All excellent advice. We’ve sheltered in place for several hurricanes, although none of them were this powerful, but it can be done if you’re properly prepared.
One of my favorite items is a Red Cross hand crank radio that also charges cell phones using a USB port. It’s tedious as heck to use, but it does the job. We always have two 20lb tanks of propane for our grille as well as a 40lb tank that’s connected to the oven in our outdoor kitchen. We use this oven to cook with any time the AC is running so we don’t add any heat load to the house, and it routinely goes 6-8 months on a single tank of propane. I have a 6.5kW portable generator that can easily handle the critical stuff, even more if I rotate things on and off of it, such as my deep freeze in the garage. I keep thinking about getting some plywood cut and ready for the windows, as we only have a few that would be in danger, but I always seem to procrastinate on this. Maybe this year…. Dan > On Oct 4, 2016, at 12:42 PM, Scott Ritchey via Mercedes > <mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: > > In case it might help someone, here is advice I sent #1 stepson who lives in > Melbourne: > ------------------------------- > Since you spoke with us on the phone, the forecast track for hurricane > Matthew has shifted west (closer to you) several times. So you need to be > prepared for this storm which should he very close to you about noon Friday. > > If there is any possibility of the house flooding, evacuate and do it early. > There is very little you can save by staying there. Have a destination > before you leave. Take any important papers. If you plan to go to a motel, > get a reservation early or they'll all be full. > > If you are sure the house won't flood (and expected winds are below 100 mph) > you can shelter in place but have food and (especially) water for at least 3 > days. You will probably lose power and be unable to cook so be sure you > have food you can eat without cooking. Gas up the car and get any needed > cash now; gas pumps and ATMs don't work without power. Without power, water > and sewage lift stations will stop working. > > A battery-operated radio and a couple flashlights are very nice to have. A > battery radio may be your only source of information after power is lost > although landline phones are usually the last to go and cell phones are > often the first to work afterwards. Power is normally restored in 3-7 days. > > The very worst place to be during the storm is in your car on the road. If > you evacuate, do it before the roads become impassible with other folks who > waited. > > We have ridden out many hurricanes in Florida. It's no fun but seldom > dangerous as long as you don't flood. Most deaths are from drowning, > electrocution (stay away from fallen wires), and injuries during cleanup. > > With luck, this storm will weaken and/or shift back to the east. > > Hang in there. > _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
