Anyone else preparing for hurricane season?

I figure that the more prepared I am, the less likely any storms will form.

Hubby naturally does not see my logic. But he finally gave in and bought lots of water. Next I will have to "remind" him again to get the cooler and flashlights and extra batteries and other essentials out of the storage unit. They need to be here with us so that I can check to see if the batteries even work.

And some of the windows in this apt do not open. This is fine when the electricy and air conditioner are working but not fine when modern technology fails.

We will have to call maintenance but I am putting it off in the hopes that our place will someday be cleaned up a littlle and not embarrassing to have strangers walking around. Plus, I sleep in the day time.


-->> What do you worry about most?
Usually people seem to care most about what they dealt with in the last storm.
-->> Do you have system to ensure a quiet season?


Mostly, I think positive.

My oh my what a wonderful day
Plenty of sunshine heading my way
zip-a-dee-doo-dah zip-a-d

I wish I could say we're all prepared but the most preparation we did so far was to move OUT of the local evacuation zone we'd lived in for six years. That is the one thing that had to happen this year since each passing year before that has just been horrible for me anxiety-wise. Now if the power goes off I am sure we'll be better off being here because they will most likely get the power turned on here first since there are a lot of rich houses near here and those people get their power on first, so we'd be right in line with that.

I don't have a hurricane kit but we do have batteries and a flashlight, I might buy a couple more next month because this month my $$$ is all spoken for because of the move. Next month we have a huge power bill and I doubt we'll have much extra cash then either but who knows? I really am hopeful that things will be a bit cheaper here in the long run even though we've now got a gas bill to pay whereas in the old place we had electric stove/oven and the air was totally dependent on the4 electricity. Here it's supposedly at least partially dependent on the gas or so they say.

Anyway, I feel for you Mari, I know we're not the only ones who live in the hurrican alley (I forget if they call it that, I know they use that term for tornado alley so maybe I just coined a new phrase) I have to run, kiddo is getting restless. n But I had to comment on this thread since we just moved OUT of the evacuation zone and that one thing has helped more then anything to put my mind at ease.

WE do not have that many supplies. When ever there is a huuricain coming our way or if it ieminent...I fill up the washer with water so that is our back up of water. some people fill up bath tubs.
we have flash lights that work and candle and a playing deck of cards, a radio, stock up of canned tuna. If the storm is serious then we would evacuate and head north to an Aunts house in northern louisiana we don't have boards to board up the windows and probably should have these...a few years ago we got 20 sand bags and they are stored in the shed...we are not in a flood zone but a tornado can hit anywhere...and we really have no control of that at all.
I really try not to worry about things...try
I thinkyou are right in being prepared as you are in a much more vulnerable spot than we are.
They make the neatest portable alcohol cooking stoves for camping...hand made out a pop can...I looked at them a few weeks ago.
This is something I could see getting for back up....some day.
What kind of food items do you have? What else do you have as supplies?
bizi

We do not get hurricanes-mid west here.

We get fires.

And I am not that prepared. I have a couple of camel backs (back packs that hold water) some army-surplus food rations and a water filtration system for the camel backs so we can drink any water we come across. (thank you, daddy.)

I need a year supply of food and such. WHY? Earthquake. When it actually hits, it's gonna be a big puppy. But that is one that I try not to think about too much. Too scary. Salt Lake is so big now that any quake over 7.5 is gonna be hell on earth.

I hope everyone is safe for this hurricane season. I hope the storms stay in the water and never touch land.

I will be thinking of all of you and keeping you in my prayers.

THis article was one that I had writen for a local paper.
We don't get first impact open water from Hurricans but 35 years ago today Wilkes Barre and several other areas in PA were devestated. Buildings leveled, water over the roofs, the business district of downtown never came back. Only a year ago the entire valley was evacuated and the water reached the dike, and went over in many out lying areas.

Then there was the F2 tornado that went through our small mountain town..who would ever think. Even as we headed to the basement, and heard it around us, I was in disbelief. The town highschool lost a roof, many homes too. The ball field torn up, entire forest a 1/4 mile wide leveled. The roads were impassable everywhere from 60 foot pines to hundred year old oaks.

Everyone was unprepared and for three days we were without power, many for over a week. The grocery store and strip malls lost their front windows, all blown out.

So I wrote several parts of emergency preparedness articles. This is one part; not sure if it is the final copy or not.....There is one for long term or evacuation, and also for food or meals to plan.

Emergency Preparedness Kit

When an emergency is imminent, is not the time to rush for a flash light, transistor radio or safe shelter. Having a preparedness kit, plan to implement and family understanding of what to do in emergency’s is critical. Just having a plan to where children will be safe and what they will take in an emergency will reduce anxiety during an emergency and help parents to implement what actions are needed.

But, preparedness starts far before the emergency. When the power goes off, how prepared is your family, do you scramble or have you prepared a kit and needed items at hand? With dollar stores and department stores competitive prices it is inexpensive to have items on hand.

First, are our short term immediate needs, and then a long term emergency kit. Determine will this be a short term inconvenience or long term emergency. There are six basics you should stock for your home in the case of an emergency: water, food, first aid supplies, clothing and bedding, tools and emergency supplies, and special items for medical conditions. These fundamentals can be kept in Rubbermaid type container to back-packs depending on the emergency kit prepared.

In this informational article I will share a simple kit for a short term emergency/power outage. For example; winter weather/summer storm related power outage.

One item that is extremely convenient is an emergency portable lighting that will activate in the event of a power failure. These units will give you immediate light in a hall, bedrooms, or major use areas. The typical emergency light will remain in an outlet and automatically light when a power outage happens. They will often hold a charge for the duration of short term power outages.

Another important item is a transistor radio, from the inexpensive to the NOAA weather band available are extremely valuable to learn about information relating to your emergency.The emergency radio that I purchased has several sources of power; rechargeable battery, hand crank, and AC adapter. Another option my Red Cross radio has is an outlet for charging cell phones or to power your cordless phone. That is another item to consider; an inexpensive land line phone; cordless phones do not work during power outages.

Additionally, I have a small battery operated television that was used during many recent outages to entertain the family throughout the long hours; some can even hook to cable. A real enjoyment was the rechargeable DVD player for our kids, keep yours charged and accessible. Board games, a deck of cards and music players are other sources of passing time.

For the Adults, keep in the kit; duct tape, plastic sheathing, whistle, flares, shut off wrench for gas and water, fire extinguisher, cash, aluminum foil, plastic zip-lock type bags, hygienic hand wipes, first aid kit, and lots of extra batteries.

For lighting, invest in LED rechargeable or battery operated lanterns and flashlights. They offer wide scopes brightness and have a long lasting light. Keep a supply of flashlights and small battery operated lighting; they are much safer then candles. If you use candles, do not leave them unattended and always in a container as a jar light. Avoid the use of dangerous stick candles.

Other areas of preparedness we all should consider are long term emergency kits and foods kit preparation to utilize during emergency use or evacuation. If an emergency or evacuation happened right now, what supplies do we have ready?

Dianne

This Red Cross.org is excellant link with almost anything you need to know, about food, water, documents...
http://www.redcross.org/general/0,10....html#supplies

This is excellant!
thank you for posting.
good advice and has me thinking about our preparedness....
bizi

Dear Pam,
If you have enough containers to fill up water for three days for each person and a handful of flashlights you will have enough to get by.
Last year I bought bags of dried fruit and nuts. That's what hubby eats anyway.
My sis in Texas included some games in her hurricane kit -- like cards or checkers or something.

It sounds like you moved inland a abit -- out of the first evacuation zone.
That's good. You can relax and not worry if you are supposed to be packing up or anything.

I remember when I lived across the street from a major airport. We always got electricity back right away. People who live near hospitals, jails, or senators benfit as well.

Maybe your new place has better insulation or is of new construction or something a long those lines so that you can get lower electricty than at your old place.

M.
__________________

The ultimate Path is without difficulty. Just avoid picking and choosing.
-- Seng-Ts'an

Oh dear, Bizi,

I hope that I did not give you anything to worry about.

We have soup, nuts, dried fruit, canned fruit, sardines,.... Maybe I will buy some fruit juice, crackers, and some canned corned beef hash.
(I like eating the hash at the end of hurricane season to celebrate a quiet year.)

In FL, only the people in trailors or on the coast evacuate. Every one is supposed to stay put.

Oh yeah, I splurged and bought a battery operated black and white television for $20.00 that I saw in Kmart a few weeks ago.

I remember the thing about filling up the bath tub but didn't know about the washing machine -- I didn't have one in my old place anyway.

I remember being a kid in Key West when a storm was supposed to come. My father was gone (always) because the military needed him during the hurricane. My mom invited friends who lived in a trailer and we all slept upstairs together as part of a big sleep over.


M.


__________________

The ultimate Path is without difficulty. Just avoid picking and choosing.
-- Seng-Ts'an

Dear Mrs. Bear,
Fires and earth quakes! Oh my!
If you have water filitration you are good. Your father really is something to give you the gift of filtration.

We share similar hopes for each other.

Mari


__________________

The ultimate Path is without difficulty. Just avoid picking and choosing.
-- Seng-Ts'an

Dear DiMarie,
This is thorough and well exlained. Thanks for the link too!
Mari

__________________

The ultimate Path is without difficulty. Just avoid picking and choosing.
-- Seng-Ts'an