What I learned during Hurricane IKE ---- some Tips

[flying_wahini]

Buy the largest gasoline can you can and fill it up NOW. Fill up all the cars for evacuation later when the roads are cleared.

If you still have power - FREEZE gallons of milk/ juice now; making sure to open it first and take off about 1/2 cup to allow
for expansion.
These will provide your fridge with real staying power to keep things cold when the power goes out.
Freeze items that are now in the regular cool part if you can without spoiling them. It will help keep the other things cold.
Like coffemate.

Keep your fridge door closed at all times. Don't let kids stand there with the door open. I still had cold milk for cereal 4 days after IKE.

Make sure you have a MANUAL can opener - not one that relies on electricity. Buy instant coffee.

If you have extra phone batteries, charge them up now. Buy extra batteries if you can find them. Good luck with that.
Do Not use your car to listen to the news post storm - because when your car battery runs down you are screwed.
I did that.

Make extra ice and store it in a cooler.
Buy some charcoal briquettes if you can - for cooking all that spoiling food. OUTSIDE COOKING ONLY.

If you are able to do so - cook items in your freezer that will probably spoil anyway. You will have something to eat already prepared.
Get extra garbage bags/ cardboard for your windows and floors - they will probably be open for ventilation and you can use them to
help protect your floors and carpets when it is flooding and you have to open the windows while it is still raining.

Get any necessary refills NOW.

Secure any doo dads outside that may be a hazard when flying at you doing 150mph. Like those metal plant spikes in your yard.

Ike wasn't as large as Sandy but the sustained winds at my house were measured at 145mph. It was bad.
It was a Category 4 when it reached my area - and if there had been a way to leave we would have. Long story short
there was NO gasoline days before it hit.

Hope these help. Sending my Good Vibes your way.

[yellerpup]

1. All great, practical advice!

Thanks!

[LiberalEsto]

2. Great tips. Thanks! nt

[braddy]

3. Excellent advice, especially the part about freezing the extra milk and drink jugs and the part

about cooking some freezer foods in advance and refreezing it for meals if power is lost. People can also use big cooking pots to freeze water in, it not only keeps the freezer/fridge cold, but it is good clean water storage.

Like you said, fill every inch of that freezer now.