Frankenstorm is Coming!

[lagilman]

So by now, everyone on the US East Coast, at least, has heard about Frankenstorm, the combination of Hurricane Sandy, a full moon, and another existing storm front that's bearing down on, well, the northeast corridor between Philadelphia and Boston, and then up into the Mainelands.

Yeah, I'm smack dab in the middle of that corridor.

The last time this sort of alarm went up, it was for Irene, which was... well, it was really bad just north of us. But not here, where NYC seemed to dodge the slap. Do I think we're going to dodge it again? I have no idea. Experience says yes, but my gut's saying no. And since the so-called "Perfect Storm" of legend came from similar ingredients... I'm not taking any chances.

That said, my idea of "not taking chances" does not involve a French Toast alert, or any other kind of lunacy. My New Englander bloodlines would rise up and strangle me if it did.

So, the things I have learned, over years of buckling down for Nor'easters, blizzards, and hurricanes?

Yeah, have lots of bottled water and civilian MREs, and fresh batteries for your flashlight, absolutely. But also:

* Run the dishwasher just before the storm hits. You don't want filthy dishes sitting around for days, if you lose power.
* Make sure you have clean laundry. Clean socks and underwear can really make a difference to your morale.
* Have cornstarch on hand. No, not for cooking: it doubles down as a dry shampoo, if you lose water.
* Make sure there's enough dry pet food. Trust me on this.
* Make an extra pot of coffee and put it in the fridge. The last thing you want to deal with if the power goes out is a caffeine withdrawal headache.

So what tricks and must-dos have y'all picked up, over the years?



(and yes, I am well aware that this storm is supposed to be happening when many of us were planning to leave for WFC in Toronto. We'll worry about that particular potential disaster NEXT week).

Comments

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

The main thing I remember (and practice) from living in hurricane country, is that lawn chairs become projectiles. Bring in anything that the wind can play with, and a lot of things you think it can't. Don't park your car under a tree, or within falling range of one . . .

And buy a house on high ground.

[fireun.livejournal.com]

Cornstarch, huh? I did not know that one! I usually fill every pitcher and large bucket with water, freeze some, just in case the water goes. I get super twitchy about water quality.


I am currently clinging happily to the hill I moved to, seeing as the CART I am a member of has already broken out the flood response plans. Again.

Charge all the things. If you have backup batteries, have those charged and ready as well (for laptop, cell phones, cameras, your i-whatever). Those little wind up flashlights are brilliant.

If you are in the projected area of disaster, have bags packed in the event you have to move quickly. If things are looking to get bad, get animals relocated before it becomes necessary if you can. Voice of experience here- not having to worry about them takes a HUGE bit of stress off.

...I am hoping it diffuses or we manage to dodge. This area really cannot real with another strike.

[lagilman]

Yeah, I've been watching the forecasts for your area with some trepidation...

I not only live on a hill, I live on a hill made of Fordham Gneiss. We do not worry about flooding, that's for folk in the lowlands (aka Queens and Brooklyn).

[fireun.livejournal.com]

Your hill is delightfully impressive :)

[quarkwiz.livejournal.com]

I've started making ice in case the power goes out so we can pack the fridge contents in coolers. The stuff in the freezer (as we learned after last year's Snowtober storm) can last two days or maybe even more. Also, I'm thinking we'd better make sure we exchange any empty propane tanks for full ones. Hm, and I should throw a tarp over the bit of firewood we have from last year so we can use the woodstove if it gets really cold. I'm glad this isn't scheduled to hit us till the very end of the weekend so we have enough time to really prep!

The supermarkets are going to be INSANE. I'm not going anywhere near them tonight; everyone will be stopping by on the way home from work. I will go super-early tomorrow morning, though, as I usually do anyway. The regular earlybirds will be there, but other people who think they know what "early" is generally don't show up till after 7 when storms are scaring everyone into this crap.

Oh yeah, and leave the (electric) garage door open. Don't want the car trapped in there.

[lagilman]

I went out this morning to get more cat food, and cheese and crackers. My plan is to spend the entire storm indoors, working. Cheese, crackers, wine and salumi are required. :-)

[gonzai55.livejournal.com]

I just got back from Michael's - craft stores are a good place to look for batteries, candles and such forth, it's not the first place most people think of so the batteries are around a little longer than other places. Jar candles are reasonably safe and they provide ambient light.

[jperceval.livejournal.com]

French Toast Alert, I love it.

We make sure to have bottled water, gas for the generator, strategically placed candles (so we're not fumbling around for them) and flashlights.

Having an emergency go-pack for everyone (2- and 4-footed) just in case you need to bug out.

Good tip on the cornstarch. I'll have to remember that.

French Toast Alert Levels

[lagilman]

http://www.universalhub.com/french-toast

Re: French Toast Alert Levels

[jperceval.livejournal.com]

That. Is. Awesome. :-)

[joycependle.livejournal.com]

If you are facing a long period without power, get in a small bottle of instant coffee. Taken by the spoonful, it will ward off or cure caffeine withdrawal symptoms. Unopened it will last a long time!

Good luck!

[mevennen.livejournal.com]

We do the strategic candle thing, also torches, as we quite often get power cuts, and we usually keep a big can of water handy. The weather here is very rarely so bad that we can't go outside, though.

Good luck! It sounds as though you're well organised.

[monica vampirelli (from livejournal.com)]

Good list! I have a few things to add that I do in emergency-type situations. Probably a touch overkill, but I suppose that's what being a writer does to you -- overactive imagination. :-)

* Rice milk (or soy milk) in small, single-serving containers don't have to be refrigerated and have a long shelf life. They work great for protein as a drink, but you can also use them in cereal, too.

* Ahem. Stock up on bathroom supplies. Because you don't know how sorely needed toilet paper, tissues, and tampons are until they're gone.

* For more caffeine intakes, you can grab single-serving ice tea packets. They have a ridiculously long shelf-life, so they're portable.

* In addition to dishes and laundry, I suggest taking out the trash and changing your pet boxes, too. If your heat/air conditioning goes out, or if you can't open a window, your place will. . . Yeah, that.

* Check your window/basement seams if you have them and make sure you have extra buckets on hand.

* Back-up/portable charger for your smarter-than-me phone and grounding outlets for your electronic equipment in case of a short. And check your apps/battery usage! There are some emergency-related apps that are really handy like a flashlight and whatnot.

* Pay bills that are due on or around that time. Especially a good trick if you pay online; some companies are not flexible with due dates and you don't want to pay the late fee.

* Locate first aid kit and make sure it's accessible/stocked.

* Make sure pet carriers are accessible. This one is for dire emergencies, but if you get evacuated, you don't want to be scrambling around looking for a way to tote Mr. Fluffy.

[lagilman]

Also: make sure you have enough of whatever medications you need, in case you can't get to your drugstore or doctor for a few days.

And aspirin!

[tryslora]

Some of my big preparations...

If you live in a house with a well, it won't work once the power goes out. Fill old soda bottles, milk jugs, etc. with non-potable water to be used to flush toilets. Fill every pitcher on hand with drinkable water and leave on the counter to be used for cooking, etc. Bottled water can serve for drinking.

Use gladware containers to make bricks of ice, then put each brick into a ziploc bag and pack the freezer(s) with them. Bricks of ice melt much slower than cubes and can be used to put in the fridge if needed as well. A freezer packed with bricks of ice plus absolutely full of food defrosts slower than an empty one with ice cubes.

Also, clean out the fridge. There's no need to have things already dead in there if the power goes out and it just gets worse.

Make sure you know where your car chargers are; in a pinch you can charge your phone in the car and still have internet access for news.

Sign up for NY Alert! I just did that last night; didn't even know we had a statewide EAS alert signup until I saw it on a news article.

[lagilman]

I have various NYC-area alerts on my Twitter feed. I suppose I should sign up for a text-based one, too...

[tryslora]

I figured the text based ones would take less battery than twitter. Plus there's the part where I may need to turn off all notifications that aren't text/phone. I figured I might as well have all bases covered!

[fireun.livejournal.com]

The text based one is rather fantastic.

[deborahlive.livejournal.com]

We're on a well, so if there's any chance of the power going out, I fill the bath tub with water for flushing. I put some bleach in because... well, I don't actually know what I have in mind there. Warding off something or other, I guess. :)

[cepetit.myopenid.com (from livejournal.com)]

Make sure that all prescription medicines have at least a one-week supply, and that you have a good stock of nonprescription stuff that you use often. If the power is out, the computer system at the pharmacy where you expect to get your meds -- you know, the one that stores your prescription -- is likely to be out too... and migraines are bad enough when you have your meds (both prescription and nonprescription) and you're not stuck without power.

Of course, the same goes for any pet meds, even the "routine" ones like heartworm. Keep 'em on their routines!

[lagilman]

The only problem with that, of course, is that many insurance programs won't let you 'pre order' until their schedule says you need it/are due...

[smoemeth.livejournal.com]

I learned this one from Irene: pack as much ice in your freezer as you can, so if the power goes out it'll take longer for the food in there to be affected.

Also, when things get bad and the power starts to flicker, put any and all blue-ice packs that are already in your freezer in the fridge, to help keep those contents cold longer.

[6-penny.livejournal.com]

When on a well: last thing, after all available underwear is washed, fill the washer with water. It is a bit dodgy to bail out, but if the power outage lasts for a while it provides one extra resource to dip out washing water. Have enough charcoal on hand if one owns an oldfashioned outdoor grill. Another source for hot coffee. If you are like me and grind your own, grind some preemptively - it will loose some aromatics; but better that than withdrawal headaches.

Have extra cash. The money mouths and electronic credit card scanners are also a fail without power.

Fill the car with gas. The last time I went over a week without electricity it got a bit worrying towards the end for those who had to drive any distance

[seachanges.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you have things well in hand. I'll be thinking warm, dry thoughts in your direction.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

Best wishes!

[gonzai55.livejournal.com]

This one is unique to our current situation, but...

If your state offers early voting, GO VOTE NOW. (Maryland early vote starts tomorrow, I will be there.) A lot of early voting opportunities will be lost to the storm, and ye gods if there's still power issues on Election Day.

[difrancis.livejournal.com]

Just be safe and warm. All preparations seem like good ideas. I'd probably fill the bathtub for any extra water needs. I also would make sure I had a couple of flourescent lanterns, or LED lanterns. The batteries last a long time. A solar charger for phones might be nice--when the sun comes out enough that is--if electricity crashes, which for a lot of people it's likely to. Oh, having a radio would be necessary.

Keep us all updated.