Freaked Out About Hurricane Sandy. HELP!!!

If I was there & new it was planning on hitting where I live i'd pack up & drive away far far away find a Hotel to stay in till it safe to go back home

Make sure you have extra diapers, wipes and formula for the babies.

Make sure all of the cell phones, Kindles, DS, etc are charged.

Gather some books, board games, coloring books

Make sure you have some canned foods that don't need cooking - tuna, fruit, veggies, vienna sausages

Assuming your area is not being evacuated......... So.....

stock up on food. Fill a couple of ice chests. Fill a clean bathtub full of water and be sure to have lots of water and flashlights. Charge phones and computers. Be sure to have a car charger for phone. There are plugs ins for the car that can be in turn used as a regular plug...... go grab one from radio shack or something. With all those kids I might avoid candles but go get battery operated or solar lamps. Tell sister to bring many blankets and pillows and her ice chest.

Make a fun party and adventure with the kids. Throw blankets over tables and make tents for the kids to sleep in.

Am sure your husband will be home as soon as the storm passes through. Try and relax a little. Remind yourself you aren't on an island somewhere.

I changed my mind. Don't fill a bathtub full of water with all those little kids in the house...... buy tons of water in bottles!

A.:

The first thing you NEED to do??? CALM DOWN!!! You don't need 10 panicked kids under one roof. SO DO NOT PANIC!!! CALM DOWN!!! I get this is supposed to be a doozy - but panicking will NOT help.

Do you have an emergency plan?
Do you have an emergency kit?

If you do - you should be fine.

In our emergency kit and room (we have a storage room we can use) - we have games (we have multi-player games, coloring books, crayons, and other things for kids to do. We have flash lights, matches and candles.

If you have a basement - does it have a sump pump? If so - what do you have as a back up plan to keep water out of the house? Do you know how to operate the sump pump? or is it automatic? If you have a generator - do you know how to operate that and have back up gas for it?

The best thing you can do to stay safe is NOT PANIC. Keep the kids together. You have a 12 year old - have him be responsible for one or two of the smaller children.

To stay safe? DO NOT PANIC!!!!!

Do you have a ton of trees around your home? Have they recommended you board them up? I realize that you are pregnant and that would not be the thing for a pregnant W. to do. So keep your drapes or blinds CLOSED.

Things that should have been done in preparation for this huge storm? Gutters cleaned out. The last thing you need is your gutters overflowing and water getting INTO the house. If it's not done - there's not much to do now.

Do you have ice and ice chests??? I don't know if you typically lose power during storms or not. If you have a generator - GREAT! If not - make sure you have a couple of bags of ice and the ice chest READY for food. It does NOT need to be stocked.

If you lose electricity for days:

heat - ensure that you are prepared with firewood
cooking - do you have a gas stove? If so - you are good. If electric - a camp stove to cook would be handy.

Do you have a full tank of gas should you be told to evacuate? Do you have a "go bag"? A bag for each family member (like a backpack) that has a couple of changes of clothes, medicines (if any) and diapers (if needed). Just enough for 2 or 3 days?

When you are prepared - you don't tend to panic. Does your town have an emergency shelter?

Do you have batteries and candles for light?
Should you lose electricity - or believe you will - fill up a CLEAN bath tub with water - that can be used for drinking as well as flushing toilets and cooking. If you drink coffee - keep an OLD coffee can around so that you can use that to put water in the toilet tank to flush.

If you have cell phones - make sure they are charged and have a back up to charge them (we have an emergency radio that is hand cranked and will charge cell phones).

Again - DO NOT PANIC. You got this girl.

Bless your heart! I can't imagine having 10 kids together in this circumstance.

Do you have bread, milk, batteries and flashlights? Blankets, any mats you could put in the floor for the kids? Water? Radio that uses batteries? Is your stove gas or electric? If it's gas, you have more options for cooking.

I would have plenty of board games for the kids, books, and videos in case the power doesn't go out. Crayons, paper, dominoes, Duplos, etc. One thing to consider, if you can get to the store, is to buy a plastic outdoor trash can and put a double plastic liner (trash bag) in it, and fill it up with water. This water can be used to flush the toilet, for cooking, for sponge baths, etc. Make sure you keep it safe from a small kid pulling it over or falling into it. It might sound like overkill, but if you do lose power, you could be out for days.

Do you have a basement? Is there a sump pump? Do you know how it works? If it's an older version and it needs water in the battery, make sure there is water in it (distilled water only). Make sure you check the basement in case water starts coming in. (Have your plumber's emergency number handy...)

Hopefully you won't have any bad things happen, but if you do, you'll be prepared from just having thought about it.

Dawn

First off, don't panic. Evaluate where you are (on a hill? near water? near big trees?) and take steps accordingly, like not parking near trees, and maybe sleeping somewhere away from the threat. Plan for power to be out. Check your batteries and candles. As your sister to bring more blankets and food and water. Don't bother with the little gallon jugs.If you have means to store gallons at a time do it - like filling a spare bathroom tub. If you are on a well, store more, as no electricity = no pump.

As for entertaining the kids - do what you would do almost any day without TV. Go outside if it's safe. Stay in if it's no. Play cards, play with toys, let them do crafts and entertain themselves.

We were out for almost a week with Isabel and a week with the derricho. Friend joked, "I don't know what we are worried about. We do this to ourselves every year in tents!" It's camping, in your house. As long as you are not flooded or damaged, it will be annoying, but fine. Make provisions for the food (maybe start making ice blocks now) and water and you'll be alright. At least it's not a heatwave this time. You can sleep in the same room and not need a potentially dangerous heater.

Know where to go in an evacuation. Have a plan. If they tell you to go, just go. Pack 'em all up and move out.

And along those lines, have your cars gassed up.

You'll be alright. Just be smart.

Hey , I am in londonderry. As far as the Hurricane goes, make sure that anything outside that could possibly be tossed around ( chairs, flower pots, tables, etc) be taken inside. Up here the major concern is power outtages, and fallen trees,etc. We are supposedly going to get some heavy wind and some rain Mon/tues. Be prepared with extra water, snacks, food, flashlights, candles,etc.

Don't freak out. We will be fine up here. Just make sure to fill water bottles, get batteries for flashlights, candles, and anything you have to do such as laundry/dishes, and baths do tonight.

You are going to be fine. I'm about less than an hour from you, so message me if you need anything!

First of all don't freak out, it won't help at all and if the kids see it, it could make things worse.

If you are a camper, anything that you would take on a camping trip is a good frame of reference for what supplies will be good to have. If you're not a camper you can google camping supplies for a complete list, but IMO the following things are the most important:

Make sure you have lots of water, food that doesn't need to be cooked, toilet paper, and warm clothes. Extra blankets are also a good idea. Also flashlights and/or battery powered lanterns, all with extra batteries. Some of the camping lanterns out there will light up a room like it's daylight.

As far as things to do, board games, books, coloring books for the younger kids, and battery powered electronics for the older ones, would be my choice to keep the kids occupied. If you're crafty, having some projects prepared for them to do can't hurt either. You can make it fun for them by erecting "living room tents" by putting blankets over the furniture. It will seem more of an adventure for them.

And I've gotta say 10 kids...wow...brave. I hope you have a big home :)

Books. Art supplies. Non-electric, non-electronic games - including board games. Stories. Singing. Everybody old enough helps with the work, as if you were camping out.

Do whatever your emergency authorities are telling you to do, and then some. Have more of everything than you think you'll need, if you can get it. Stock up on water, first aid supplies, easy food, diapers, flashlights, candles if you can use them safely, batteries, *blankets,* pet supplies if you have pets, everything else. Have a good working battery-operated radio with a weather band. Do you have a "retreat" inside your house where you all can go if you must?

Just as you do with your own children every day, be firm and friendly about being in charge. A cheerful attitude from you will help the young ones not to be frightened. They'll be picking up their behavioral cues from the grownups. Also, the more you learn (and can explain) about how a hurricane works, the more the children will be reassured that they can count on you.

Remember that hurricanes are treacherous. They'll seem to be over, but they're not. Nobody goes outside until the all clear is sounded on the radio, no matter how much the wind seems to have died down! Watch out for flying debris.

Being in New Hampshire, I am sure you are used to the possibility of severe winter storms.

Think about all the typical prep you would do if a winter storm were coming... what you you need? How would you be able to prepare food? What would you normally do if the power is out for a prolonged period of time?

Have a supply of batteries, and candles. Have food prepped that you can serve cold.

Fortunately, while I am sure it is getting cold up there, it isn't the middle of the winter bitter cold..... have plenty of clothes available, as well as blankets and or sleeping bags.

As far as activities, the older children are old enough to understand that they HAVE to work together to help take care of the younger ones..... if necessary, do a buddy system.... the 12 yr olds take charge/care of the 5 year olds, (cross families if that would be easier...sometimes it is more fun to take care of someone else's kid), and the 11, 8, and 9 yr old all work together to entertain each other, and help with the 5 yr olds. That leaves the adults to take care of the 5 month olds. You can also have some of the others help occasionally with the infants, also.

Set up a "chore chart" of what everyone is expected to do... they can't just go off and do their own thing.

Have the older ones come up with a skit... act out a book they have read lately.... sing camp songs... these things can all be fun for short periods of time.

Build tents/forts out of blankets.... tape a "hopscotch" to the floor for some old-fashioned fun.

Sometimes we have depended too much on the "electronics" to entertain our kids... you'd be surprised what they can come up with if challenged! Depend on the older ones to help entertain the younger ones.

Ok I live in florida been throough tons of hurricanes and am still here. We usually board up the windows and sit it out. usually the worst is tthe days after when you have no water or electricity . If you cannot board up your window put some tape on them so if somethiing hits them atleast it will hold some of the glass together. If you already have film on them for sun will have the same affect. Best advice I can give you is for everyone to get showers that night before it really hits. Bottles of water tons of them for the next few days. say 5 bottles a day for each person. Get everyone a flashlight. Get a little charcoal grill and some matches so tomorrow night if you still have no electricity you can still have a hot meal. Cans of soup that dont need water. Keep refrigerator closed when the electricity goes out. If you can make a bunch of ice . We use to freeze water bottles and stack them in the cooler so we had something cool for when no a/c electric. But if its going to be freezing uuup there anyway i guess you wont need to do that but keep lots of water on hand and matches. Up high away fromt he kids. Get some carboard and if a window shatters you can tape the whole up with that.

MY GOODNESS try to not worry. I lived through flooding, not hurricanes so no help here. But reading all these posts GOSH YOU MOMS ARE AWESOME.
Good luck, my prayers are with you!

I think all the kids will play together.

Maybe let them know that when there are big storms, you get to make forts and play flashlight tag.

Try some board games.

Maybe get the bigger kids to help bake right now. Muffins and cookies can go far in any weather.

I' m sure you have lots of practical suggestions below.. Just stock up, you will be fine!

First of all, take a breath and calm down. Your children will pick up on these fears and then you will have a worse situation. Don't put this fear into your children and terrify them. Make this a learning experience and adventure for them. They can learn about the weather, what to do in weather related emergencies, etc.

I know it is a huge storm but many people have been through strong storms and made it just fine using common sense.

The media routine hypes things up but at the same time, pay attention to the weather stations, etc. Check your surroundings, are you in a flood area, large trees, etc Have you been evacuated? If so, GO

The hardest parts are going 2+ days with no power and no water. Make sure you have fresh batteries and bottled water. Have foods to eat that you don't have to heat. Get a cooler and keep things in there vs opening and closing your fridge and freezer doors so that you keep your perishables safe.

We went through Hugo and it was scary due to the unknown factor but the worst was no power and water for about 4 days. I was shocked to see people fighting over gas, water and ice.

Make sure your gas tank is full in your car, phones are fully charged, etc.

It will be ok if you set your mind to it. Use common sense for preparation.

Best wishes to you.

Make sure your phone and your sister's phones are charged. Take care and be safe!

It is a little nerve racking, i admit. I have some extra water, bags of ice and food. We only have one flashlight but 2 packs of extra batteries. I will say some prayers for all of us :)

Here is the weather channel preparedness link with lots of info:
http://www.weather.com/news/weather-hurricanes/tropics-sc...

To all the other advice I would add a small battery powered radio with CD's for music as well. Not only for entertainment but if power goes out you will stay informed via the news.

However, the center of the storm will likely hit between Virginia and Long Island north of that (I am outside of Boston) we will have high winds, flying debris, lots of rain, and if you are near water also flooding. I would just be prepared for a possible few days without power with food and water and entertainment for all. If you feel that worried then indeed go to a place further north out of the projected impact area.