Hurricane Advice
Hi,
Reposting what I posted for someone else. I know a lot of people in Sandy's path may be unaccustomed to dealing with hurricanes (I live in Florida; sooooo many hurricanes), so maybe these tips will help someone out there:
Everything will be okay. Mostly, just hunker down in your house (assuming you have not been told to evacuate) and be prepared for a long night. If I may offer some advice ...
1. Before the storm gets really bad, disinfect your tub (if you have one) and fill it with water. You can use it for all sorts of things. Do the same with any jugs and so forth. Right now, the water is safe and accessible. If something breaks during the storm, you'll be glad you stocked up.
2. If you have any perishables like meat, it might be a good idea to cook them now and store them in a cooler with ice. You'll get some use out of the food instead of having to discard it.
3. Do you have a grill, and if so, did you get propane? We have one and it has been a lifesaver with every hurricane. Even if the power's out, you can cook every meal of the day on one (especially if it has a side burner).
4. Make sure to charge all of your devices (phones, laptops, iPads, whatever). Power will very likely go down if you're in the direct path, but you might be able to make calls.
5. Get your pets inside, obviously. Get anything that's loose inside. Potted planets, furniture, stuff that could become projectiles due to the winds.
6. Make sure you have light sources for the evening hours and/or if your house is sealed by shutters. Hurricane lanterns work really well, but most people don't have those. I have rechargeable flashlights which you can shake to power. If you have regular ol' flashlights, ensure you're stocked on batteries (you should probably get a pack of those anyway).
7. Have all if your really important stuff in a sealed plastic bag. Vital documents, medication, etc. This'll make them easy to grab and take if you need to leave, and it will protect them from water damage and so on.
8. Have something to do!! This is really important, especially if you're not used to hurricanes, as just sitting there and worrying will drive you nuts. Have cards, a board game, games you can play on your laptop or iPhone/iPad, a good book, anything like that.
9. Try to think of yourself as just being in a cozy shelter, waiting out the storm, rather than in the midst of a catastrophe. What can I say? Made it easier for me to cope with mentally, as someone disposed to panic attacks.
10. For goodness sake, don't go outside during the storm unless your house is coming down. It's exhilarating (I've done it) but stupid. You never know when something out there could fly along and smash ya.
= new reply since forum marked as read
I'm 27, lived here all my life, and I've never seen a flake of snow! 