Storm Preps

So, between Harvey, Irma, and Jose, a fair number of folks are under weather watches. For those who are in the habit of keeping your Li-Ion batteries in storage charge, now might be a good time to get them topped off.

I picked up a bulk pack of AA alkaleaks, an 8 pack of lithium primary AA’s, and a couple cases of water at lunch. I need to check on the status of the propane grill tanks when I get home. Both cars are filled with fuel and I won’t let them get below 3/4 till we are in the clear. My HT radios are charged, and I just got a car adapter as well as a AA adapter from Amazon on tuesday.

I need to do a full backup of the computer and get the external drive secured.

What are you doing to get ready for the storm(s)? OR What do you wish you did before the last one hit?

List of stuff to do:
Fuel up vehicles, spare gas cans
service generator
Charge batteries - including any cordless tool batteries if you might be needing them afterwards.
Back up computers and secure media
Refill or exchange grill tanks
Food
Water
service chainsaw
Check the cash reserve

Don’t forget to prepare for your pets!
We have a bin with the below items, as well as current(ish) pictures of them printed out so we can put up signs if they get away from us.
Carriers
food
water
meds
licenses
vaccine records - I hear shelters are starting to take some pets, but they MUST be current on vaccines!
collars
leshes
waste bags / litter

When it gets bad / if you evacuate:
Shut off main breaker
Shut off water
Shut off gas -

Have all your home insurance, medical insurance and important papers in a waterproof bag ready in case you have to evacuate

Hello,
In case you have no electricity and car battery is only source for your phone chargers.
Buy this one:

Regards.

I was at a Harbor Freight earlier. Generators were moving like hot cakes. One guy had a buggy of them stacked as high as seemed possible. The phones were ringing regularly and every call must have been for generators. Because the clerks would respond by "We are sold out of generators, except for the 900w ones."

Thanks for the ideas. I'll charge up my cells and keep the cars full. Even though I have a generator and well for water, I'll fill up bottles and the bath tubs with water.

Harbor Freight is sold out of generators in Hampton Roads.

I hope Erma doesn’t hit Long Island. If it does, I’m ready as I can be. I’m 165 feet above sea level so I’m not too worried about flooding. I stocked up on emergency food and water. Filled my gas cans for the generator. Got two tanks of propane for the BBQ. I’ve got plenty of charged 18650’s ready. Even if there was a mandatory evacuation, I’d stay home and stick it out in the basement.

I’m always ready except for cash, which is variable. I’m in upstate SC so at best we might get some heavy rain and a bit of high wind- nothing we haven’t gone through before. I got a text and email today to verify my readiness for working E-Comms at the local hospital if we’re needed there, which might happen if there’s a lot of patient evacuation transfers going out from the coast. Normally we’re too far away for those but we will see. Got a friend on Key Largo who is on the way north with his family- a wise decision!

Phil

Always have cash on hand, sometimes after a storm the cards will be useless since they might not have electricity or no data communication to the card issuer. and don’t keep all the cash on yourself, have in different places in case you get robbed.

I would also suggest to also buy comfort food that you like (Chips, snacks, beer, chocolate etc.) you will miss them more than you think

Toilet paper, lots of it they become like gold if not able to get supplies after storm and you can barter with them, same for cigarettes.

Have all your home insurance, medical insurance and important papers in a waterproof bag ready in case you have to evacuate

Don’t forget your medicines and your personal protection (Weapons)

I’m not going to touch on flashlight or batteries since Duh! this is BLF, you are supposed to be prepared :wink:

Hurricanes don’t seen to head to Maryland too awful much, but when they do everything you need drys up in a hurry. Way too many people between DC and Baltimore (where I am). I’ll keep an eye on it.

Just another thing I noticed from Harvey, all the big food chains will run out of everything and be stuffed with crazy people, head for the small meat markets (Mom and pop kind) you will find lots of the things you can’t find at the big stores (Eggs, bread, milk, meat, ice, etc)

Hopefully he wasn’t planning on reselling them later & gouging people when they are desperate.

Most likely!

That was Montgomery, AL during regular storms. Everybody went to Winndixie and cleared the shelves. Good tip on smaller stores. Food is the one thing I could use more of. I’d want more foods that require little to no preparation, I like a lot, and preferably has a decent amount of fiber which will be a huge deal when there’s no running water.

I never understand why people panic buy milk which is the item most likely to go off if not kept refrigerated!

Well, that’s why they always clear out the toilet paper as well! Yeah that never makes sense to me either.

Powdered, condensed, or shelf stable milk would make sense but refrigerated… not a good choice.

If I wasn’t lactose intolerant, I’d buy milk and enjoy it while I could. Milk and bacon.

No generators down here at Harbor Freight, Home Depot, or Lowes. Got a hand-truck to help carry the shutters to board up the house. :person_facepalming:

I’ve said the same thing I don’t know how many times! Milk and eggs, the two things that will spoil first when the power goes out. Seems like canned foods would be much more scarce.

Food is a big one for me to stock up on, but you dont always need the typical bread, milk, eggs… High protein items and high calorie will do. And will store a lot better in case of power failure. Look for just add water sides like the rices, mashed potatoes, noodles. They can typically be had for $1 or less and are not bad tasting. For protein you can do canned beans, peanut butter, cans of tuna and chicken, spam… Granola bars and oatmeal are not bad to have either
I would stock up on a way to cook or boil water. Get a few clean 5g buckets to collect rain water and boil off for usable water to drink or cook with. Wouldnt hurt to have bottled water but could be hard to find when an emergency hits
Pretty sure if you are here you have a light source lol.
Fuel for camp stove or bbq. Enough to last cooking on a couple times a day for the expected time needed.