Hurricane Sandy survival tips and prep info!!!

One thing I did when the kids were still home, is make a big bowl of something like tuna salad, chicken salad, something you could make a sandwich with or just eat. Also, people tend to want to munch more when the power is out. Probably boredom. I fixed up lots of veggies and fruits. They don't need to stay in the frig once the power is out and the stores hardly ever run out of them before a storm.

Good ideas...Another thing I did was make lots of popcorn! I made batches with all sorts of spices/herbs for the adults and sweet popcorn for the kids.

It kept everyone busy eating for hours.

We are ready to rock and roll over here! Still over cast as it has been and that eery calm before the storm feeling. Meanwhile, went to the store to get water, flashlights, batteries. It's strange and sorta scary to see empty shelves.

unfortunately all the radios are sold out over here but I managed to get a dinky arm band radio lol yeah...
And we do have a charged iPod holder that functions as a radio.

two days left guys.

Good job on getting your preps together! If the store shelves are empty another place to consider for radio's would be a thrift shop. Those places are usually filled with old school electronics like radios, walkmans, portable CD players, phones etc.

If you still have music CD's a battery operated CD player might come in handy for musical entertainment once the I-device runs out of power.

Stay safe...My prayers are with everyone in the storms path.

Something important I want to mention...

Most of this thread has been dedicated to prepping and sheltering in place.

If you live in an area where there is a good chance of flooding, an evacuation notice may be in your future. This is where it gets tricky.

Option one ... Stay where you are and hope for the best.

Option two ... Take your bug out bag, family, pets and get out while you can.


Speaking from personal experience, I have never evacuated but a couple of times I wish I had. If you are worried about protecting your "stuff" remember it's just stuff and your life is something that can not be replaced!!

Evacuating or not is a personal choice. Follow your head, heart, and make the most educated decision that you can.

Good luck to all in the storms path...My prayers and thoughts are with you.

May I recommend a whole mess of plastic bags? If you folks on the East Coast are looking at six days of flooding and loss of electricity, you can't count on the sewers working. Plastic bags and a five gallon bucket make a servicable toilet.

you forgot to add a big box of rubbers.

we know how baby booms come to be.

You can't have enough plastic bags on hand. Contractor bags are good to cover electronics and put your clothing in. The big bags also make pretty good rain coats in a pinch.

LOL....There is truth to your statement. Not much to do when the power is off.

There have been birth rate studies following long term power outages. 9 months later..delivery rooms are quite busy.

The number ONE most important item you need to have on had to survive just about any situation is....

DUCT TAPE!

Here a just a few of it's uses.

- Seal windows and doors.
- Temporary repairs to your vehicles.
- Waterproof your shoes/clothing.
- Make rope or clothesline with it.
- Fix your eye glasses.

And the most important use is medical! You can make a butterfly bandage to close wounds, cover a blister, or use it as an ace bandage.

I was camping once and sprained my ankle BAD miles away from any sort of medical help. We wrapped my ankle in duct tape and kept on going. It worked well!

Rule # 1: Do not panic

Thank you for your tips. When Isabel came in we lost power for a week...it was not fun.

I am 5 blocks from a major river on the Chesapeake if you are also you may want to get your small watercraft, life jackets, ropes, paddles ready to help your neighbors. We had lots of houses with major water and the small boats used to ferry them out or things in was a huge help to those less fortunate/prepared.

Know location of or have animal/pet carriers, leashes, and rabies vaccination papers close at hand so you know where they are. Animals tend to wig out as storms approach so monitor outside close as sandy comes to your area.

Also most led lights that fit human heads will go around your dogs neck at night. Helps to know where they are in the dark and my mutt actually likes it.

Thank you people. It's this kind of thread that keeps me returning to GLP.

Be safe everyone.

Thread: Excellent Radio Stations to listen to regarding Hurricane Sandy

Popcorn?

Thread: Global and local backup communication channels

How do people convince reluctant family members to prep? I keep hearing this from East Coast friends, I've convinced them to prepare. But they've got family whose main concern is stocking up on kegs for the party. A party that will be in the ocean when the surge hits.

You can't make anyone do anything they do not want to. Those who are not prepared will suffer.


Maybe you can prep for them by making a list of shelters in their area and text it to them.

Do not go surfing, swimming, boating or fishing on the coast during the storm.

PLEASE KEEP THIS THREAD LIMITED TO SURVIVAL TIPS AND PREP INFO ONLY!!!

Weather related discussions should be posted on DoorBert's thread:

Thread: Frankenstorm set to Tear the US East-Coast a New One. Frankie Issues Epic Doom Alert. Widespread Power Outages on Election Day

People who are reading this thread KNOW the storm is coming and are most likely looking for prep info.

Thank you in advance for your understanding!!!

Okay here's my prepping video!

Understand the threat before you act. Otherwise you act blind.

Winds
- Window tape, close blinds and push furniture against the blinds to hold back flying glass.
- Secure out door items
- Crack a window on the opposite side of wind to equalise pressure in your dwelling.

Surge
- Place important documents, cell phone, meds, etc in leak proof plastic bags, then keep in go bag.
- Prepare for possible evac orders. If you are ready to go when ordered, you can barely get ahead of the mass exodus...while others get ready to go when ordered too.
- Put sensitive items high up in closets, etc.
- Know when to shut off your homes power supply.
- Keep a hatchet in the attic with life vests

Power Outages
- stock ideal foods
- dont burn down your house

extra condoms

One suggestion for quicky power outage preps:

1) A crank LED flash light. Barely takes any cranking for minutes of light.

2) Car chargers for cell phones. Make sure you can charge with the car off, if not you might want a cigarette lighter socket that you can connect to an always on circuit.

3) If you have a land line make sure you have a phone that doesn't require power. We found one for $2 at a thrift store.

Remember that text messaging may work even if your unable to make calls. This is assuming there are working cell towers around. Internet might work if unable to make calls. If a little clever figure out how to battery power your DSL or cable modem.

Test your setup, make sure you can connect via your phone to your battery powered router on wifi.

Luckily many routers run off 12 volts, they can be hooked to a deep cycle battery, or borrowed car battery. Don't connect them to a charging car battery, the 14+volts from the alternator may be too much for them.

WOW...NICE JOB!!!!!

Good info that may help lots of people!!!!!!

Thank you.

Our little GLP family is making me proud with all the great and useful info being shared here.

In all seriousness, I have some advice;

Be friendly and helpful to your neighbors. You never know when they'll return the favor. It helped me through Ike when we were out of power for two weeks.

^^^^^^^^THIS times ten. We have some great folks on my street, I know we'll all pull together and get anybody whatever they need. I bought a cheap siphon and a five gallon gas can in case someone has a generator and they need gas from my full tank. I have found this thread to be soooo helpful, thanks cowgirl, you deserve a girl scout merit badge!! This is the first storm I've ever prepped for and got 9-10 excellent tips here that I wouldn't have know if not for this thread. I'm in Northeast Pa. and will probably be getting hit with the outer bands. Trees down, power out and wind damage are all possible, so I am prepared. Even a couple days without power could be totally annoying/inconvenient or even dangerous without some prep.

How true!!!