Do you have Hurricane (Disaster) tips to share?
Hurricane Irene is bearing down on those of us on the east coast. While the news outlets love to play the disaster card, this one may actually play out as predicted, unfortunately. I traveled the RT 1 - 95 corridor today and it was filled with commuters evacuating (mandatory) the Outer Banks (NC), Ocean City, MD, etc. Are there tips you have for people who are in the path of this storm?
Water related: Fill whatever bath tubs you have full of water. This can help with flushing toilets or drinking water if really necessary. Also filling ziplock bags with as much ice as possible and freezing for possible drinking water needs.
Flashlights and candles.
I live in earthquake country. These are some of my thoughts:
Make sure you have a few gallons of water and spare batteries on hand. (Oh, bathtub full is a Great Idea! Will have to remember that one, thanks.) Some cash, too, since they say ATMs don't work in a power outage. Hope you still have a land line, btw.
If you must go out, let people know where you're going and check in. Have ID on your person somewhere. Keep a blanket, a first aid kit, and some nonperishable provisions in your car. Water, flashlight & batteries here, too. No joking -- garbage bags and toilet paper may come in handy. A change of socks and boots that will keep your feet dry/warm. A coat and extra pair of sneakers, if nothing else.
Don't drive through standing water -- you never know just how deep or swift the water is. Not to mention sinkholes and bridge failures, as possibilities.
Hope you stay safe!
@mfladd: Just a tip, bleach your tub really well first so you have the option to use it for drinking water in a pinch. There will likely be plenty of water for flushing available in your basement should the need arise!!!
Please gas up your vehicles NOW. If you have a home generator, be sure it is in an area that is properly ventilated.
An outdoor grill comes in handy when the power goes out, especially if your home appliances are all electric. Make sure you have extra charcoal or propane on hand.
An inexpensive pot and cast iron frying pan are great on the grill. (You can heat water on the grill for a French press coffee maker)
If the power goes off for more than a day & your water heater is electric, try this for a quick hot "shower": put a spray nozzle on the end of your garden hose. Charge the hose and make sure the hose is in a sunny area for a few hours. The sun will heat the water hot enough for you to wet & soap yourself up & quickly rinse. Do your neighbors a favor & wear a bathing suit.
Try to keep the fridge/freezer closed. Know ahead of time what you want to take out/put in and then do it quickly.
Freeze 1 & 2 liter bottles. A full freezer will keep for over 24 hours if the power is out.
(MORE) Decide now on someone who lives out of the storm's path as your point of contact. Don't be surprised if you lose cell phone service, so find a landline you can use.
Take out cash NOW. Enough for at least a week.
If you are evacuating, be aware that even if you've made hotel reservations, don't be surprised to find your room has been given away. It happened with Ivan.
PLEASE report any price gouging on supplies, hotels, gas. It's against the law.
Get lawn & leaf bags, a broom & dust pan, paper towels, wet wipes, paper plates. Battery operated fans are one of the best things ever. Ice packs to the back of your neck, armpits, crotch will keep you cool at night.
Make arrangements for your pets too. Some shelters do not allow pets.
Some day I'll have to tell the tale of my 90+ year old Gran spending the night at a shelter during Ivan next to a stripper. Gran was a hoot!
(Even more) Police your yard/apartment patio/balcony. Secure EVERYTHING. You would not believe how little wind it takes to hurl a potted plant thru a window or across the yard. A cast iron bench CAN get airborne. Anything adrift in your yard can become a missile. A dangerous one.
Back wash the pool a bit. RAIN is coming and lots of it. Seriously, if storage space is a problem, toss your pool furniture into the pool. It will sink & not blow around.
Try to not park your vehicle under a tree or power pole.
Gather all your insurance documents, important papers, etc., NOW. Secure in a ziploc style bag and put in safe place to grab if you must leave. Make sure you've paid your insurance bill! Pay it online today if you haven't.
Charge your cell phone! Power out? Car charger.
Secure your valuables and remember, sometimes when services go to hell, people get out of hand and loot/steal. Be prepared.
Taping windows is over rated and messy to remove.
(and even more) Battery operated radio is nice as is a tv.
Fire extinguisher. Have one? Where is it?
DO YOUR DIRTY LAUNDRY TODAY.
Maybe cook a few re-heatable meals today and store.
Find a good book or two.
Check on your neighbors when you can, especially the older folks.
Pre-flight your chain saw and for God's sake, be careful.
Don't go outside when the eye passes over or if you do, don't stray too far from shelter. Those winds and rain will return in a heartbeat and you don't want to be caught in it.
You really don't need to report your power outage. Believe me. They'll know. Although it is important to report downed lines. Keep pets and the stupid away from them.
Brush up on your CPR. Get your MEDS NOW if you need them. Can't believe I forgot that. Band-aids for you klutzes.
Put a big "X" over your windows with tape... It tells the Hurricane to GO AWAY!!
here's what surprised us most:
it was not the hurricane that was the hardest - we actually slept through that -- it was the THREE WEEKS without electricity!!!!
so... on day three - after you've cleaned up the house, yard, pulled up wet carpet, etc. - GET OUT OF THE HOUSE
go buy a local paper
drive or walk around the neighborhood every day
buy ice
go to the phone store to charge your cell
besides these activities being necessary, you will find yourself falling into a new schedule (turns out that's important for your sanity), hear the sound of someone else's voice (since the tv doesn't work), and lowers your stress level (by letting you get some reliable reporting on what to expect tomorrow from the electric co., your boss, the post office, and, and, and. the people you talk to will be really nice (until they get electricity) and you will know that the world kept turning and things ARE being done
oh, btw ... go to the used bookstore TODAY and buy a big pile of stuff
@cookininsweats: My sister would call me on her land line (and even THAT was all funky--we could hear other conversations going on like a party line). She'd get all excited because she was hearing the Gulf Power trucks nearby. This went on for weeks as she was one of the last neighborhoods to have power restored.
Also, folks, MRE's are extremely fattening. Little sister couldn't understand how she was busting her tail for days straight cutting up trees, stacking wood, etc., and was gaining weight.
"What are you eating?"
"Oh, not really much of anything...just some coffee in the morning and then MRE's for lunch and dinner. Those mini Tabasco bottles are sooo cute!"
:::facepalm:::
"You do know those are about 3,000 calories each, don't you?"
Silence.
"Oh?...Crap."
@lavikinga: thanks for reminding me ... eat the food in your fridge first ... it's gonna go bad and smell (and the insurance company will only give you abt $250 to get along on) ... when it does, throw it out ... out, not in the trashcan
keep your garbage far away from the house amd in closed plastic bags. it won't be picked up for a long while.
there will be lots of bugs ... from the garbage and from the standing water ... get repellant for yourself AND for your pets
@lavikinga: All good info. The main thing are the three basics...water, food, and shelter. Only variation is I use 5 gallon buckets for all my storage. You can get them from Home Depot for like $5..comes with a water tight lid. If you field strip your MRE's you can fit 20 or so in there. 5 gallon buckets are great..once you empty them they can be used for further water storage or as a 'honey bucket' (something a LOT of people forget about).
The only thing no one has mentioned is self defense..but sounds like you're down south..shouldn't have to tell ya to grab a shotgun or handgun.
Good luck and God Bless
btw ... it's not the rain that causes water/flooding problems ... it's the backup of water (tides, wind, etc) ... that's what they mean by 'storm surge' ... and it won't happen until up to 24 hrs after the storm is gone ... so, keep in mind, it's not over when the sun reappears
@undrpsi: there is some good stuff ... you don't have to hear that the market just dropped 2 pts cuz the dems or repubs ... you're in the foxhole folks
@lavikinga: ?? MRE's are about 1200-1800 cals..only the (no longer made) cold weather MRE's were 2600-3200 cals..here's the skinny from MREinfo.com
What's in an MRE?
Entree - the main course, such as Spaghetti or Beef Stew
Side dish - rice, corn, fruit, or mashed potatoes, etc.
Cracker or Bread
Spread - peanut butter, jelly, or cheese spread
Dessert - cookies or pound cakes
Candy - M&Ms, Skittles, or Tootsie Rolls
Beverages - Gatorade-like drink mixes, cocoa, dairy shakes, coffee, tea
Hot sauce or seasoning - in some MREs
Flameless Ration Heater - to heat up the entree
Accessories - spoon, matches, creamer, sugar, salt, chewing gum, toilet paper, etc.
Each MRE provides an average of 1,250 calories (13% protein, 36% fat, and 51% carbohydrates) and 1/3 of the Military Recommended Daily Allowance of vitamins and minerals. A full day's worth of meals would consist of three MREs.
@cookininsweats: Foxhole? Nah...you always want the high ground. I have no idea what the rest of your comment means...
@undrpsi: i'd bet that someone named 'laVIKINGa' has cold weather everything
@undrpsi: I can't remember which ones were her favorites but they were the super high cal versions and were pushing hard on the 3,000 mark. She has an expired one in her pantry as a reminder. I'll have to get her to tell me what is in it.
@cookininsweats: Yeah, and believe me, I don't get much wear out of the furs while living in the south!
I was going to include weapons but jeez, some folks in the north are awfully touchy when it comes to talking about having superior firepower.
edit: Might want to check your insurance policy. It's my understanding, from USAA at least, water that backs up from the sewer is considered flood and not covered under a normal home owner's policy. Basically, if the water doesn't come directly from above (like a burst pipe) but comes up from the ground or along the ground, it's covered only if you have flood insurance. YMMV.
@undrpsi: it was meant as a smarta-- remark abt something you maybe can look enjoy in times like these, i.e., not having to hear continuous hyping of everything that occurs every day all day ... it's turns out that stuff really doesn't mean much all day everyday ... sorry, didn't mean to offend (that's why i mentioned dems and repubs)
@lavikinga: i know the problem ... cold storage from march-october ... it's tough being laBROWNSa in houston
NO one seems to have mentioned making sure you have a Full Tank of Gas or Diesel in your vehicle(s)... If all else fails you can charge phones and other such stuff in the car.. Also no electricity means no gas at the gas station...
12 volt / 120 volt inverters are a great investment for these times...
Do not go out when the eye passes over. It can get very calm and still, and you will be tempted to go outside and assess damage. Unless you have very up to date knowledge, of the size and speed of the eye, and your exact position in it, (we had an eye last 4 hours, but that is rare) you can be caught out when the winds return. They may do so suddenly. Many hurricane deaths and injuries are reported during this time.
After the storm please be cautious of downed power lines. These may be obscured by debris or by standing water. As the power company works to restore power to an area, a line that was dead may become live, so be careful, as much as you want some electricity, it is best not to apply it directly to people.
If your power is out, turn off most of your breakers. We leave one on with a light, to notify us when power is restored.
Figure out your safe room now. it is probably an interior closet. Clear out the floor area.
@lavikinga: and flood ins has 2b in effect for 30 prior to the event
oooo ... just saw a great idea ... MANUAL CAN OPENER ... and @undrpsi's idea abt sealed 5 gallon buckets may be great for those unmetionable necessary functions ... not kidding
@hobbitss: First thing on my above list of things to do, although I didn't mention the siphoning. Just assumed folks would think of doing it.
@lavikinga: Don't depend on siphoning. Many newer model cars cannot be siphoned. I've watched people try, when they were planning on donating cars. There may be some sort of mechanical system you can use, but just a siphon hose and lung power will get you nothing but grief (and fumes in your lungs).
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/prepare/supply_kit.shtml
This pretty much says it all.
Living in South Florida, we keep it all handy starting in June.
Our house is wired with a generator, which came in handy after Wilma in 2005.
Worst case scenario, have a relative within driving distance (one tank) who isn't in the storm's path.
@cookininsweats: Politicizing a survival situation, especially in such an unpleasant way, gets a down vote from me every time.
@shrdlu: Most new vehicles have a siphon block in the line so you wont even be able to use an electric or mechanical pump to siphon fuel...
I like how someone down voted my suggestion to fill up the gas tank before a storm... I have a fan... ;-)
Stock up on water, food, smokes, batteries, and beer. Canned goods and dry food are your best bets.
Get in as much stuff involving electricity as possible. T.V., Xbox, internet. Be sure to charge phones, computers, and camera. Who know when you will get power back.
I stayed for Rita & Ike. Trust me. We didn't have power for just under 2 weeks after Ike.
Absolutely correct about the phones. A friend of mine who survived Katrina and Rita both said even though all the cell phones lost service, the land lines were still working.
@webfoot08: here's a survival suggestion ... if you can't keep your sense of humor, make sure you stock rusty razor blades ...
honestly??!! ... read it again ... and the followup, too
the point of a forum like this is to give people assurance that they will live thru this ... and the first thing to figure out is what to take seriously
@cookininsweats: First it was raping children, now it's rusty razor blades. Nice...
I don't recall seeing charcoal (and lighter fluid). This is perfect for using up all those groceries in your fridge. Invite the neighbors to bring over their food. Make the best of it.
The worst part of having no power is trying to go to sleep in a 90+ degree house with 99% humidity.
@embhorn: and Propane for the grill and gas lanterns...
@embhorn: Yep, I hit those too in my long winded posts. And propane. And cash.
I wish I could reach thru the internet and slap that stupid spammer. I know English is probably a second language, but of all the threads to spam...
This looks like a useful article from MSNBC.com
@lavikinga: Somehow I missed your first very informative post and read the others so I repeated some of your suggestions... Sounds like you've done this before...
Leave your kitesurfing gear at home!
here's a tracker, to keep tabs on that m.f. who wants to cause damage. looks like it's predicted to go directly over OBX, NC
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26295161/ns/weather/t/hurricane-tracker/
i like all the tips, good stuff!
@hobbitss: oh yeah. Been there, done that, have the t shirt, as they say. I will say the folks living in the hurricane zones get off a bit easier. At least they get a decent heads up a 'cane is coming. It's those folks living in Tornado Alley who really have my respect. They are lucky if they get a half hour's notice the conditions are ripe for destruction. My brother, who recently moved back to Florida from being stationed in Oklahoma, says he'd rather take an occasional hurricane over frequent tornadoes (and blizzards).
Forgot to mention GAS. Get it now while you can and stock up.
I just wanted to thank everybody for their suggestions. In fact it was from this thread I remembered to get my propane tanks filled. Also, a BIG thank you to @lavikinga who has done an amazing job as our Disaster Preparedness Hostess today.
Seriously, my best to everyone and their families who are in the path of this storm. Stay safe!!!!!
@mfladd: LOL, I want all my disasters to be "hosted" by @lavikinga:
@pickypickypicky: I agree. She is the hostess with the mostess!
@lavikinga: I have renters insurance from USAA and they have covered me for natural flood damage to personal property before without having the extra flood insurance. It may depend on your area and if it is homeowners or renters.
@segafanalways: Possibly. We went ahead and got it since we live very close to a flood plain AND the drainage creek that runs behind our home had a nasty habit of overflowing further down it's path.
I'm surprised to hear they covered you because how adamant the rep was on the phone. I was even more surprised the learn that sewer back ups were only covered with flood insurance. I'll bet it very well may be a difference in our locales.
@ALL: Thanks for the props. It comes from years of coastal living and growing up with very smart parents. Most of the advice can be applied to any drastic weather situation, modified for temperature/time of year.
Some one needs to start a "checking in" thread so we know every one made it through ok. Looks like it the hurricane was beginning to throttle back when I last checked. Good luck and keep your powder dry!
Pop-tarts. Waterproof, needs no heat, tastes great!
@lavikinga: By your command, madam, I've created the Check In question. I'm just going to spend the night worrying, now.
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