We're in the path (lower Westchester county, NY), and this is my list:
*enough Kirkland canned wild salmon for a week
*produce ditto
*Poland Spring water ditto
*two five-gallon bottles filled with tap water
*super-premium dog food for two weeks (the pupper always comes first here)
*lots of ice for ice chest, which I wish were bigger
*plenty of cash
*extra-big stack of library books
*checking on firearm, in case neighbors try to kill us for any of the above
*contacting relatives, telling them not to worry if we lose phone service
*ordering a hand-cranked lantern/radio from Amazon, which should arrive today
*going flat in brokerage accounts, in case I can't trade online
What am I not thinking of?
hurricane prep
Moderator: Global Moderator
hurricane prep
Last edited by Liz L. on Fri Aug 26, 2011 9:57 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: hurricane prep
Lots of batteries for lights and radios.
Lithium AA batteries last a LOT longer and have a 15 year shelf life.
Get a saw and a good tree pruner in case you need to clear brush from the yard, street, roof, etc.
A good wet dry vac can help if you get water in the house.
Lithium AA batteries last a LOT longer and have a 15 year shelf life.
Get a saw and a good tree pruner in case you need to clear brush from the yard, street, roof, etc.
A good wet dry vac can help if you get water in the house.
Q: “Do you have funny shaped balloons?”
A: “Not unless round is funny.”
A: “Not unless round is funny.”
Re: hurricane prep
Assemble as many flashlights as you can find, tested beforehand. And ditto on the batteries. Sometimes the lights stay out for a while. (We went 8 days.)
Fill your tub with junk water and keep a bucket handy. That way, if you lose water you'll still be able flush the toilet by pouring it right into the commode.
Knowing someone who has a generator is handy. (Edit: By the way, a handful of people managed to kill themselves by running a generator without adequate ventilation, such as right in their houses. I am sure this goes without saying but don't do this.)
Keep the gas in your tank topped off.
A good pair of work gloves may serve you well cleaning up afterward.
Are your windows boarded up?
Come up with a plan for securing anything loose in your yard. Bringing stuff into the garage or sinking it in a pool (if applicable) both work well.
Anyway, sounds like you are doing well and thinking ahead! You and your family stay safe, Liz.
Fill your tub with junk water and keep a bucket handy. That way, if you lose water you'll still be able flush the toilet by pouring it right into the commode.
Knowing someone who has a generator is handy. (Edit: By the way, a handful of people managed to kill themselves by running a generator without adequate ventilation, such as right in their houses. I am sure this goes without saying but don't do this.)
Keep the gas in your tank topped off.
A good pair of work gloves may serve you well cleaning up afterward.
Are your windows boarded up?
Come up with a plan for securing anything loose in your yard. Bringing stuff into the garage or sinking it in a pool (if applicable) both work well.
Anyway, sounds like you are doing well and thinking ahead! You and your family stay safe, Liz.
Last edited by Lone Wolf on Fri Aug 26, 2011 1:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: hurricane prep
We're eating the food in the fridge all weekend, before snacking on the canned foods. And if the power goes out, I'll keep the deep freezer shut until the electricity comes back on. If I do that, it will stay frozen for another two to five days without power.
There are several credible places online that tell about frozen food safety, how long something will last when power goes out, and how to tell whether something can be refrozen or not. Here's one from the USDA:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/factsheets/kee ... /index.asp
We're pulling out the flashlights and batteries, packing a "go bag," and locked all the potted plants inside. We have plenty of water saved, but I like Lone Wolf's idea of filling the bathtub and outfitting it with a bucket.
Stay safe, Liz L. Stay safe, all.
There are several credible places online that tell about frozen food safety, how long something will last when power goes out, and how to tell whether something can be refrozen or not. Here's one from the USDA:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/factsheets/kee ... /index.asp
We're pulling out the flashlights and batteries, packing a "go bag," and locked all the potted plants inside. We have plenty of water saved, but I like Lone Wolf's idea of filling the bathtub and outfitting it with a bucket.
Stay safe, Liz L. Stay safe, all.
Re: hurricane prep
Don't forget that you can always drain water from you hot water tank. I know I can attach a garden hose to ours and open the valve. Fill your tub(s) aghead of time. Also, should the power go out, do you have a charcoal or gas grill? You can always cook meat that is starting to thaw. We experienced Hurricanes Fran and Bertha in NC in 1995 / 96. Power was out for a couple of days and it got hot and humid after the storm passed. My wife had a hand-held battery powered fan / mister which really helped her. If you can make more ice, do it. You can always freeze bottled water and then drink it as it melts - in that way the bottled water does 'double duty.' While you have batteries, don't forget replacement bulbs for your flashlights, or as stated, have plenty of flash lights on hand. Plastic sheeting and duct tape comes in handy if a window is broken. Water and ice are key. You can always boil water on your grill should you need hot water.
Re: hurricane prep
Baby wipes. Lots and lots of baby wipes.
"Now remember, when things look bad and it looks like you're not gonna make it, then you gotta get mean. I mean plumb, mad-dog mean. 'Cause if you lose your head and you give up then you neither live nor win. That's just the way it is. "
Re: hurricane prep
Hurricane Irene came and went. I live on the coast of southern Connecticut and while the power and Internet stayed on at my house, we live very close to the ocean and the storm surge flooded just a couple doors down.
Here are some great pics from the balcony of my apartment:
Right next to us is an empty lot and a Tax accountant's office building. I think they had extensive water damage:
One of my neighbors forgot to move their car:
At least the geese are enjoying the weather:
Here are some great pics from the balcony of my apartment:
Right next to us is an empty lot and a Tax accountant's office building. I think they had extensive water damage:
One of my neighbors forgot to move their car:
At least the geese are enjoying the weather:
"I came here for financial advice, but I've ended up with a bunch of shave soaps and apparently am about to start eating sardines. Not that I'm complaining, of course." -ZedThou
Re: hurricane prep
Thanks for sharing the photos. (Looks like a really nice area under better circumstances.)
Liz, I hope the power stayed on for you (or at least is now back on!)
Liz, I hope the power stayed on for you (or at least is now back on!)
Re: hurricane prep
Thanks for the photos, Storm.
We were lucky here; the power stayed on, the old trees did not fall, and there was no flooding (the neighborhood is on elevated land). But this was not the case in many areas in the NYC-Tri State area (where I live) and other areas affected by Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene, as people are still being rescued in flooded areas, and 3 million are still without power, so we wish things get better for them in the coming days.
We were lucky here; the power stayed on, the old trees did not fall, and there was no flooding (the neighborhood is on elevated land). But this was not the case in many areas in the NYC-Tri State area (where I live) and other areas affected by Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene, as people are still being rescued in flooded areas, and 3 million are still without power, so we wish things get better for them in the coming days.
Re: hurricane prep
We were lucky and never lost power. I'm glad to have had a dress rehearsal for preparedness, and appreciate the suggestions.