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No way in or out of Burning Man after storm

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Re: No way in or out of Burning Man after storm

#31

Post by nimbius »

this definitely sounds like a headline from the same country that blew 2.3 trillion dollars on a 20 year war in afghanistan to replace the taliban with the taliban, and yet somehow their own citizens trapped at a festival are just going to have to conserve food and water until things get better because nothing can be done. Americans posting in the comments will do backflips to insist this is the best way things are supposed to work, things arent that bad, its about personal responsibility and helping is too expensive.

as a reminder nevada has a national guard and The Chinook is a heavy-lift helicopter that is among the heaviest lifting Western helicopters. we have rescue airboats, amphibious LVTP and even airlift capabilities throughout the nevada desert at various military installations. theres absolutely no reason to "conserve food and water."

casual reminder: tickets for this event are $750 including parking. the idea that help is not on the way (even if it isnt immediately necessary) is a little ridiculous to consider. the event has the potential to cause famine, disease, dehydration and death right now. NV has chosen to make no real effort regardless. no activation or regional planning, just thoughts and prayers.

Re: No way in or out of Burning Man after storm

#32

Post by floodedburner »

zamadatix wrote: post #17
xrd wrote: post #5

Having been there on and off for twenty years, rain storms during BRC are not a new thing. Maybe this is something extraordinary (I'm not there right now) but I really doubt it.

It rained a lot in e.g. 2014 but it was just before and at the start of the event. I don't think there was a time there was anywhere near 73k people already inside unable to leave expecting a couple of days of rain to come right when everyone was planned to head home. At best outlook, this is going to be one of the worst events to have gone to. I don't think it'll be a disaster but I would say it's extraordinary.

This is worse than 2014 for sure. Plus more rain is forecasted. We got here on Thursday so were aware, but did not think it would be this bad.

Re: No way in or out of Burning Man after storm

#34

Post by floodedburner »

cj wrote: post #9
xrd wrote: post #5

Having been there on and off for twenty years, rain storms during BRC are not a new thing. Maybe this is something extraordinary (I'm not there right now) but I really doubt it.

Is it normal to not be able to leave burning man (airport shut down, no cars, no bikes?) I’ve never been. But the feeling of being stranded with no possible way of leaving would have me going crazy in about 3 hours.

Walking to 447 is 3.5 miles, if I did not have a vehicle then it would be the easiest option for egress.

Re: No way in or out of Burning Man after storm

#37

Post by idopmstuff »

nimbius wrote: post #31

this definitely sounds like a headline from the same country that blew 2.3 trillion dollars on a 20 year war in afghanistan to replace the taliban with the taliban, and yet somehow their own citizens trapped at a festival are just going to have to conserve food and water until things get better because nothing can be done. Americans posting in the comments will do backflips to insist this is the best way things are s…

> theres absolutely no reason to "conserve food and water."

Seems like the reason is so folks can get through the next couple of days without involving the National Guard, which is costly. No one's dying; it's just muddy and unpleasant.

Re: No way in or out of Burning Man after storm

#38

Post by civilitty »

et-al wrote: post #4

Fortunately all the participants embraced radial self-reliance, right?

90% of people way overpack for Burning Man to the point where I stopped bringing food the last few years I attended. No one will go hungry, not even the dumbest of sparkle ponies. I wager there's enough food on the playa right now to last at least another two weeks, maybe a month with even a modicum of rationing. The camps I frequent would end up splitting up the left over alcohol the morning of exodus.

The drugs on the other hand? Those might run out well before the food and leave everyone coming down with nothing to do but stare at the mud.

Re: No way in or out of Burning Man after storm

#39

Post by saberience »

Projectiboga wrote: post #10
hombre_fatal wrote: post #3

I had to look it up but apparently a playa is a dry lake bed.

Yep turns to a caustic mud. There was a weird weather modification attempt during the 2000 one. Mandated curfew one night everyone ordered to stay in their camps events canceled. Sunny day and 4 huge military cargo aircraft come from east circle and head south then weather came from south west and windy that night. Anyways what ever happened the playa gets less comfortable when it's wet and cool.

Do you mean caustic as in the dictionaty definition of caustic? That is, the mud on the playa turns corrosive when mixed with water?

Re: No way in or out of Burning Man after storm

#40

Post by jeremyt »

Folks, the article is breathless and ridiculous.

As someone who is not there, but who has been there four times and run build lead for my camp...

Rain is not unheard of. It's probably pretty muddy and less fun than it normally would be.

Nobody is starving or dying of dehydration, and there is no danger of that. Most camps (and many people) have a huge surplus of supplies. Last time I was there, I drove out with a few dozen cans of sparkling water that I just didn't get to hand out.

There are PLENTY of supplies.

The worst thing that could happen is that somebody has a medical emergency and are unable to be evacuated until Monday/Tuesday. That's a real concern, but there are plenty of platforms that can land a helicopter if that's necessary.

This isn't the catastrophe calling for FEMA involvement that the article makes it sound like. :rolleyes:

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