BUT THERE ARE NO D-BATTERIES anywhere … as the Northeast descends into hysteria, buying gallons and gallons of water because of the potential … water fall.
I was in Charleston, SC for Hugo - on a Navy destroyer that couldn't leave port, no less. The ship was Ronald Route's (retired Vice Admiral and former Inspector General of the United States Navy and President of the Naval War College) first sea command. We dropped the anchor on the pier and held on tight. I was a Boatswains Mate (still deck seaman at that point), so I spent most of it outside handling lines and they went taut and slack. Good times.
Therefore and henceforth, this particular dude abandoned his North Easterner attitude regarding hurricanes being just big ol' rain storms.
I tested my generator last night for the first time in a couple years. Got enough juice for the chest freezer, fridge, sump pumps, my network stuff (hub, router, cable modem, wireless access point, etc...), Tivo, TV, and a couple lamps. We'll see about the XBox and/or air conditioner, later.
We went to a camping supply store and picked up a water filter and some chlorine tablets. I find myself wishing I had a rain barrel, though. I'd have plenty of clean water (at least enough for bathing/toiletry) straight from the sky..
Tips from rural America:
run the bathtub full. you can use this for non-potable purposes,such as sponge baths.
Fill every container in your home with tap water. this is your potable water. Use it sparingly.
Get a camp stove and the little propane bottles you will need to run it. If you have an outdoor grill this is better. Be sure to have plenty of whatever fuel it uses.
While you are buying the camp stove, get one of the hand-crank radios. And one of the hand-crank flashlights while you are there.
Forget the milk, it will spoil anyway if you are without power for very long. Buy bottled juice, breakfast bars, fruit, raw veg, chips, anything you will without cooking.
Use the stuff out of your fridge first. Keep the freezer shut as long as possible.
Oh, and pick up some old-fashioned hand-powered fans. They move more air than magazines.
Good call on the bathtub, if only to flush the toilets. Remember, if it's yellow, keep it mellow...
As for drinking water, my wife screwed up when signing up for 5 gallon bottle deliveries and got us hooked into some plan where they were dropping off 15 gallons a month (and we only consumed about 5). We let the plan run its course (was cheaper that way), but I am still sitting on about 80 gallons or so. :D
If cable goes out and you have to (*gasp*) resort to rabbit ears, make sure you have your digital converter on hand!
I meant EAT without cooking. Candles and lighters, or matches, but you won't want many with no air moving. Coleman lanterns that run on the big 6 volt batteries don't put off much heat,but they are getting harder to find...
A propane camp stove gives off no more CO than a propane kitchen stove.
The only extra danger is from a leaky propane bottle or leaky connection from it to the stove. Close the valve and keep it outside or in the garage when not using it.
Those are excellent points GrannyBoo. I would add to do a good visual inspection on the outside of your home, removing any lawn items that can become airborne like tables and chairs. Some kids have trampolines and by all means get those torn down and stowed. Also check surrounding trees to see if they fell how it would impact your home, and avoid those areas.
I would also add that a gun would be nice to have on hand as well. I have a bad feeling that restrictive gun control laws will be a hot topic next week. Hope I'm wrong.
It's good for economy. Look at all those batteries that collecting dust being snapped up off the shelves. Lanterns, kerosene, flashlights, bread, camping supplies. Of course, if a major hurricane hits, the economy will go into the tank, but for those nearby and unaffected, what a boom.
I haven't seen a 'D' battery in years. Even 'C's are getting rare.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseRE: "I haven't seen a 'D' battery in years."
There's a Henny Youngman-esque punchline in there, somewhere. :D
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseTake my D battery. Please.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWas more thinking along the lines of...
"...and my wife says she hasn't seen *me* in years..."
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIs that a 'D' cell in your pocket, or are you just glad to see me?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI was in Charleston, SC for Hugo - on a Navy destroyer that couldn't leave port, no less. The ship was Ronald Route's (retired Vice Admiral and former Inspector General of the United States Navy and President of the Naval War College) first sea command. We dropped the anchor on the pier and held on tight. I was a Boatswains Mate (still deck seaman at that point), so I spent most of it outside handling lines and they went taut and slack. Good times.
Therefore and henceforth, this particular dude abandoned his North Easterner attitude regarding hurricanes being just big ol' rain storms.
I tested my generator last night for the first time in a couple years. Got enough juice for the chest freezer, fridge, sump pumps, my network stuff (hub, router, cable modem, wireless access point, etc...), Tivo, TV, and a couple lamps. We'll see about the XBox and/or air conditioner, later.
Good to go.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWe went to a camping supply store and picked up a water filter and some chlorine tablets. I find myself wishing I had a rain barrel, though. I'd have plenty of clean water (at least enough for bathing/toiletry) straight from the sky..
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abusesomeone hasn't been paying attention to Glenn Reynolds' disaster preparation posts!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseTips from rural America:
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuserun the bathtub full. you can use this for non-potable purposes,such as sponge baths.
Fill every container in your home with tap water. this is your potable water. Use it sparingly.
Get a camp stove and the little propane bottles you will need to run it. If you have an outdoor grill this is better. Be sure to have plenty of whatever fuel it uses.
While you are buying the camp stove, get one of the hand-crank radios. And one of the hand-crank flashlights while you are there.
Forget the milk, it will spoil anyway if you are without power for very long. Buy bottled juice, breakfast bars, fruit, raw veg, chips, anything you will without cooking.
Use the stuff out of your fridge first. Keep the freezer shut as long as possible.
Oh, and pick up some old-fashioned hand-powered fans. They move more air than magazines.
Good call on the bathtub, if only to flush the toilets. Remember, if it's yellow, keep it mellow...
As for drinking water, my wife screwed up when signing up for 5 gallon bottle deliveries and got us hooked into some plan where they were dropping off 15 gallons a month (and we only consumed about 5). We let the plan run its course (was cheaper that way), but I am still sitting on about 80 gallons or so. :D
If cable goes out and you have to (*gasp*) resort to rabbit ears, make sure you have your digital converter on hand!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI meant EAT without cooking. Candles and lighters, or matches, but you won't want many with no air moving. Coleman lanterns that run on the big 6 volt batteries don't put off much heat,but they are getting harder to find...
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAlso, if you ever really get in a pinch, don't forget that your toilet tanks and hot water heater are full of water.
And, of course, do not ever run a camp stove or grill indoors! Carbon monoxide kills plenty of people.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseA propane camp stove gives off no more CO than a propane kitchen stove.
The only extra danger is from a leaky propane bottle or leaky connection from it to the stove. Close the valve and keep it outside or in the garage when not using it.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThose are excellent points GrannyBoo. I would add to do a good visual inspection on the outside of your home, removing any lawn items that can become airborne like tables and chairs. Some kids have trampolines and by all means get those torn down and stowed. Also check surrounding trees to see if they fell how it would impact your home, and avoid those areas.
I would also add that a gun would be nice to have on hand as well. I have a bad feeling that restrictive gun control laws will be a hot topic next week. Hope I'm wrong.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseTsk, tsk, Kathryn. How many times do we have to tell you folks that the time to prepare for the unexpected is not when you are already expecting it?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe hurricane is the second sign of the Barackalypse. The first sign was the earth quake.
P.S. Just how old IS your flashlight?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIt's not the water coming down that you have to worry about. It's the water coming up. Just ask the people of New Orleans.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIt's good for economy. Look at all those batteries that collecting dust being snapped up off the shelves. Lanterns, kerosene, flashlights, bread, camping supplies. Of course, if a major hurricane hits, the economy will go into the tank, but for those nearby and unaffected, what a boom.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"boon"
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYou want to go LED with LOTS of lumens: External Link
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse