Warning: several long videos here! Some may find it enlightening, educational, some of you Gulf Coasters will find it repetitive, and some of you may just find it amusing! Welcome to my other side: prepper and novice survivalist! - and YES, I'm a girl! :)
I will cover some necessities for riding out the storm at home, a bit about what you would want to bring should you evacuate by car, and then lessen that even more to what you want with you in the event of a bugout (insert general mayhem/disaster here)!
Not meant to be all inclusive, there are many extras here as well as some things missing but I am constantly learning and this is what works for us thus far. You can really get into it more by visiting youTube and the internet and it gets to be quite fun actually finding out how little you can survive on, but that's another day.
Today we're talking about the art of successful hurricaning!
Battery Full! Continue on to Part 2...
I neglected to cover the first aid kit...
Are you asleep at your monitor right now? Surely not!
This idea actually came about because there are a number of spouses from our squadron that have never lived in a hurricane area before and might be a bit freaked out or unsure about what to have on hand. So to my fellow VFA-32 Gypsy gals, remember that some of what you see is geared towards all-around survival - you may not need everything here but make sure your basics are covered: food & water for 5 days, make sure you vehicle is fueled up (although in our area there will be nowhere to go!) and if in doubt, head to a shelter! If you need company or the kids are scared and you don't mind the whole bucket toilet flushing LOL, my home is always open to you, just remember to get here before the storm so as not to endanger yourselves by traveling, in the event of a direct hit, there will be trees down, water everywhere, and power lines could be in the street/water - just use your smarts and be aware! I know our guys are very proud of us and are counting on us to see our families through this and you know we'll do it - we are Navy wives, after all!
*Of special note to the Gypsies: if you do decide to evacuate, make SURE someone knows where you are headed. We will most likely be without power so try a cell phone or call and email/Facebook- something! - as soon as you get where you can safely do so. Ideally, you will tell the Ombudsman before you leave, in the event you cannot reach her or one of us, email your sailor from your location so that the info can be relayed back once power is on again.
Be safe everyone & Happy Hurricaning!
Tomorrow: Part 2 - Hurricane Prep for the exterior of your house!
oooh, I just watched my videos.... I'm such a DORK! :)
ReplyDeleteNot at all! I thought it was a really good overview of what to have on hand - hurricane or not. There is never such a thing as over-prepared, as far as I'm concerned. The way the weather patterns have changed - no one is 'safe' from hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, etc. Nice job.
ReplyDeleteWow Erin! I am impressed, very. And I am also (can't find the right words) worried/scared/hopeful for you and your boys and doggers. You got it goin' on girl, so that is going to be a tremendous advantage. You are by no means a dork!
ReplyDeleteNervous...maybe that is what I am for you. Gosh you just got straight into my gut!! Tears and all...xoxo
Erin, you are one squared away chick, yes, most certainly a Navy wife! What a helpful tool for those gals who have never experienced a hurricane.
ReplyDeleteMy prayers are with you all.
Don't forget some seeds!! Of course, that would be for serious long time preparedness.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you are prepared. It makes me feel better.
You look ready to go! Good luck, be safe!
ReplyDeleteGees...I never realized that preparing for a hurricane would involve so much work. Luckily,we only have to prep for blizzards here, which in my case means making a big pot of soup. LOL!
ReplyDeleteOh, you guys are too kind - I know you were really throwing popcorn at the monitor and heckling me, everyone's a critic, right? LOL...
ReplyDeleteRibbit, how funny is it that I'm a garden blogger and I forgot to video my seed stash? I will have to remember it in tomorrow's post - it's a binder/TrapperKeeper type thingie I can grab-n-go!
Thomas, you are the guy that comes over with the bottle of wine for the hurricane aren't you - tell the truth! We need that too LOL...
Erin, you are no dork. A dork stands outside in the rain and waits for the Red Cross and FEMA to rescue them. You are a prepper and a survivor. Most importantly, a mother with two kids without Dad right now facing a cat 4 hurricane. Dorks don't do that. Very brave and prepared people do that! You go girl!!!
ReplyDeleteHang in there! Reminds me to get our earthquake kit in more shipshape condition and buy a larger first aid kit for the car.
ReplyDeleteIf I'm ever in danger, I hope you'll be there to take care of me! Dork? No. Sensible and level headed? Yes. You're one cool cookie.
ReplyDeleteStay safe Erin. Glad you have such a level head on your shoulders. :) Drives me crazy here when a hurricane blows through and no one thinks to prepare well. GRRR!
ReplyDeleteUgh, my post last night didn't go through I guess. I love the part about using the bear spray on the neighbors, and the idea of filling up large containers IN the bathroom for toilet flushing. I will be doing that tonight or in the morning....I hate having filled bathtubs with little ones around.
ReplyDeleteSo....do you have enough beer? ;)
ReplyDeleteCindy, oh no! You just reminded me I'm basically a single mom responsible for my kids eeeeek! Such pressure! I've done all I can do at this point and if we are lucky enough that it just brushes us, well then we have had a much needed "drill"!
ReplyDeleteStefaneener, earthquakes = no warning, yikes that is nerve wracking too!
Gran, I would love to have you over in a hurricane, I'm 1200 miles from home so anyone named "Granny" will be waited on hand & foot!
Dani, I DO have beer, LOL! And isn't it amazing how being a parent changes you? I used to be one of those "oh, well, we're used to it - party!" people.... then I became responsible for a home, children, pets and my husband's sanity - so now I still know how to party, I just make sure we are prepared first!
Erin, when will they be able to rule out a direct hit for you all?
ReplyDeleteWow Erin, your videos are awesome! I just watched them and you are so prepared!! It has totally inspired me to make an emergency kit too! Everyone living on the coast should watch these videos! PS, I love all your "survival" gear! I totally got a kick out of that bucket of goodies, bear spray, fishing rod and compass! Just wow!!
ReplyDeleteNow you're talking!
ReplyDeleteI thought about this post today, because we had a few tornados rip through NYC. The first thing I thought was, I need to put together a disaster kit like Erins! Check out the photos!
ReplyDeletehttp://nycgardening.blogspot.com/2010/09/aftermath-of-tornado.html