Rep. John Culberson (R-TX) is one of my very favorite people in all of Congress. He was the first member of Congress to use Twitter live from the House Floor as a way to inform his constituents of what was happening as it happened in Congress.
He continues to be one of the most active and entertaining Twitter feeds to follow (@JohnCulberson).
During an interview this afternoon on MSNBC regarding Hurricane Ike (Rep. Culberson represents north and west Houston), he told Houston-area residents to be prepared to be without electricity for at least a week or two.
However, he also had this fantastic quote about being prepared before the storm hit:
It’s important for Texans to follow the rules: stock up on food, water, and ammo for an event like this.
Love it.
Perhaps one of the reasons you haven’t seen the rampant looting and lawlessness that was associated with Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans is because many Texans do heed and practice that advice.
And the criminals know it.
Houston — where the citizens are likely to be better armed than the criminals.
I’ll agree with you on all of this — though I think the fact that the worst of the damage is in places easily sealed off from outsiders (and those of us seeking to return home). For example, my town of Seabrook has told us not to come back, and is arresting folks who try to do so. And i hear that Galveston’s bridges are closed.
Makes me feel glad to be at home in the UK.
Jonny
I was watching MSNBC at 5:40 Eastern Time, the Congressional Representative from Houston said that residents should stock up on “food, water, and ammo.” Ammo? AMMO!!!!!????? Was he serious, even for TexaS?
Joe
Yes he was serious. Did you not see what happened in New Orleans after Katrina?
Looting and thefts are not uncommon in situations like this…you should be and must be ready to defend your home and property.
FEMA’s advice on bomb threats is like something out of Monty Python:
“If you receive a telephoned bomb threat, you should do the following:
Get as much information from the caller as possible. Try to ask the following questions:
When is the bomb going to explode?
Where is it right now?
What does it look like?
What kind of bomb is it?
What will cause it to explode?
Did you place the bomb?
Why?
What is your address?
What is your name?
Keep the caller on the line and record everything that is said.
Notify the police and building management.”
Maybe they should try this kind of questioning with Al Qaeda? They might have found Bin Laden by now!
Jonny
I’ve never been told I need to stock up on ammo, but usually the reverse, that I have too much. Even when I was ten.
Glad to see the Congressman was thoughtful enough to mention it, though you notice he didn’t need to mention that they needed to buy firearms.
I’ll never forget when that hurricane plowed across Florida, back in the 90’s, and tore up the area north of Miami, all the way across to the Gulf. The Sheriff of Broward County was on the radio telling people to arm themselves, that law enforcement couldn’t be there to help with the looters. I was incredulous, that someone had to be told to do something like that. Lots of irresponsible people in this world.
I admit that it’s extremely unusual to hear this from a politician. But that’s the kind of statement that, if you heard it from your next-door neighbor (or anyone other than a politician), you’d say, “Yup, makes perfect sense”. We’re just not used to politicians making sense, that’s all.