It is time for we coastal residents to take stock of our stores of batteries, flashlights, radios, water, non-perishable food; time to get all the photos and important papers all together; time to evaluate what is essential and what is non-essential. Basically, what is essential is what I've listed above: what you need to survive, photos and documents, and your loved ones. Everything else can be replaced. Once I left my house believing that it would not be there when I got back and while it was a wrenching experience, it was also freeing. I am not so attached to my 'stuff' anymore. Don't get me wrong, I would be devastated if my beloved quilting room, my machines, my fabric (my FABRIC!), my quilts were all lost, but I would survive.
So now we are beginning to go through our stuff--we are low on D cells, need some more canned tuna and refried beans, some more water isn't a bad idea, need to keep the liquor cabinet well stocked. I'd like a battery powered fan and I would like to see about getting hurricane shutters for the second floor windows; I don't like Shug being on a ladder, nailing plywood over them. A can of gas for the generator, plenty of brickets for the grill. And a simple quilting project for my hand-crank Singer, that should help pass the hours when the wind is howling around the house and the days after the storm when the power is out.
I think we are pretty well set.
6 comments:
Yep - time to turn the spare room into the Hurricane Prep room... water, trail mix, batteries, paper plates & plastic forks... the Sam's shopping list will be big for the next couple of weeks.
Last year we bought a generator and a portable A/C unit... I may have gotten a little cranky with no A/C after Ike ;)
Your so right...it seems like it would be a very good idea to have some storage set aside after everything that has happened this year!
Dear Beth, my heart goes to you. Your description of preparing for a disaster sounds so familiar. A few months ago we had to vacate the house because of a giant fire. I discovered that the only important things are my family, and the only things I put in a safe place were photos and documents. All the rest is just stuff and replaceable (maybe not the quilts...)
Good luck to you and may you pass this in peace! You are very well prepared.
Beth, this is such a wonderful post, telling it like it is. I had no idea what it was like to live in a hurricane zone. We live in a bushfire zone and have accepted that we might have to walk away from everything one day. I'm crossing my fingers that you don't get any hurricanes!
Yep, I know the drill. Good that you're on top of things.
Your sewing machine looks quite lovely...and essential. :o)
Oh, Beth, I hope you don't have to leave your home.
Sure your 99 is the good thing to keep you busy in case of minor urgency.
And also think gathering food for cats!
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