Preparing for a winter occupation

[Lowkey]

Chicago winters are no joke, what plans are there to keep the occupation going through the coming cold?

 

I have some plans for a solar powered space heater that could keep a tent 15-20 degrees warmer than the outside that I will be bringing to the housing committee this weekend.  I have a few variations on the design basically they can get cheaper but take more labor to build, or are simpler but more expensive.  

 

However that is based off the idea that we could sent up a tent in the first place, and I don't know if that will be permitted by the police.  Also, 15-20 degrees may not be enough depending on how bad it gets, and it will be of little help at night.

 

Another possibility is to borrow an idea from the VFW.  Many of them have small guard shacks set on rollers/casters.  When they need someone to stand all day for a ceremony, they wheel it out and the person stands in there.  They rotate people out of an RV about every hour or so, making sure there is at least one person occupying at a given time but they are protected from the elements.  Maybe something like that would work?

 

Thoughts?

[Phenixtri]

I have a few empty clearcoat cans that I can convert into small hobo stoves so to speak. They are not much but they are very easy to make and can give 1 or 2 people per small tent some extra warmth.

[Smithers]

respond to this post if you need a place to crash if there are winter protests.  I can take a few people a night if you have sleeping bags.

[m_x]

An indoor location for GA would essential.  We can find ways to rotate so there is always a presence but we need an indoor meeting place.  Reaching out to other activists groups may come in handy for this.  


Also  a group of students from a local could attempt to get a space at one of their schools.

[Callme_D]

My friends, be careful if your going to be pulling long haul hours. It is important to voice your opinion, but dont freeze to death. 20-30 degrees can help for a short period, but your going to need to take times to find breaks if you are going to be outside for those long hours.

 

Joining together with friends for cheap hotel rooms, cars, or even a trip to mcdonalds will be a step to staying healthy. Sickness can become a concern if you do not take care of yourself out in that weather.

 

Battle plan for a days in the ice, this year we are predicted to have twice the amount of snow that we did last year. And standing in -2 with -35 wind chill shouldnt be something to not take notice on.

[r_v]

A solar powered heater downtown won't do a lot of good for a lot of the day, as shadows will keep you powered down. That said, a good 3 sided canvas tent tall enough for people to stand it should store enough heat that you can rotate people in and out of it as needed. It will break the wind, and the heat from people should bring it up to above freezing.

[Guest1250]

CLOSE YOUR BANK ACCOUNTS!  Stop supporting big bankers and corporations!  If you take away the money, they will not be in power!

 

Keep your gold at home and become SELF-SUFFICIENT!  It's starts us US!

Grow your own food and trade with your neighbor!

 

CLOSE YOUR BANK ACCOUNTS!

[AngryJanitor]

Something like this could help http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Heate.....38;sr=8-22

[mejones]

I've worked outdoors more than a few winters.
Old tricks on the cheap: Plastic bags between your socks and boots hold a lot of heat in. The more thin layers the better. (I've known guys to cut a crotch hole in panty hose and put 'em under their long johns. Don't judge, it's a warm thing.) Anything like a yoga matt or cardboard to keep you off the cement is a blessing. Many hospitals have surgical masks and rubber gloves out for the visitors to take and use. Anything to keep the wind away from the skin and your body off the concrete.

[LeftWing]

Here's a couple ideas:
among the supplies OCCUPY CHICAGO should be asking for is gloves
You can get gloves for $1.50 or so at hardware stores or buy them at the thrift stores like Dollar General or Family Dollar; now, they are not the best in 0 degrees F but still will help when it's simply freezing. & the advantage to cheap gloves is you can buy many of them.
plus, how many of us have kids ?(I do) ..... why not bring some coats down for people being near the Federal Reserve Bldg. in the wee hrs of the night !
If it's cold & you're driving past the Occupy site, give someone at the protest for a few hours a break and let them warm up in your car.
Just a few thoughts...........