How to Prepare for a Hurricane

Credits: NASA TV

Right about now- we are anticipating the arrival of an unwanted guest:  Hurricane Sandy.  The one and only great thing about a hurricane is that you have time to prepare.  Here is what our last week has looked like:

One week out:  

~Someone at work mentions that it's going to be a little bit windy next week.

6 days out:  

~I see my first report on the news about a hurricane building in the Atlantic.  Hmmm.  Interesting.  But this is nothing new.

5 days out:  

~Hurricane strikes the Caribbean causing catastrophic damages.  

The realization a hurricane may quite possibly be imminent begins a buzz in the air.

4 days out:  

~Look up the National Disaster Preparedness list online and realize that I have absolutely nothing on this list except for band-aids. 

~Go online to Amazon and order every item from Amazon with two day delivery.

~Order extra band-aids.

3 days out:  

~Life continues as normal.  

~Attend planned events with the family.

~Everyone out and about begins warning each other to be safe.

~Go grocery shopping on the way home and buy plenty of milk, toilet paper, water, and bread.

2 days out:  

~Begin to fill up every gas can we can find as well as each of the vehicle's gas tanks.  

~Dust off the generator and ensure it starts.

~Bring in the deck furniture.

~Nonperishable foods and hand-crank radio arrives from Amazon.

1 day out: 

~Head back to the store and buy more milk.  And toilet paper.  And wine.  

~Cruise around town, studying everything- taking it in- just incase it is not the same next time I see it.

~Eat Mexican.  Unsure when I'll get the chance to eat Mexican again.

~Go home and do all laundry.

~Do all dishes.

Day of:

~Linger in a hot shower.  Anticipate losing power at any minute.

~Make sure cats are inside.  At least the ones I like.

~Run the dishwasher, do laundry, and vacuum while continuing to anticipate the electricity shutting off at any time.  This may be the last time  will have electricity for at least a week (as was true with the last hurricane that passed through).

~Start eating everything in the refrigerator so it does not go bad- when the electric goes out.

~Move all albums and irreplaceable items to the middle of house and away from windows.

~Keep checking Facebook via phone to compare notes with friends as to what's happening where they are.  Try to post the most impressive picture.

~Keep checking the weather channel.  Every. Five. Minutes.

~Let the kids watch as much TV as they would like in the basement- assuming we won't have cable for the next week.

~Hold breath every time the wind picks up or I hear a loud noise.

~Pace.

~Check the weather channel again.

~Check the cars.

~Wash the dishes.

~Vacuum.

~Have a glass of wine to calm my nerves.

~Pray

And that is where we are now.  Still haven't lost electricity- however the TV keeps promising the worst is yet to come.  The anticipation, of course, is worse than anything.  But I just have to have faith at this point and trust that come what may- I don't think we could have prepared much more.

Hold on East Coast- let us brace for impact!