So I've read the threads on...

[one_voice]

the coming hurricane. All the survival ones, the ones that talk about how bad it is etc. I wasn't really too scared before, but now I'm scared shitless.

I'm in Delware...and from what I understand it's coming right through us... :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared:

[Harmony Blue]

1. Be prepared and don't panic

Most of all, look at the evacuation zones in your area, and see if you are in a hurricane warning or hurricane watch zone.

[Firebrand Gary]

2. Don't panic, but please don't take any chances.

[one_voice]

3. Costal evacuation....

I'm about 80-85 miles from there..

I thought I was prepared then I started reading... :cry: :shrug:

[csziggy]

7. Just distance from the coast is no guarantee of safety

Check the evacuation and warning maps for your area:
http://dema.delaware.gov/ is a good place to start.

Current National Weather Service warnings:
http://alerts.weather.gov/cap/de.php?x=1


When Hurricane Charlie hit Southwest Florida, there was severe damage 50-60 miles inland. South Carolina had damage over 150 miles inland with Hugo. Each storm is different so keep up to date on the forecasts for this one in your area.

[one_voice]

12. Thank you for the links...

I knew about the state of emergency and the evacuation of the beaches/coastal areas.

I'm gonna put everything that isn't nailed down (outside) in the garage and sheds...and hope for the best...

[csziggy]

27. Good Luck and stay safe! n/t

[Lunabelle]

4. As a floridian whose been through this many times

Just make sure you have a few gallons of water, a battery operated radio, flashlights with fresh batteries, some canned food and a manual can opener. Also, a cooler with ice is great to have. And while you're at it throw a few beers in there. You may lose power for a while, but don't worry about a lot of damage from winds unless you live on or really near the beach. If they advise you to evacuate, then do so safely. Don't panic, hurricanes move slowly until they hit land and then they usually dissipate. There might be some bad storms with high winds and property damage but rarely are they dangerous unless you just don't evacuate when they tell you to.

We once went almost a week without power back in the 80's, but that was the worst of it.

[one_voice]

5. Thank you...

I've got everything you listed. Gonna go out early Saturday morning and get a bunch of ice...for the coolers.

Your post makes me feel a little better.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. If you can get some tuna

in pouches and some lime... the lime will keep and it is great with the tuna.

Some disposable plates and all that and you might actually get to meet neighbors.

Prepare an escape package, including your documents... and fill the gas tank...

[one_voice]

13. Got lots of tuna...

and canned fruit...paper products...batteries..radio, flashlights, candles...gonna have ice first thing Saturday morning, and I'm gonna fill up a bunch of jugs with water...

Thanks for the tips..

[SoCalDem]

11. Freeze your bottled water

and put all your pics & important papers in ziplocs

Those are about the only two things I can think of.. other than the normal ones like evacuate & take your pets with you:)

Hold on tight:hug:

[one_voice]

14. I didn't get bottled water cuz I have...

one of those water cooler things with 3 spare jugs. Do I still need bottled water? I can get it tomorrow..

Oh yes, I'd never leave my beasties behind...they're my family.

[nadinbrzezinski]

19. Yes, minimum standard is 1 gallon\person

per day.

My personal recommendation, gives you a tad for self cleanup and cooking, 3 gallons per person \day... add a gallon per beastie...

Unless that is they are the size of my conures... then I can do with 250 ml per bird per day.

If you don't, you can still use clorox to purify water... ten drops\gallon (yes it will still taste funny)... or boil it for 20 minutes. (Assuming you have fuel)

[one_voice]

22. Ok.......

I'm gonna go and get 4 more 5 gallon jugs of water..that'll give me a total of 6...or 30 gallons... plus a couple of gallons in the fridge..if that's not enough I'll use the pool water for the beasties...they seem to think it's their water bowl when they're outside...LOL..

[SoCalDem]

25. Scrub & disinfect your bathtub & fill-er-up.. emergency water at the ready

:)

[nadinbrzezinski]

26. You might want to cover that pool to keep

debris off. It might be welcomed relief as long as it is clean... more or less. To do that though winds... and all that... can you really tie the cover down very well? And that water is also great for flushing bathrooms/

[one_voice]

30. Don't know if it would stay...

covered. I've seen heavy winds lift a cover...no where near the winds we're gonna get...uggghhh....this is gonna suck so bad...I live in Delaware cuz it's boring. A few good snow storms every couple of years and that's it.

What the heck...freakin' hurricane...

[nadinbrzezinski]

32. Then don't but use that water to flush bathrooms

[SoCalDem]

24. They suggested freezing them to keep frozen stuff frozen

and then as a source of actual; water.. We do this when we travel.. No need for messy ice or those freezy-bag things..:)

but your bottled water will probably do you..unless you have to evacuate.. those things weight a ton:scared:

[Catherine Vincent]

31. Buy as much as you can

Because after it hits, ice will be hard to find.

Good luck and stay safe.

[Lorien]

37. As a Floridian I'd say get out of town if you are concerned

you can even bring your pets if you have them; Motel 6 and La Quinta takes them. The last hurricane I went through (Charley) had been on land for 60 miles before it hit us as a category two. Our street was impassable for several weeks and the power was out-in August- for over two weeks. I'll ALWAYS evacuate in the future!

[TorchTheWitch]

6. I'm not that far from you

Delaware County, PA here. My lying weather reporters don't seem to think much of this hurricane... but they can always be counted on to lie to me about what the weather is going to do.

[one_voice]

9. Wow, I've been watching channel 6 (abc)...

and the one thing they haven't done is down played the hurricane. Gov. Markell declared a state of emergency and mandatory evacuation at the shore. I have a friend that lives in Rehoboth Beach and she had to pack and go. She's so scared for her house...

Be safe up there!

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. Get ready for it, but panic is the last thing you need to do

:-)

And remember we are here for ya, but we are not a priority...

[A HERETIC I AM]

15. I think you should panic.

Running in circles screaming is my favorite method. Whatever you do during your panic, just make sure it's funny.

A little panic never hurt anyone.

A LOT of panic however.......

[one_voice]

16. .....

:rofl:

I'll be sure to record it and post it so everyone can see the panic. LOL

[A HERETIC I AM]

17. "COME AND SEE THE PANIC INHERENT IN THE HURRICANE! HELP, HELP I'M.....

....um.....being blown about a bit.

You'll be fine.

And yes, record it.

[Catherine Vincent]

33. Some panic is funny...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wif4DVqbykE

[liberalmuse]

18. I'm trying not to read...

My daughter's working on a ship on the Atlantic coast. They've been near Rhode Island but are heading towards Statten Island for shelter. She doesn't seem too concerned, but it's worrisome thinking about all the people who may be affected if this storm is as bad as feared.

[nadinbrzezinski]

20. Hugs

[one_voice]

21. ......

:hug:

I'll keep a good thought for you daughter..

[vercetti2021]

23. Its ok

Keep safe, get supplies and stay inside. Prayers for you as well. If you're scared, head out of town.

[Catherine Vincent]

28. That happens with everyone that has a hurricane headed their way

Each day the panic get worse and worse. Evacuate if you have to or just stock up.

[ZombieHorde]

29. You should prepare yourself mentally and physically for the

coming cannibal utopia. Maybe you should get an early start; after all, practice makes perfect.

[kentauros]

34. It IS scary and it IS terrifying,

but it doesn't last. You'll get through it, just as the rest of us have in our experiences :hug:

[nadinbrzezinski]

35. Here is the latest for you via CNN

DELAWARE
Gov. Jack Markell declared a state of emergency for the state at 6 p.m. Thursday. The announcement included a "mandatory evacuation of visitors" now in coastal areas, adding it is "highly likely" that there eventually will be mandatory evacuations for residents of some areas.
In a statement, the Delaware Emergency Management Agency urged those who had planned to visit the state this weekend to "postpone plans immediately."

The governor said that more than a foot of rain could fall in some locations along with the coast, with 9 to 10 inches possible in inland parts of Sussex, Kent and New Castle counties.

"Have a plan, get a kit and stay informed," Delaware Emergency Management Agency Director Jamie Turner said. "We want everyone to have food and water for at least three days, batteries for lights and radios and a means of charging cell phones.

"Remember that part of your emergency plan is to have a destination in mind if you have to evacuate. If officials instruct you to evacuate, please do it."

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/08/25/hurricane.irene.state.by.state/

[Digit]

36. Okay, I have been through this and have some tips.

I am not at the coast and not in Florida, but what tends to happen where I live is losing power from limbs hitting power lines. I don't think they have the tree problem in most of Florida.

I have been hearing that the ground is saturated up north and if the wind is severe, it might topple trees which increases the possibility of losing power. I am not in a low lying area, so don't have to worry about water. If you are, you might want to hang out with friends or relatives. Lots of rain at once can overwhelm the system and water can rise rapidly.

If you have a gas stove, you will still be able to use the burners so I have spaghettios, top ramen and things like that to cook. There is always the PBJ which would not need refrigeration (Jam) for such a short time. Neighbors use their gas grills to cook....since I didn't have one, we used to use the camping stove outside. I traded out the electric stove for gas when it died.

If you have a basement and it has ever flooded, get your stuff off the floor. If you have a sump pump and no battery backup, it will fail in a power outage.

Your portable phones will not work if there is a power outage so make sure your cell phone is charged or you have a land line. Have plenty of gas in your vehicle.

I always keep lots of candles on hand for obvious reasons, plus some flashlights.

I also keep paper plates and paper cups handy.

If you have things which can get blown around, secure them. This includes trash cans, wind chimes, plastic furniture, hanging plants, you get the idea. You don't want something blowing into your balcony door and cracking the glass.

Have some cash on hand...the ATM might not be working.

Get your shower in before you lose hot water. Cold showers are not fun.

I start filling an ice chest with ice ahead of time using the ice maker. If the power goes out, ice will be in short supply at the stores...that is if they even open.

Batteries for a portable radio are also a good idea. The last hurricane, the announcers used it to advise of where you could get food, ice, or shelter in case your home was damaged, etc.

Don't go driving around in the midst of this. I was listening on a police scanner during my first time and heard of all the trees coming down over the roads making them impassable. I don't want anyone out there risking their lives to sight-see.

Stay safe, don't panic. Think of it as possibly camping indoors, but without the mosquitoes.

Expect to see lots of babies born about 9 months after this event....lol.