If you are in the path of Florence - you have to get ready NOW!

[jpak]

Keep your gas tank full - if you can safely store gasoline, extra.

Batteries, flashlight, radio, crank-solar-car cellphone charger

Canned food that does not need water for cooking.

As much water as you can store - 1 gallon per day person - fill the bathtub for flushing toilet.

Gatorade or other sport drinks for fluids and electrolytes.

Baby wipes for washing - and big garbage bags.

Do your laundry.

Make sure you have your meds and extra.

Don't forget the fur babies!

Evacuate before it's mandatory.

This will be a major flooding event - if you live near water -get out before flooding blocks the evac routes.

[edhopper]

1. Put as much food in the freezer as you can

if you loose power, the freezer will preserve food longer than the fridge. As long as you don't open it.

Good list jpak

[Mariana]

7. And fill the rest with water, in clean containers, to make ice.

Large blocks of ice last much longer than cubes, and as they melt they provide nice clean cold drinking water.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. Also it would be a good idea to have some large plastic "tote" bins

to store things in should it flood. I remember after Katrina how these were recommended to put any valuables/papers in plus they can be used for flotation if you have to wade through high water.

[peekaloo]

4. and buy those big ass baggies for documents safekeeping.

double protect important papers.

take digital pics of home and belongings prior to storm.

I know a few people in Florida who got screwed by their insurance companies after Irma.

[BumRushDaShow]

5. Yes

and I expect there was a similar issue in the Houston metro area after Harvey. They do sell the 2-gallon size ziplocks (I have a box).

[MaryMagdaline]

51. I put the insurance policy in a ziplock in the freezer

[Canoe52]

3. Jugs of water work just as well in the freezer if you don't have enough food to fill it.

[Mariana]

8. And it doubles as stored drinking water, if you use clean jugs. nt.

[davsand]

6. Put stuff INSIDE the dishwasher to stay dry.

They hold water when they are used as dishwashers, they can keep water out, too. Put pictures and other "keep dry" stuff inside and then lock it closed. As an added bonus, usually a dishwasher doesn't travel too far in the event of a building collapse.

Stay safe, everybody.


Laura

[jpak]

9. Never heard of that

good thinking!

[Tipperary]

10. This is not a good idea. It is one of those hurricane prevention myths.

Feel free to google it. But do NOT put documents or pictures in your dishwasher.

[babylonsister]

11. Fill your washing machine with ice.

Good storage and water goes out the drain instead of all over the floor.

[sl8]

12. It won't drain very well without power.

The washing machine uses an electric pump to drain. Gravity alone won't do it - look how high the drain hose is where it enters the standpipe. You might be able to reroute the drain hose so that it will drain well enough without power.

Also, the uninsulated sheet metal drum of the washer will be pretty inefficient at keeping things cold.

[babylonsister]

19. We did this last year. While

it did not keep the ice insulated and in tact, we had more ice while it lasted without making a mess.

[sl8]

21. Did you drain it before regaining power?

If so, how?

[GoCubsGo]

22. If one has an older machine, all one needs to do is start it at the "spinning" part of the .

The water gets drained out of the drum at that stage during normal operation. I assume one can do the same with most newer models. You don't have to start the washer at the beginning of the cycle.

[sl8]

23. The cycle isn't the issue, power to run the pump is the issue.

The water is pumped out of the washer with an electric pump, not drained by gravity. Note how the drain hose goes above the top of the washer.

[GoCubsGo]

26. Yes. I know how a washer is drained. I misread your post.

If you have no power, then you get a container, and bail out as much water as you can by hand. But, the power will come back on eventually, and the electric pump will then function, and that's how you ultimately drain the machine. If the power never comes back on, then one obviously has bigger problems than how to drain out a washer.

[babylonsister]

48. I don't remember, I was at my sister's. nt

[sl8]

50. OK, thanks. n/t

[GoCubsGo]

27. First make sure you have done all of your laundry.

It would suck to be without power for several days, and realize that you don't have any clean underwear/clothes. Not that you can't wash them by hand, but why do that if you don't have to?

[CaptainTruth]

13. I keep extra buckets & plastic tarps handy, for roof leaks.

I have tarps to cover the electronic stuff so it doesn't get dripped on, & a tarp to cover the bed. Don't want a soggy mattress.

I also lay towels against the bottoms of exterior doors (inside, of course) to soak up water that might get blown in.

[malaise]

25. See if you can collect the water from leaks or rain

to use for flushing.

[FloridaBlues]

44. Fill the bath tub of water use for flushing toilets

[malaise]

45. Yes but that eventually runs out

so save what's coming from leaks

[FloridaBlues]

46. At least it helped my house for 5 days

[malaise]

47. It's a great help

For sure

[cstanleytech]

14. Add alot of ice and those gel packs they sale in the grocery stores to freeze if you are diabetic

and need to keep your insulin cold also try to get a large yeti cup as I have used them to keep my insulin cold on trips for hours and hours and they need very little ice to do it.
Regardless of your storage methods remember to put the insulin into a zip lock bag so it does not get wet.

[packman]

15. Get several cans of instant water

[B2G]

20. That is hilarious! Nt

[Duppers]

16. Plan an evacuation route.

Last edited Sun Sep 9, 2018, 03:42 PM - Edit history (1)

We're on the coast in the upper cone. Our leaving depends on how high our winds are predicted to go.

Florence will swipe us for sure. If our winds are predicted to stay at a Cat1, we'll be ok. We've been thru three Cat1s, but if Cat3 winds are predicted here, we'll have to leave. By Wed. evening.

Thank goodness for the Hurricane Center's reporting.

And remember to find a pet friendly hotel before traveling. (Thanks for that reminder, Bayard. 🙏

[malaise]

17. And if you must have coffee you can buy a small coffee maker which works in your car lighter port

[babylonsister]

28. I burned a good pot boiling

water on the (gas) bbq grill, but we had coffee!

[malaise]

29. ROFL

Bet you threw it away. I've seen folks here use coal or wood ash and clean burnt pots. They looked bran new after the scrubbing. Discovered after that campers do this as well.

[Gothmog]

18. Get ready for this storm

Please evacuate if you can or otherwise get ready

[GoCubsGo]

24. Fortunately, I am far enough inland that I'lll be spared the worst of it.

Of course, that depends on where it comes ashore. If it were to come in at Savannah or south of there, we could be really clobbered by the wind. When Hugo hit Charleston, we got some wind and rain, but it was nothing like what they got 50 or 60 miles or so east of us. I'll still stock up on batteries, charcoal, cat fud, and canned goods, just in case we lose power. Especially since there are two more storms right behind Florence. I always keep a case of bottled water on hand for emergencies.

[roamer65]

30. The Southeast may very well get a 1-2-3 punch.

Florence, Isaac and Helene are all lined up in a row. Not good, folks.

[peggysue2]

31. Keeping my eye on this because . . .

My youngest son is being married on Nags Head and presumably we're spending the week of the 19th on the island.

Talk about picking a bullseye date

My son is trying to stay positive (as in praying for a miracle) while talking his bride-to-be off a ledge. So much planning and anticipation.

Aghhhh!!

[Cha]

33. I can imagine, peggysue! Best of Luck

to you all on your son's and his fiancé's wedding taking place when and where it's planned!

[peggysue2]

35. Thanks, Cha!

Every report sounds more and more ominous. The wedding itself is scheduled for Friday the 21st. On the Beach!!

We'll be lucky if the beach and rental house are still there.

The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men, as they say.

[Cha]

37. I guess Plan B might have to be in order?

[peggysue2]

41. Ya think????

[Cha]

43. :))) Living on this Island I

find I'm always needing a Plan B.

[Cha]

32. And Cash! May not have electricity for ATMs.

Good list, jpak!

Best of Luck to all those who will be affected by Hurricane Florence!

[jpak]

36. Forgot that - everyone I knew in FL and TX kept $250 in TC and at least $100 in small bills/change

at home during hurricane season - and these folks were NOT "rich".

They knew what to expect after a devastating storm.

[Cha]

38. Righto! And, so do we on Kauai. Just

Lucked Out that Hurricane Lane didn't make landfall.. But, once again we were Prepared!

[at140]

55. don't forget enough condoms

because stores will be closed.

[at140]

54. What good is cash if all stores are closed?

That happened here south of Jacksonville, FL. When the hurricane arrived 2 years ago, all stores and restaurants were closed, if you could even get to them, because streets were flooded.

[Cha]

58. Cash helped us on Kauai because stores

and cafes did reopen after awhile. We were out of electricity for 3 months with Hurricane Iniki.

Sorry about your flooding crisis in Jacksonville, at.

[braddy]

34. Remember to stock up on booze & beer if you drink or want to gift helpers who clear debris etc.

Make sure to have some cards and games or handcuffs etc. for boredom.

[demsocialist]

42. hand cuffs.... hahaha

The fur covered kind.

[Mariana]

59. A trip to the library is always on my prep list. nt.

[pintobean]

39. Having memories of Nadin.

[demsocialist]

40. Don't forget the hooch

At least one pint per person per day.

[nolabear]

49. Not a bad idea actually. Of course Katrina was in NO but it was important.

Having lived through Camille and knowing whole lot of Katrina survivors I'll say that liquor is handy for trade, for sedation, for fire starting, for better-than-nothing sterilization and occasionally cleaning things. Get vodka. It doesn't have those messy additives.

[at140]

52. Keep 2 cell phones minimum, FULLY charged!

[malaise]

61. Buy a phone charger for your car

They're cheap

[at140]

63. When hurricane hit us 2 years ago

there was ferocious wind outside, and not safe at all
to go outside to the car. Debris from trees and other
stuff was flying around.

I suppose if there was a health emergency, even the
ambulance could not get to the house. But Cell phones
are great to keep communication with relatives & others.

My car has a USB port, so I guess I can plug in the cell
phone charger cable in it. Your suggestion is very good
about ability to charge cell phone in the car.

[malaise]

64. You shouldn't need to charge the phone in the car during the hurricane

But you'll need it the next day.

[at140]

65. When we lived in WA state,

there was a 10-12 inch snowfall, and our hilly neighborhood was out of commission for car traffic for a whole week. God forbid if someone had a serious health emergency, it would be impossible for the ambulance to reach our street. Cell phones would have been useless.

However on another occasion, there was a 5-6 inch snow fall, in another location, and electricity was off for 48 hours. With all electric home, our condo was freezing cold. It was middle of winter and temps dropped below +20 F. My cell phone came in very handy to call the electric utility and inform them I was in my 70's and needed power restored on priority basis, and they did cooperate.

[malaise]

66. Valid point

Snow or flooding is different

[ornotna]

53. Instead of the bathtub

I bought a 55 gallon rubbermaid trash can with lid to put water in. Stores my storm supplies in the off season.

[at140]

56. Fill bathtubs with water!

So you can flush the toilet in case water supply goes out.

[ornotna]

57. Yes, I do that as well

I should probably reword my title.

[Sedona]

60. Motel 6 will let you bring up to 2 pets free

Make a reservation if you think you need to leave the coastal areas. You can always cancel it if necessary

[duforsure]

62. Be on the safe side

And leave if you can before its arrival. If you've experienced or seen the damage these things can do you know what I am talking about. I had a lot of damage from Harvey so its always safer to escape being in its path rather then stay and take a chance you may regret.