Great convention so far, eh? Plenty of fun to be had here as well, what with the drop-in trolls, breaking newses and the like.
HOWEVER, residents of the Gulf Coast should be aware of a fellow named Gustav, currently chewing at the feet of Haiti. Gustav is already a hurricane and looking like he's going to strengthen significantly, hitting the Gulf as a CAT 3 or better.
Forecast models are starting to coalesce on a southeast to northwest track along the south side of Cuba toward the central Gulf, a very familiar slot for late summer storms.
It's nowhere near time to nail plywood and secure lawn furniture yet, with Saturday being the earliest the storm could have any effect even in the Florida Keys. But let's use this head start, shall we? Why spend a frantic day rushing from the grocery store to the gas station to the home center, when a little prior planning NOW can make you the best-equipped survivor on the Coast?
It's a good time to go through the checklist and up your supplies, get your neighbors' cell phone numbers (and their evacuation plans, their out-of-town families' numbers, etc.).
The basic checklist:
Flashlights, batteries, candles. Battery-operated radio and/or TV. More batteries. An idea from one Katrina hand: those solar garden lights can be out all day and brought in at night.
Canned, dried food. At least a week of drinking and cooking water. Some 5 gallon buckets of washing water.
Medications. With a week before the storm reaches the upper Gulf, there is plenty of time to refill your prescriptions. First aid kit should be checked and refilled now. While you're at the grocery/drug store, toiletries should be topped off, too.
Money. As in cash. In the words of George Bailey, it comes in handy down here, bub.
Important papers (deeds, titles, wills, insurance), discs, etc. into the strongbox. Pulling the hard drives from the desk top should wait until the last minute.
Personal poisons. Booze, tobacco, etc. If you don't indulge, good for you, but remember, they make great trade goods.
Got a genny? How you fixed for gas?
Cell phone. Account paid? Plenty of pre-paid minutes, if that's how you roll? A couple of those one-shot rechargers are a good idea, though for under $30 you can get a solar charger shipped today.
Matches, propane, charcoal. All the things you need to cook without the grid.
Catch up on laundry--all the bedding, towels, sleeping bags, etc.
Wash all the dishes, storage containers. Not a bad time to re-up on picnic supplies like paper plates, plastic ware, etc. You may be feeding the neighborhood.
Ice. One great way to store water is to pack your freezer with filled gallon jugs. The frozen gallons last lots longer than little cubes. Pack 'em in. Jeez, what about ice chests? Good time to get 'em out and get 'em washed.
How's your tool situation? All your 18 volt batteries up to charge? Got an axe? Crowbar? Sledge hammer? Heck, are your pocket knives sharp?
Rainy day basics: boots, slicker, waders if you've got 'em.
Shelter repair basics: tarps, visquine, rope, duct tape.
Some misc. memories:
Coffee, filters, canned milk (ugh). If you buy whole bean coffee, grind a pound the night before the storm. Nothing more frustrating than looking at a pound of coffee beans and no way to grind 'em.
Take out the trash. Get as much to the curb this week as you can, while there's still a pickup to come. You can't leave it out in a storm.
Pay. The. Bills. Get any upcoming bills in the mail now, so that they get to their destination or out of town before the storm. Phone, power, insurance. Even with the services non-existent, Accounts Receivable miraculously still works. Probably in India.
There are plenty of other details to consider, whether you're a stayer or a goer. Avail yourself of the wisdom in emergency planning diary series by alpha geek. drbloodaxe offers some good insights. Also, do check the Red Cross and FEMA emergency preparedness links in sarahnity's Frugal Friday emergency diary. I've posted a brief "Be Prepared" diary myself.
Don't worry. You have the leisure to click those links and read those posts. And make and check your family's list. This is one storm that we can safely predict will visit us somewhere along the coast. Thankfully, there's time to get ready. Use it.
Thanks for listening. Be smart, be safe, be kind.
(PS--Should the storm come nowhere near your neck of the woods, you'll be that much more ready and confident for the next challenge. And no smug complacency from people far away. The farther you are from the last hurricane, the closer you are to the next blizzard. Or earthquake. Or wildfire. Or. . . Be prepared.)