Hurricanes

sean · August 16, 2007, 05:46:59 PM

Thankfully i see that "Erin" has been downgraded hope member has suffered adversely. I have "dean" to deal with this weekend. Any one to put up my bees for a little while? :-D

pdmattox · August 16, 2007, 06:21:46 PM

Good luck and strap them all down good.

Kathyp · August 16, 2007, 06:25:35 PM

what do you have to do to secure your bees?

sean · August 16, 2007, 06:40:19 PM

The ideal scenario would be to move them but thats not an option. So plan b is to move them in close to each other and then try to nail them togethr so that no one box can topple over. have bought some sugar for feeding, i think i will have to feed out in the open though, i dont want to break the propolis seal by going into the boxes.

sean · August 17, 2007, 07:17:57 PM

Well its strengthening, I have decided to move the bees into an abandoned building for the duration. I will keep the hives sealed. Amthinking of sprinkling some ants powder on the floor to keep away the red ants. I know its dangerous, but i dont see an alternative at this time. Any thoughts/options?

Kathyp · August 17, 2007, 07:31:07 PM

good luck sean. we will be praying for you and yours. they do expect it to be bad. i have been put on standby for here, depending on where it comes in.

don't know about the ants. can you smear the base of what you put them on with some grease? that seems to keep the ants from crawling up into my bird feeders. they have not bothered my hives to much.

keep us posted. we are watching the storm.

sean · August 17, 2007, 07:47:32 PM

Grease! forgot about that. Thnks for the idea and the prayers. How near the sea are you. It should be a category 4 by the time it reaches me and it is still expected to intensify

Kathyp · August 17, 2007, 07:53:25 PM

i'm clear over on the west coast. i do disaster response for red cross. due to time limitations, i only do domestic response. that is a minimum 3 week commitment at any one time. international response can be for months at a time. if this thing hits our gulf coast with any force, i'll probably go in early September. i like to go in immediately, but i am having out of town guests and it would be rude to tell them to stay home :-).

sean · August 17, 2007, 08:01:38 PM

ok. I am praying that this one will behave like most of the others and veer off at the 11th hour. If not, guess you guys wont be hearing from me for a while.

pdmattox · August 17, 2007, 08:15:51 PM

We'll be praying for you here. stay safe

JP · August 17, 2007, 08:18:52 PM

Good luck Sean, wish you and yours the best. :)

sean · August 19, 2007, 12:53:02 PM

WEll the rain has started(from about 3 a.m. in my area. Still went down and moved the hives so i think they should be secured. I will have to go down there tomorrow assuming that i can get out so that i can let them out and feed them.

Cindi · August 20, 2007, 02:38:27 AM

Oh Sean, I wish the best for you, please let us know how things are. You are on my mind and will be on my mind. These disasters of our world make our hearts go out. Before the bees, take care of yourself and yours. You need to be the safest, remember that. Have a great day, best of my thoughts are with you. Cindi

Understudy · August 20, 2007, 08:44:03 AM

Sean,

Just flew back from NY. Hoping you are safe.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

KONASDAD · August 20, 2007, 09:20:41 AM

Hoping Jamaica and you are safe. Was thinking about you this weekend as my wife and I might be in Jamaica soon and saw the hurrican on wetaher channel. Hope all is well!

JP · August 20, 2007, 06:54:47 PM

Sean, yell at us when you can, we are very interested in how you made out and wishing you the very best, Jp.

sean · August 23, 2007, 10:20:05 PM

I'm Back :) Just getting back power) We(the bees & I) fared out ok thankfully and thanks to all who had us on your minds. Spent about 6 hrs taking in and putting out the hives so they were safe. I had left out 2 hives(one 4 boxes & the other 3) and 1 nuc. Came back after "dean" and they were quite ok. Only problem now is food. I started feeding today but didnt have enough sugar so i'll be back again tomorrow.

Overall country wise most areas suffered less damage than with hurricane ivan a few years ago. There was less water damage but more wind damage especially areas on the southern coast.

pdmattox · August 23, 2007, 10:27:26 PM

That's good to hear you are safe and glad the damage is not as bad as it could have been.

sean · August 23, 2007, 11:02:26 PM

thanks again. don't think i'll be moving the bees for another hurricane though.

1) was moving them and one super slid off i got close to 30 stings all over my back(no adverse reaction)
2) moving 32 hives plus blocks back and forth is exhausting
3) in light of the fact that those i didnt move where ok, it wasn't necessary

JP · August 24, 2007, 03:35:56 AM

Happy to see you fared well Sean, good to have you back!