I am heading to the store soon to stock up since I am told we have what is most likely going to be one big ass hurricane heading our way. I’m far enough inland that I guess it sometimes knocks the power out and such things, but I’m likely to make it through the whole thing just fine. After I process that though my mind begins to swerve dangerously and I suddenly find myself offroading. My daughter told me that they say this could hit North America a level 4 and I find myself chanting panhandle quietly. That’s right, Margaritas all the way around this weekend while I try to coax DENNIS into the Florida Panhandle. I don’t care if I shower for a week (though everybody else probably will). I don’t care if I eat cold pork and beans for 2 weeks (though the kids probably will). I hope my personality recovers from all the trauma that leads to this kind of darkness. Maybe 2006 will put a balm on the wounds and until then Margaritas all the way around, put your tinfoil on and concentrate hard on DENNIS! God I have totally lost my mind. I have gotten so sick though of the spoiled God loves me and hates the rest of the world people who I seem to live around now 24/7. It makes me want to run out when this has ravaged the place and ask everybody that I meet what they did to piss God off so much. “I don’t technically live here and I’ll be leaving this place in my near future but wow have you guys obviously pissed someone off up there!” I don’t think there is hope for me anymore. I think my personality may have been permanently warped from being Bushwacked.
27 Comments
My sister lives in the panhandle, so I can’t send energies that way (not that I believe in capital-G God anyway) but I can send energies hoping for your family’s safety and that Dennis will just back down a bit….
It’s raining here for the first time in over 34 days (can’t remember the exact count). As I always tell Nameless Soldier:
Stay safe, stay sane. I’m thinking about you.
I take full credit*, brinnaine. See here. (Scroll down – adastra caught a good one of the lightening.)
*My daughter differs – she claims it’s because she left her truck windows open.
Hoping Dennis loses some steam and just gives everyone in its path a good soaking.
getting a little straightened out today as I read that many people that I care about and that others care about live in Florida and the Panhandle.
I’ve been through about 6-7 of those things myself… the anxiety and the waiting are almost as bad as the storms themselves… glued to the weather channel…
Good luck and stay safe…
Trying to figure out what needs to be tended to is kind of stupifying for a Rocky Mountain Greeny Weenie. It’s like a blizzard only wetter. Most of the utilities are underground also where I’m from, so who strung all this vulnerable wiring all over the place down here?
I’m in Orlando and where I live the power lines are underground. I lost power for days during 2 of the 3 hurricanes that went through last year. Transformers still blow and there are cascade problems that occur. When they were doing repairs to get the power back up we didn’t get our power restored faster than those with the vulnerable wiring so go figure.
As for what to tend to I think some of the overlooked things are:
Good luck.
For this list. I have asked a few folks but nobody had the ideas about the frig and AC thing and having a bag packed.
Glad I could provide any help. I’ve been in Orlando since I was a kid but last year was the first real hurricanes I’ve ever experienced. By the time we had the third one I could prep for one in my sleep.
I should add that the most important thing is ice. Ice can cool you off and can make days without power bearable. On day 3 without power from Charley I actually got some from my brother (bottled water emptied slightly then frozen). I hugged it for the coldness and drank it as it melted. A world of difference in my level of comfort.
Also for light at night, this will sound weird, but I used those cheap tap lights. They don’t have the heat or fire hazard of a candle, are easy to turn on and off and provide a dim light that works well enough.
And those small battery operated fans (I got some at Bed Bath & Beyond) are great.
The key to getting through a hurricane is to get the obvious supplies early like cash, gas, water, batteries, plywood. Then you can kick back and watch the long lines on tv.
Last year I bought my plywood early and paid for delivery from Home Depot. The next day they got swamped and couldn’t deliver my goods. When I went in to pick up the plywood they had run out. They had to give me furniture grade wood that they had reserved for their employees. Happily that was the last time I bought something from Home Depot.
Has been my first lesson. Plenty of food and water available but oil lamps wiped out. Thought I had pleennty of time zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Tap lights though will get us through so off to hunt, and also freezing bottled water for cold packs.
Did you get a generator?
but being new to the area it was hard to know what to expect. If this one is challenging I have no doubt that the next thing we will be getting is a generator.
If you do decide to get a generator (and I recommend it) save your receipt. If you buy it during FEMA’s approved time span (usually a couple days before or after the storm) they will reimburse you if your area is declared a disaster area.
Of course a day or 2 before or afterwards is often impossible to find a generator but if you’re lucky it doesn’t hurt to have them give you your money back. We bought one online and after arguing for 6 months with FEMA they finally gave us almost everything we paid for it (around $500).
I have a battery operated hurricane lamp, small bw battery operated tv/radio/weatherband, and lots of charcoal, candles and lighters. If you are in the direct path of a severe hurricane make sure to put your important papers and photographs in a safe, dry place. There are those nasty tornadoes that result when the hurricane makes landfall you have to worry about too. The web site I like the most is http://www.storm2k.org/wx/. The forums are a great and well moderated. If you like the site, register now because they close the site to registered members only when traffic gets busy.
I’m in Broward county, so we’re just preparing for a tropical storm. It is physically and emotionally exhausting work to prepare for hurricane season. My first hurricane was over 20 years ago and I still remember running around like a chicken with my head chopped off. Now, it’s business as usual. Be safe.
that the tornadoes can be a problem. We live in a small depression and hopefully that would work in our favor. Thanks for the document heads up. Not a good time to lose the kids shot records with school starting next month.
Hurricane parties can be fun, I’ve been through quite a few here in Florida, and I’m in the panhandle as well, but inland this year.
I sat through Ivan last year in Fort Walton Beach, but enough is enough, I’m inland this year, so the only thing I’ll have to endure is the possible tornado, but hey, it’s part of the price for living in the sun ; )
Hang in there, it’s not too bad.
See infidelpig, look at how dysfunctional George and his band of merry persons has made me! I have been wishing bad things upon you! Life wouldn’t be worth spit if anything happened to our Infidel Pig!
“Florida! But that’s our country’s wang!” — Homer Simpson
I have been wishing for our castration?
Please stay safe, Tracy! hugs
I will! Total bummer though when I went to get a couple of extra oil lamps……..all gone. I saw them last month and thought to myself that I ought to get a couple for any potential hurricanes. I have two large ones though from my great grandparents ranch and the wicks are changed and they are full. Lots of food and water.
Makes me glad the only thing I have to worry about here on the Left Coast is the occasional earthquake (and even more occasional false tsunami warnings).
Oh, and when I heard about Dennis, I told the spouse, “Memo to George: either there’s something to this global warming biz, or God’s telling your brother that She’s still pissed over the 2000 elections.”
Hmmmm earthquakes or hurricanes. I’m not sure which one to choose. It sounds like you have your fair share.
That was the name of a map online last year comparing the hurricane paths to the 2000 electoral results. It seems to have been eliminated for now, I can’t find it for a link. I definitely saw a message in it. Anyway, I’ll be hunkered down here on the west side. So far, all I’ve had to suffer was a weekend without electricity, and that can be pretty horrible for a princess like me. I’ll be thinking of you Tracy – but most likely not online. All the best to you all, the important thing is to try not to live in fear. I have a little PTSD also – my comfort is the song Amazing Grace. “Twas grace that brought me safe this far, and grace will carry me home.”
I must make sure to stay away from in my fragile snapping state of mind. I’m glad that you are hunkered down in the West. Take good care of yourself. My husband seems to be doing better with his PTSD with meds right now. I see many successful hurricane survivals in our future, and getting lots of good tips here.
Sorry, not hurricane-related. Tracy, I am a member of this organization and am often getting email requests from them to speak at events or with reporters Have you seen them? I thought you might be interested in a distraction. My Navy boy is a long time home, so I’m no good for this kind of thing. This is today’s email:
Dear Military Families in Florida,
A reporter (features writer) from St. Petersburgh Times is looking for a
military family in Florida to interview — see details below. If you would
like to contact the reporter, Susan Aschoff, her contact information is
below.
In Peace and Solidarity,
Nancy Lessin and Charley Richardson
http://www.mfso.org
http://www.bringthemhomenow.org
—– Original Message —–
From: <Aschoff@sptimes.com>
To: <mfso@mfso.org>
Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2005 4:51 PM
Subject: Working on a story about people for peace
> Hi.
> My name is Susan Aschoff and I am a features writer at the St. Petersburg
> Times.
> I want to find a parent or spouse of military in Iraq or Afghanistan — or
> a returning vet — to talk to about their opposition to the war. I’m
> looking for a family that lives in Florida. I’m doing a story on peace
> activists in Tampa and St. Petersburg.
> My contact information is below.
> Thank you so much for your help.
>
> SUSAN ASCHOFF
> St. Petersburg Times
> 1-800-333-7505 ext. 2293
> or
> 727-892-2293
> aschoff@sptimes.com