Little Tips to Do Now

[SeaBrz_FL]

Assuming that you've decided to stay home and your home is as secure as you can make it, I thought that those of us that have lived through this could help out with some pre-storm tips that could make life a little easier. Gulf coasters and Eastern Seaboarders please contribute! You are the expert this past decade!

Here are the things that I wished I would have done before the storm:

Wash every piece of dirty laundry, including bed linens, now. If power goes out, dirty laundry will pile up quickly.

Take all trash somewhere else ... even to a central dumpster (restaurant, apartment house, etc). Trash will pile up quickly after the storm.

Take every spare pail, trash can, and bucket (search the garage), and fill it with water. These become great sources for toilet flushing.

Hope others have more to contribute!

Best of luck and prayers to all.

[LAwxrgal]

If at all possible, if family members are on any medications, make sure they have enough medicines to last at least a couple days after the storm, if/when the roads become impassable. Also, someone touched on this earlier, if the pets are staying along with the people, make sure they have enough to eat as well.

[bevgo]

Don't forget medication and even over the counter medication (asprin, tylenol, dramamine for nausea, immodium AD for diarrhea, advill or some antiinflamatory)
First aid kit including things for insect bites and insect repellent
Toilet paper
Pet food (if needed)
Wet wipes (baby wipes)
Gas up the cars
non-electric can opener

[yzerfan]

I always do lanudry if it looks like a storm will be close. I'll also make sure all the dishes are washed and put away, and I'm ready to switch to paper plates and cups if need be.

And a bit of an odd habit- make a loaf or two of homemade bread beforehand. Better than what's in the grocery store. (unless you've got the good Publix bread source close by)

[Aimless]

If you have a freezer that isn't completely full... fill every old milk jug or container you have with water and put in the empty spaces as tightly as possible. If you lose power, the jugs of ice will help keep things frozen for awhile or, at least colder for a while.

Fill the tub with water too... handy for flushing.

Bags of kitty litter in plastic garbage bags made a quick set of sand bags for my back door where minor flooding started seeping in.

I heard a suggestion today...to slip your important papers into your dishwasher or clothes washer .. supposedly less likely to blow away. Sounds reasonable.

[caribepr]

This is a great check list site...quite a few things not usually thought of on here.

http://www.gotosite.com/Weather/hurricane_checklist.htm

[AL Chili Pepper]

If you're pregnant, you might want to spend the event at a hospital. Extremely low pressure can induce labor. I think that's right.

[SeaBrz_FL]

Thanks, LA and Bev! Great tips! Love the wet wipes suggestion.

Want to remind everyone again, please visit the FEMA thread for the best prep info: http://www.fema.gov/hazards/hurricanes/

[baygirl_1]

I'd also suggest after doing all those preps taking a shower and washing your hair. It may be the last hot shower you take for awhile.
Another tip: We used baby diapers to soak up water that was being driven by wind around window panes. You can use duct tape to hold in place. Hope none of y'all have to use that, but just in case...

[SeaBrz_FL]

WOW!!! Fabulous suggestions!! We could write a book! Thanks so much to everyone. I know when I was suffering (post-storm) that I wished someone would have told me the "little things" that would have made living a little easier.

[GalvestonDuck]

Thought of another one -- pain relievers (aspirin, Advil, Tylenol...your choice).

My friend who survived Andrew told me about how she had intensely horrible headaches during the pressure changes. I've also heard about people having painful ear popping, just like what happens during a flight.

[seaswing]

If you are worried about flooding, put your valuables, (important papers, jewelery, etc in your dishwasher. The seal is waterproof and things will remain dry.

[ColdWaterConch]

During the storm, wear boots if you have them. In Andrew, my feet got cut up a bit due to the glass that was flying around (early in the storm, we were trying to reboard windows from the inside -- man, you know things are bad when that is happening).

Pack a "bug out" bag for each family member. It should have a couple changes of clothes, toiletries, meds, etc. Keep it close during the storm.

Bag all family valuables such as pictures, etc.

[nccoastalgirl]

A few other ideas, to add to the great ones already posted:
1) Vacuum the house
2) Do all the dishes, wash the clothes, etc.
3) Turn up your frig and freezer to their coldest setting. Turn down your A/C so your house will stay cool as long as possible. (Every hour helps!)
4) Babywipes really are great to have when you don't have power. So is BUG REPELLANT. The mosquitoes will be killers within a few days (at least in NC they are).
5) Take a nice shower or bath. Cold showers work when there's no power (unless you're on a well), but they suck. Let your friends with wells take showers at your house until the power comes back on.
6) Have one member of your family that you will check in with. You may be lucky to get one phone call in. Then tell all the other family members to call that one person if they're worried about you.
7) Anything battery operated is better than candles or propane laterns. Propane laterns kick out alot of heat when you're already hot, and candles aren't the safest.
8) Don't forget to unplug the phone or cable lines from your computer in addition to the power cord. Lost a computer during Bertha that way. Got zapped thru the phone line.
9) After the storm passes, rinse off your house and plants as soon as you can. That salt spray is a killer to a lot of plants and corrosive to door knobs, etc.