ontheriver

It looks like the northeastern coast is going to be hit/ affected by Hurricane Irene. Maybe even New York for the first time in many, many years. Please be prepared. This is not something to take lightly. You WILL lose power and probably water!!!!Have enough water and non-perishable food for at least a week, the water should be at least a gallon per person per day, a radio and plenty of extra batteries, get some cash as ATMs don't work without power and banks may not be open, fill the car with gas, if you are on medications make sure you have enough on hand and if not call the doctor and see if you can get a supply. Having lived in the south all my life, in Pensacola FL for 35 years I am very used to these storms and getting ready is something I do without thinking (has become a way of life), so if I have forgotten any thing important, please everyone add on to this list. Stay inside and stay safe. Get a hand sewing project ready that you can do without power. Don't wait til the last minute, stores sell out of water, batteries, etc very quickly.

ptquilts

thanks for the tips! I like the last one the best, spoken like a true quilter. It's been awhile since I had to quilt by candle light. We are over 100 miles inland so it should be just rain and wind by the time it gets here.

bearisgray

Sounds like the advice of someone "that's been there, done that"

Hope no one has major damage or injuries.

Much better to have supplies on hand and, hopefully, not need them
than
To need them, and not have them.

litacats

please everyone in it's path keep safe, we want to hear from you all again healthy and in one piece

Grannymom

yes, been there, done that...

if you don't have any buckets, fill the bathtub with water - this is water to use to FLUSH THE TOILET... if there is no electricity, there is no way to run a pump, no pump=no water going into water tower, eventually the towers run dry - and then no bathing/flushing water (and no drinking water either) (if you don't know how to flush a toilet with water - get a bucket, 3 lb coffee can will do, fill it, dump in the bowl of the toilet - presto, the toilet flushes!)

if possible have a grill, gas grill (with side burner) you can make coffee, cook meals, etc.... and obviously do not use it in the house... also have a small charcoal grill 'just in case'

buy bottled water for cooking and drinking... you wouldn't believe how many people complained about not having coffee after Ivan (one week without electric and 3 days no water here)

get flashlites that use double A batteries, C and D batteries disappear immediately... we also have 'tap lights' all over the house... if you hang them up on the walls you have plenty of light

get hand sanitizer for cleaning hands if no water and you are trying to conserve what you do have

have plenty of foods that don't need cooking or at the very least, minimal heating...

you are SUPPOSED to be able to sustain yourselves for at LEAST 72 HOURS....

don't forget pet food...

oh and don't think that just because you are inland that you don't have any concerns - we are 90 miles inland and Ivan hit here (eye right over our house) as a CATAGORY TWO storm, winds of 100 mph!

Krystyna

Getting the basics together now, and I am planning on taking my laptop and two sewing machines to my sister's house to keep them out of harm's way. Guess I'll take something to sew by hand as well.
*sigh* I guess we're overdue. BTW, we live in Long Beach, NY which is a tiny sandbar right on the Atlantic Ocean.

ontheriver

If you are that close to the water don't forget to take important papers too.

Grannymom

Sounds like you are close enough to the water to be concerned with storm surge - the surge that hit Biloxi/Gulfport MS WHERE KATRINA ACTUALLY HIT (N.O. was something else entirely no matter what the news tells you).... storm surge was OVER THE TOP OF THE LIGHT HOUSE.....it was high enough to lift a casino barge over the beach, the road, and leave it ON TOP OF A TWO STORY HOTEL...

So.... take your valuables, your important papers, your pictures, etc, anything you absolutely do not want to lose... if you come home after the storm and everything is just as you left it, count your blessings, if there is nothing left but the foundation be thankful that you had the foresight to save your most precious things......

ontheriver

I so agree with this, if predictions are correct you will be in the notheast quadrant which is said to the be worst during the storm so please GET OUT, do not even attempt to stay and get away from the coast, don't go to an area that is subject to flooding. Take everything you do not want to lose.

Krystyna

What is precious to me is my family and my dogs. I'll be photographing everything today and uploading to a secure site. IDs and Insurance papers are packed and ready to go. My go bags have emergency stuff -- and that includes a pocket sized Bible in each.

The only thing I will mourn are my fig trees. This is the first year they are bursting with fruit but not yet ripe. Everything else is replaceable.

Yes, we are in a precarious situation here. Our island is only 7/10 of a mile wide at the widest point. If we don't get out early enough we won't be able to get out at all. The tiny islands to the north of us flood before we do. The ocean is four blocks to the south of us and the bay (actually a channel) is two blocks to the north. When bay drains with the tides, but when there's a storm, the wind keeps driving more water into it and then it breaches the retaining walls.

We live in a tiny cottage that was built in 1922. I have no illusions about it surviving if the flood waters come this way.

It will be what it will be. It's all in God's hands now.