Packing gear for imminent flooding

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SpiderWars

SpiderWars

Well-known member
Suppose you had to pack up something like a 4x12 or two for imminent flooding. How would you pack it? I thought of this while packing something recently while hurricane Ian was happening.

Full layer of plastic stretch wrap around it first.
Packing tape to form a grid.
Another layer of plastic stretch wrap.
Then Flex seal the crap out of it?

Or maybe a full layer of Gorilla tape ($$) then Flex seal. Giant Ziploc bag? How would you pack your late 60s all orig Marshall full stack if you just had to leave it behind?
 
SpiderWars said:
Suppose you had to pack up something like a 4x12 or two for imminent flooding. How would you pack it? I thought of this while packing something recently while hurricane Ian was happening.

Full layer of plastic stretch wrap around it first.
Packing tape to form a grid.
Another layer of plastic stretch wrap.
Then Flex seal the crap out of it?

Or maybe a full layer of Gorilla tape ($$) then Flex seal. Giant Ziploc bag? How would you pack your late 60s all orig Marshall full stack if you just had to leave it behind?
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Serran wrap just as you said except on the outside of the box, I’d paint it with that thick waterproof rubber paint sealer stuff they advertise to make it water tight and a bit immune to something bumping into it. I’d then shove the amp in a chest for mechanical protection knowing damn well it could float away so I’d drill holes for water or air to get in and out.
 
I went through this in 2016. A normal storm turned into a massive flooding event with no warning and no time to prepare. Literally had to be taken out by boat. All I had time to do was shut the main breaker to the house off and unplug everything.

So my gear sat underwater for 3-4 days. I can say that except for 2 cheap pedals everything survived. Well speakers had to be replaced since water + paper cones doesn't mix well. The only thing I did for the electronic stuff was let it all dry out for a good while then give it a good cleaning. After that it all fired up on the first test run. I did bring stuff to the repair shop to have a pro look it over. All came back with a clean bill of health and no repairs needed.

I do feel like I was extremely lucky and if you do have time do everything you can to protect things. The best thing to do would be try to get it high enough where water won't get to it. But I also think that as long as no electricity is running through if water hits it you have a pretty decent chance of it surviving. Just make sure it's dried out thoroughly and cleaned up before plugging it in; and probably wouldn't hurt to have a pro check it out too.
 
I've never had to pack for this thankfully but I would recommend doing whatever it takes.

A drummer I've recently been working with lost his entire basement this year.

He had a full setup. $2k drum kit with Trick pedals, JCM800 halfstack along with a couple of other decent amps, pa stuff and the $15k he put in to finish his basement originally.

Insurance basically gave him enough to not lose additional money to get rid if the water and whatever else but he still went from finished basement to unfinished and $15k worth of gear complete loss.

If I lived in a flood plain or Florida especially I would try to add everything you own to some type of insurance policy to cover yourself in a tragic event .
 
Move it all to the highest point possible first, then water proof as best you can.
 
FormerlyKnownAsMaddnotez said:
If I lived in a flood plain or Florida especially I would try to add everything you own to some type of insurance policy to cover yourself in a tragic event .
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When I lived in Florida your home insurance would only cover water damage that was blown into it. You had to get flood insurance if you wanted coverage for that and depending on where you lived it could be extremely expensive or they might not even insure you. And you will likely pay that for decades before you need it if ever. So I can see why many people don't.
 
FormerlyKnownAsMaddnotez said:
I've never had to pack for this thankfully but I would recommend doing whatever it takes.

A drummer I've recently been working with lost his entire basement this year.

He had a full setup. $2k drum kit with Trick pedals, JCM800 halfstack along with a couple of other decent amps, pa stuff and the $15k he put in to finish his basement originally.

Insurance basically gave him enough to not lose additional money to get rid if the water and whatever else but he still went from finished basement to unfinished and $15k worth of gear complete loss.

If I lived in a flood plain or Florida especially I would try to add everything you own to some type of insurance policy to cover yourself in a tragic event .
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That's why just got Heritage for all my gear! Worth the $300 per year for Agreed Upon Value for everything.
 
FormerlyKnownAsMaddnotez said:
Definitely worth $300 if they agree on realistic values.
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Realistic doesn't matter. You're paying for what YOU list the value for. I set the value of each amp, guitar as I saw fit. Amp gets stolen? I get $6000 if that's what I listed it at in my policy (for example).
 
Mikeyboyeee said:
Realistic doesn't matter. You're paying for what YOU list the value for. I set the value of each amp, guitar as I saw fit. Amp gets stolen? I get $6000 if that's what I listed it at in my policy (for example).
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Makes sense, so that $300 could be $500 if you had more items or more expensive items.

Either way based upon your signature $300 a year is more than fair.
 
I think it is $305 for around $48k of coverage (added all guitars as well) that I have listed. Well worth it.
 
Mikeyboyeee said:
I think it is $305 for around $48k of coverage (added all guitars as well) that I have listed. Well worth it.
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How difficult was the process to get insurance from Heritage? Once I get the amps I have on order I'll be looking to get some coverage.
 
Went here: https://musicins.com/ and completed the online app with my gear. Took few hours for them to get back to me. Then said yes, and I was insured that day. Added the MKIV before I even got my 1st invoice. Pretty easy!
 
Just buy a couple of those Zorb balls. Put your gear inside them and air it up. Then when it floods, your gear will just float in the balls safely until you return.
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