So I'm evacuating for Gustav...

[Mikeyd74]

I'm more of a "better safe the sorry" kind of person. Especially when it comes to flooding.
I was thinking in terms of last minute preparations.
I'd rather risk humidity in a bag then having my basses submerged in toxic/rancid water. If you can scrounge some silica gel packets that would help, but for the most part people don't have those laying around the house.
As for relying on leaving your basses up somewhere high in their cases alone,
Most people don't realize that when flood waters get into your house that everything starts moving regardless if the water is moving at a fast rate or not. Rising flood waters even at a slow rate will send your furniture floating in all different directions. Huge pieces of furniture will knock things over, then you will find pieces to a chess set left exactly where you saw them last on top of a coffee table that has moved ten feet across the room...weird stuff like that. There is no way to predict what will happen exactly. Anyone that has been through massive flooding will know exactly what I mean.
Then there are the odors that get into everything, especially wood. I'm not just talking about mold and mildew, that happens after the waters recede. I'm talking about feces from the sewars that back up through your toilets as the water rises, oil, chemicals, rotting animals, etc.
That's exactly why you want to put all of your valuable in sealed plastic bags.

 

[mike_v_s]

I'm not going anywhere!

I left for Katrina and it was a mistake. Because I was gone so long my house was infested with mold. My brother stayed and was able to dry his house out right away with little issues.

When I left for Katrina, I brought my 2 favorite Alembic basses with me. I left behind a few other Alembics, a Rick Turner Model 1, a Hyak bass and all of my other belongings.

It ALL got wet.

After spending the last 3 years working on this house myself, I put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into it. Locking the doors and leaving litterally makes me sick.

I am an adult and know the consequences of staying. I know I am on my own. That's how I feel and that's that.

Good luck everyone.

As of right now, I'm debating whether to leave the city or not. I live in Uptown New Orleans, potentially in a rather low flooding area by the Mississippi river. I'll be tuning in all day tommorow to the news and making my decision then as whether to leave or not. I 'm bringing a few antiques, paperwork, pictures, paintings and clothes as well as 5 bass guitars and an EUB. Plus my dog and maybe my girlfriend and her stuff if she decides to leave her car. I would say bring as much as you can or as much that means something to you. I mean, playing music 5 nights a week is a huge part of my life and these are the tools i use to do it. If not, keep em as high and dry as you possibly can. Best of luck to you.

Good luck, guys.

FWIW to the OP, For Katrina I hung my bass in it's gigbag in my closet. I figured it was a few feet higher and would (hopefully) hang dry. We didn't get water in my house, but that was the only solution I could think of (no room in the car).

Mike

 

[chaunceytoben]

If you have relatives in other spots or are somewhat close to someone on TB you could pay to have your basses shipped to someone for safekeeping.

 

[Tom Howland]

Do you have time to ship your basses to someone you trust?
Say Fedex next day?

Good luck.

 

[sturmvogel]

Glad I live in the West Virginia mountains---good luck and best wishes guys!