My family (and thousands of others) are in the path of Irene this weekend. We are doing all of the obvious prep stuff (bought tons of canned goods, drinks, snacks, paper products, utensils, cups, dog food, treats, batteries, water, etc), we have or are bringing in/tieing down all of our outside stuff, gas in all 3 cars, cleaning the house, doing all of the laundry, and filling the tubs with water if we need them. We are also plugging up and charging all of our electronig devices (e-readers, laptops, dvd players, DS games, etc). We do have a small generator to keep our sump pump and refrigerator going, but not to cool the house or give us lights. So what did they do 150 years ago when a storm like this came through? Are you dreading the power outages as much as I am? We don't want a lot of TV, but we use the computer a lot and we always have music in the background...so no technology means silence. I'm kind of looking forward to that, but not the heat!! What things do you do to prepare for extended power outages and how do you survive without your computer/phone/TV/iPod, etc?
I think I am kind of excited for the quiet time with my family - but not looking forward to the punch that Irene is promising to give. I also need to take my solar light caps off my my deck! Those will go flying in a heartbeat I think! Coloring, board games, talking, laughing, pictures, family fun = all good! Hoping and praying the storm doesn't come too bad, but we were just upgraded to a hurrican warning :(. BOO!
Here in NY, the storm is coming at around 11pm (or so I last heard). So I will be up all night and nervous about the trees and wind. And if the power is out, there will be no TV to keep me company. I will have my iPhone charged just in case the power goes off so I can get updates.
Good luck to everyone out there - be safe!
Well...a lot but we'll survive. I was thinking about storm preparations (not is much as I should as I'm having a pool party for 30 tomorrow and that's really top of mind LOL) and realized that a friend a few blocks away has it way worse than most of us. Her 3-year-old lives with life support - a vent, gastric tubes for food and medication - which must be refrigerated - and other things. They of course have a generator but wow! the stress that they are under every time a big storm comes through is tremendous. For me puts the thought of no lights or computers or TV in perspective.
During hurricane Gloria in 1985 we had no power for 10 days. Ten days! That definitely sucked, but we were in school so it was really only in the afternoon/evening that we were affected. My company just sent out a memo mentioning that our generators can power the office for a week without being re-filled, so it's good to know that even if we were without power at home, I could go into the office and power up laptops and cell phones.
We use technology like crazy, and it's a part of our every day lives. But if we had to do without, we could. One of the best vacations my husband and I ever took was renting a cabin in the mountains. No cell phones, no tvs, no technology. It was wonderful. So yes, our cell phones are charged this weekend, but if the power goes out, we deal with it. And there's nothing like a candle lit monopoly game! :)
It's sad that the only time we unplug is when it's forced by a storm :-(. I think it will be a great lesson for the kids to experience old-fashioned amusement, not to mention conversation. While I'm certainly not looking forward to potential power outages, I'm looking forward to getting back to the basics. Board and card games, crossword puzzles, etc. My DD doesn't know about technology yet (she's only 17 mos) so books and playing is her way of life. I learn from her.
I'm in South Florida and have been through everything from Andrew to Wilma. Make sure you have a battery powered RADIO. That will probably become the only way to get information. Did your phone work after the earthquake? My sister was in Arlington and my in-laws in Ashburn, VA and we couldn't get a call through on cells or landlines for many hours. I would charge your cell phone fully and then don't use it unless ABSOLUTELY necessary. You can always get get a charge from your car, but you don't want to use that gas if you don't need to. They sell battery powered box fans also - I keep two so that I have one for each child. Pack your freezer with ice right now (just fill ziplock bags or tupperware with water and put it in the freezer) and then it will hold for several days if you don't open it too much. Make sure you have a flash light with batteries for each person and don't use candles. After the storm passes, plan to spend a lot of time outside so that you can benefit from breezes. If you have no electricity for a long time, learn to live with the sun. We did for over 3 weeks after Wilma. Heed the warnings and don't go driving around afterwards - you may have all kinds of downed powerlines.
Best wishes to you! C.
All of our electronics are on battery backup. We don't lose power very often so we have never invested in a generator.
Of course we get tornadoes so there is no preparing for them. :(
We have been fortunate enough to have never lost power for more than a day, and I admit, it is tough! Do you have car chargers you can use to at least charge up phones if need be? It sounds like you already have a good plan in place! I'm saying lots of prayers for you and all who will be affected by this! Be safe! Keep us posted when all is over that you are ok.
I am totally hooked on the juice. Can't see myself living here without it. In the rainforrest or somewhere tropical, maybe, but not here.
If I were ya'll, I would evacuate. My husband was stuck in Houston after a hurricane. There was no electricity for 5 days. People went a little batty. He said for the most part neighbors helped neighbors, but thugs did prowl trying to loot. He had stored up what he could before the storm, but still ran out of food and water and had to rely on cans of chunky soup from a neighbor. He was hot and hungry.
Have a back-to-the-future party while you're waiting it out.
Think books, board games, card games, art activities (small ones - you won't have much room if you have to wait it out in the basement), guessing games, hobbies that don't take up much room, talking, telling stories together, singing. If you can find some hand-held fans, get them. Don't forget flashlights - and candles if you can use them safely.
I don't know what they did 150 years ago (that would have been 1851, I think) but houses back then did have storm cellars, so maybe they did those things, too. I know that fifty to sixty years ago in upstate New York we waited out hurricanes in our basement and did the things I've listed above. I remember my parents being very reassuring, so add courage and reassurance to your list of things to stock up on, Mama!
unfortunately too much...
however, i feel prepared..the laptop is charged as is the portable DVD player...
if Bob wasn't out of a job - I would tell him to go to Home Depot and buy a generator...but we will survive...the longest we've been without power here in Reston was 24 hours...
Bad in the "good old days"? they had lanterns and board games...card games!!
My parents have a motor home!! DANG!! Aint that the life?! They don't have to do without anything!! :)
