game over too. Driving skill matters a lot.

Of couse , as dumb college students with company vehicles we often pushed the limits when we should not have.Our job was to get into inaccessable areas and set up base camps for survey work. Looking back on it, it was a LOT of fun. We all, fortunately, carried hand powered come alongs and heavy rope which would pull the truck out for drying out, if we got bogged down.

The venerable " Dodge Power Wagon" was the best PU for this all back in the late sixties and early 70's.

I once got a Land Rover stuck so bad, it took a D7 dozer to haul me out, so I am no expert either.

1969 Dodge Power Wagon,318, 4 speed standard.

[Clinging Bitterly]

Back in '80-'82 I had the 1971 3/4T, Dana 60s both ends, rear locker. Sat a little taller than the one in the picture. Also had a factory installed PTO winch up front. One brutal truck, not much it wouldn't haul or pull, and nobody ever got in my way (or stayed in my way at least). And it had a surprisingly good ride on the highway at speed. Went about 8 miles on a gallon of gas.

Looked just like this one if you added the extended front bumper and winch.