Less than a week left and counting... Are you preparing?

[dixiebreeze]

Has anyone done anything really new to prepare for the 2006 hurricane season?

[cycloneye]

dixie I changed somewhat the title to make it more atractive to the members to see it and replie here.

[dixiebreeze]

dixie I changed somewhat the title to make it more atractive to the members to see it and replie here.

That's fine cycloneye. Thanks.

[louise_l]

Dixie, I sure have.

I've expanded my list of things to take. When I evacuated for Katrina I wished I had quite a few things that I had left. I didn't know they were so important to me. So, most of those things are packed in a large pile of boxes by the side door. I have also planned how to fit them all in my car! At the last minute I will pack a suitcase and an ice chest.

I've started minimizing what I keep in my refrigerator. No way my beautiful new black Kenmore refrigerator is going to end up all stinky out on the street! LOL All the food will go with me or be tossed out.

I've checked my insurance policies, and signed up for online capabilities at my insurance company website.

I put off other good uses for my money, so that I have enough in the bank to pay for a possibly long evacuation. I can work on paying off my house AFTER hurricane season (so near, and yet so far!).

There's so much more. Living in the New Orleans area, my whole short term life strategy seems to center around preparing for the next big storm. Of course, we all hope that will not be this year.

[jes]

I'm like Louise --- my life is revolving around preparing for the next big storm. My house can't possibly flood, but the wind damage can be severe. I can't evacuate like I did for Ivan because I can no longer get my elderly parents into my car ---- so I'm kind of trapped here. I've purchased a natural gas generator -- to be installed any day now. Also, I purchased DuraShield blinds for all my windows ---- since I have to hire people to put up and take down the wood. This all has been quite expensive, but in the long run I don't believe I'll reqret the purchases. My next door neighbors had all the pine trees cut down in their yard and I had some large trees removed also. Katrina damage paid for a new 30 year roof. I can't think of anything else I can do --- except maybe talking to a doctor about prescribing a very strong tranqilizer for the night of the potential big event.

[Janice]

Yes, I have been bagging ice cubes and freezing water in empty pop liter bottles. I do this every year. I washed and bleached out three large rubbermaid trash cans and they are in a bedroom ready to fill with water for bathing and household cleaning if necessary. John has cleaned and started our two generators. Other than food, all we need is cash, batteries, candles and some more plywood. We are always prepared.

[HurryKane]

Nothing so far, all my hurricane crap is still packed from Katrina.

[Regit]

Only thing I ever stock up on far ahead is batteries, but I keep a large supply year round. We are also prone to ice storms here, so I've got the possibility of long power outages all year.

But I do go prepare at the first mention of a storm. As soon as the local weather guys start using the word "hurricane" people go out and buy EVERYTHING. The first things to go are flour and milk. Like they're going to bake the whole time. The milk especially gets me. I get milk for ice storms, because it can be kept outside, but why on earth would you get gallons of it for a hurricane unless you have a generator?

[HurryKane]

The milk especially gets me. I get milk for ice storms, because it can be kept outside, but why on earth would you get gallons of it for a hurricane unless you have a generator?

Why, for those milk baths to keep your skin a silky smooth landing pad for the skeeters!

[boca]

We got are stuff from Walmart and took advantage of the Florida tax free week. Also getting hurricane shutters installed late July early August(fingers crossed).

[conestogo_flood]

Yup. Stocked up on food and water. Got the emergency bin ready for an evacuation, posted the plan on the fridge. What's left to do!

OH WAIT! All this Storm2k hurricane preparation talk had me thinkin' I was in Hurricane Alley.

Yeah, lame joke I know.

[CHRISTY]

[SouthFloridawx]

You betcha!!

[dixiebreeze]

Thanks everyone -- lots of good posts. Keep it coming!

[Jagno]

I'm in the process of trying to learn from last years mistakes during Rita.

First of all I bought a fire/water proof box and I have more than enough CASH in smaller denominations to last me at least 15 days instead of useless debit cards that resulted from not one, but both DH and I's banks being down and out from Katrina and Rita. OH, I had money.....................I just had no access to it.

Evacuating in a Nissan 240SX was a nightmare. There was no possible way to bring all of our vital records, clothes, food, bedding, kids, animals...............in that tiny little sports car that was already in poor running condition. I bought a brand new Toyota 4 Runner as well as a 10 x 12 Wells Cargo trailer to make sure that there was enough room next time around. The cargo trailer is currently at the manufacturer being modified with cabinets and shelving as well as 12V outlets and additional lighting. It should be finished up tommorrow, I hope.

Pet carriers have become my new best friends. We could only bring one cat with us last year due to the shortage of space and no way to contain them. This poor cat was mortified to say the least. I bought a new small dog carrier that folds flat when not in use. Regular cat carriers are just too darned small. I set it up in my livingroom with my cats bed and toys in it and he has made himself right at home so hopefully the next time we have to evacuate he will at least have a familiar environment to travel in. I have plans to meet with the vet as well to get a sedative to help him through the travel experience as well.

Vital Records...................I went to our local Vital Records department and obtained certified copies of our birth and marriage certificates. I obtained a copy of all of our life, health, home and auto policies. I got copies of every important document I could think of and put those inside the fire/water proof safe and those will be a permanent fixture in my evacuation trailer. In the stress and panic last year I grabbed everyone elses vital records only to discover that mine stayed on the table at home and I had forgotten my drivers license in the pocket of my jeans.........you know, the ones I changed out of before evacuating. I now keep a license in my vehicle as well as the new one in my purse.

FOOD: I love to can my own meals such as spaghetti meat sauce, beef stew, jambalaya, red beans & sausage, gumbo, etouffee......................... I left over 100 quart jars of canned meals behind last year only to come back to no home. I will bring my own food with me. Not only would our own food make us feel better but I ended up feeding 18 people instead of just my son and I. I will also empty my freezers and refrigerator this time around. Exploded vaccuum packed raw meats did the majority of damage to my home not to mention the mold and bacterial poisoning I had to endure immediately following the cleanup.

NOAA Radio: I evacuated 3 hours east of my home only to be hit by the tornadoes. The absolute worse part aside from not knowing the area we were in very well, was having a palm sized radio with really bad reception during the outages and tornadoes. At one point during the horrible storms I woke my friend up and asked her exactly where we were at and we were smack in the middle, within a city block, of three tornadoes on the ground. I purchased a good weather radio with backup battery power for use before, during and after the storms.

There are still many other improvements I've made and the list could go on but the idea is to learn from others mistakes rather than do as I did and make them yourself...............................it could save you life and those that you love.

[skysummit]

Hey....that's a good idea!

"but honey, we need a new SUV for our hurricane evacuation kit!"

[HollynLA]

Yes, we bought a chainsaw. If you're going to stay home, get a freakin chainsaw. We didn't have one for Katrina and trees fell everywhere. If one falls over your car, over your driveway, or even on your house, a chainsaw comes in pretty darn handy.

[KatDaddy]

I will taking photos of home contents again as well as having batteries and propane tank filled. I bought storm panels last year which came in handy and we still have water from last year. I am have an evacuation plan based on storm severity. One could say I am in the process of getting ready.

[feederband]

I sold my house and live in a rental home...We start building a new home in September (hopefully)...So this year a little less worries...A kind of let the roof fly frame of mind...Also like last year as soon as it looks like the first storm may be brewing out there...We will stock up here and then I will go to my parents house in orlando and buy the same stuff and stock pile it there that way if we have to go somewhere we won't have to load the car with the supplies from here...Worked out great last year...Last year spent over $400.00 in supplies...Probably have that much in hurricane funds this year...

[Scorpion]

We usually get our stuff together in July or early August.