right now

right now

Aug 25, 2011

T - 2 days...

There's no scenario where we aren't going to get slammed with Irene, but we are about as ready as it gets.  Most of the hazards are put in the sheds, which will be crushed by the neighbors loose trees no doubt.  A few more things to tie down in the yard Friday evening, but there isn't much else we can do.  Luckily, I didn't even have to go to the store, we are set for food and water, propane, lamp oil and all that stuff, we only had to get fuel for the generator.  Problem is, is cost $60 for fuel that will run it for only about 2 days, so most likely we'll admit defeat on trying to keep freezers going and instead use the generator sparingly for an hour or so each day so everyone here and our next door neighbors can have showers and flush toilets.  We have enough non-perishable food on hand so while losing the freezer contents is sad, it's just a minor inconvenience in the larger picture.  Safety and comfort is more important.  We've been without power for 10 days before, so I don't expect it will be less than that and if it is, then I'll be happy.

Warning: Rant!
I've got 22 years of weathering hurricanes and Nor'easters out here, so at this point I've got the system down, although I believe this time there are going to be a lot of people out there caught off guard.  When did it become "cool" to put people down for preparing and laugh at people stocking up on supplies, roll their eyes when they hear of someone making evacuation plans and make comments like "oh, whatever...it's going to be lame like every other storm"....?  I've overheard stuff like this in stores, random hurricane partiers being interviewed on the news, Facebook, you name it, and it really gets to me.  Did any of these people even live in this country the past year?  Watch any of the horrible weather related events that have taken place?  Were they laughing when watching footage of Katrina or Andrew or any of the other horrible things that have taken place around the world?  Hey, us "preppers" like to party with the best of them, but we just make sure to secure out families first.  So what if we take a few days to tie down our lawn furniture and put away our tomato cages so they won't hit the non-preppers out partying on their deck next door?  So what if we do it for every hurricane, even if it doesn't bring the worst?  It's easy enough to put the yard back together when the threat is gone.  Who do you think the first people are to offer help to others after the storm?  Yep, the ones with propane, chainsaws, the cell phone that is actually charged and ready to go...  and hey - we are the ones with a generator to power that margarita blender!!!

Of course, you all are awesome and never say things like this, but I need to vent!  I'm choosing to vent to you since there's a bit of prepper in each one of you, so you "get it"... no?  - then let go of that canner, LOL!  See?

Look at the amount of tidal water in my area, hence our area's nickname of "Tidewater", VA... if you enlarge it I'm right at about the number "25" to give you an idea...


Another random tip that can only come from having made this mistake before....


...get all that fish and seafood out of your freezer and use it up, losing power certainly won't improve it's quality or make your house smell good LOL...

Completely non-related stuff... dried dill was finally bagged and put away, but I can't really think of anything I use dill seasoning for in winter?  :)


Well, I hope to keep checking in right up until the power goes out, which will be sometime Saturday.  We lose power when you look at the lines sideways, so there isn't a scenario where we will keep it.  The garden is certainly toast, but really does it matter in times like this?  I'll be overjoyed if my car's window aren't broken and my roof is intact and my family is safe.  Right now there have been no evacuation orders so I think we are good to stay, however if things change the officials need to issue the order tomorrow in order to get everyone out.  The roads are a problem here and all the Outer Banks people have to use the same road out that we do, and they definitely have priority, as they will bear the brunt of it.  Wow, this time last year we were in Ocracoke - sure glad we aren't now!

Other tips for new-to-hurricane'ers:  this is learned from my own experiences - get your cash and fuel NOW.  I can't stress this enough.  After the storm, if you can even get out of your street (since power lines and debris will be blocking it), you will find there is no cash left in the ATM's to dispense, fuel tanks at the gas station will be empty (and no trucks coming in to refill them), and there will be no ice to be had (if you are lucky you will get a lottery number for "a" bag once you make it to the one store that has an ice delivery - and it will be melted when you get home).  The worst part is definitely the aftermath of the storm, not the storm itself.  I pulled out what little cash there was in the account, and I will probably bounce the couple of payments that were scheduled to come out on Monday, but hey, desparate times call for desperate measures, right?  You have to secure your family first and foremost, and I can't imagine not being able to have the cash to leave if necessary, the other things can be worked out later.

The Navy here is currently moving all the ships out to sea and flying hundreds of aircraft out to greener pastures, so I imagine hubby's phone will be going off like crazy in the coming days as they enter Hurricane Condition.  There are many military families here that will be left to weather the storm without their spouses due to the deployments and flight schedules, so keep them in your thoughts, but there's nothing like a Navy wife to keep it all together... LOL of course I'm biased, though!

Back to the laundry I go... then to charge up cameras, phones and the Kindle! Hey, I'm a blogger, so you know I need that camera and have a little "stand out in the hurricane like an idiot" in me LOL!



21 comments:

  1. Glad you seem well prepared. I didn't have a doubt about you for a second.
    My gripe is people that want to party on their deck or sit at the edge of the ocean, and then want to be rescued for being an idiot. Sorry. Let em drown---one less idiot in the gene pool.
    Stay safe, Erin.....and keep us posted!
    (and as a freezer person--OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!)
    :D

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  2. We'll be praying for you and your family's safety.

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  3. Your little rant is in good company dear. It's sad to think that you are right. They are the first that folks like you volunteer to go help. Shame that lessons sometimes come the hard way. So hubby will actually get to BE at home for this right? He wont have to go to base or such?

    Well we are all praying for you. Keep yourselves safe, I already know you are ready. xoxoxo

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  4. I aboslutely hated people who mocked those who prepared for hurricanes! I spent 15 years preparing for hurricanes and from June to November I never let the cars go below 3/4 tank once we were targeted.... just in case last minute stuff came up too fast. We always had water and food stuffs and cash. That being said.... I do recall calling my Mom while in college to check up on her and she had my Dad out in the hurricane grilling.... but the storm was only light rain at the time. Be safe.

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  5. Heck, we're not even in the line of the storm and I'm filling water jugs and battening down the whatevers. The problem with the 'grasshoppers' are that, in the aftermath, they are an unnecessary burden to everyone who was prepared. You've got your family to think of, so to hedoublehockeysticks with the rest. Praying you all will be safe and sound.

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  6. Thankfully I have never had the need to prepare for a hurricane. Mocking people who are smart enough to prepare for a hurricane just shows you how immature the mocker is.
    I hope you make it through with no damage to property and everyone stays safe.

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  7. I have goosebumps thinking about all this.I hope APG is assuming right,that hubby will be by your side!I think the anticipation would do me in.Take care of those 2 little rascals, WE WILL BE WATCHING AT #25

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  8. Will be watching and praying. Love the rant. Some people are just clueless. You certainly have your priorities right. Girl, be safe out there with that camera.

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  9. Aesops Fable The Grasshopper and the Ant. 3 years ago we had a wind storm in our area,trees down everywhere, power out. We had a generator from the Y2K days. People laughed and made fun, before. We turned the other cheek. We had power for our freezer and frig and sump pump. One of the neighbors who laughed at us back then came across the street pulling an extension cord behind him. We were helping an elderly neighbor on one side of us and a newly married couple on the other, plus ours. My husband said we just couldn't help right now but could in an hour or so. The neighbor got upset and said he needed electricity NOW. Then he said I know where you live in a threatening way. My husband said and we know where you live and we have weapons and permits to carry.

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  10. I'll be thinking and praying for your family. I hate hate hate how people seem to wish for a bad storm. When we were in NC the worst I went through was a Cat 1 that maaaaybe made it to a 2, and I don't even want to ever go through that again. The people who are throwing "hurricane parties" and say they are excited to spend time with their friends and families are idiots. Can't they do that without a destructive storm? >:(

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  11. Erin it's a good thing you are so prepared! A lot of people could learn a lot from you! I thought we had it together prior to the tornadoes hitting our area in April and boy, was I wrong. We learned our lesson though and I might not have my stuff together quite like you do, but I'm getting there. Good luck for the next few days, I'll be thinking about you!

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  12. Here is hoping for a minor storm. During hurricane season my husband is often called to ship tractor trucks of ice to hard hit areas. Can you believe it is often politics that keep you from getting ice and often they end up letting it sit in trucks or it gets Shipped back cause there are too many hands in the till and people who need it don't get it. It is a shame what happens behind the scenes and even emergencies are ways to make money.

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  13. Yea! Let that prepper flag fly! Lady preppers rock, and don't you let anyone tell you otherwise.
    We have to have different strategies here in tornado/blizzard land, often we don't get the warning that y'all get with hurricanes, but I'm sure you remember how that goes. (Your family is in MN right?)
    Take care, be safe.

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  14. People who refuse to prepare when they know there is a real possibility of destructive weather coming? It's all part of so many people's utter lack of self-responsibility. They feel someone else should take care of and provide for them. Why should they work at preparation or go out of their way? Sorry, but this reeeeally ticks me off.

    Sincerely hoping you get off easy with this one, Erin dear. I know you're so good at keeping us informed but you know even if the news is all good or there is "no news" we'll be waiting anxiously to hear from you as soon as you can do so. Hugs and stay safe.

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  15. Here's hoping you weather this storm with no losses. You seem to be so prepared, and I applaud you for that. We always thought we were prepared, and then we lost power for a few days while I had pneumonia. Ha! Next time, though, we will be better. You will be in my thoughts. Keep us informed when you can. And be safe!
    ~~Lori

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  16. Erin, you are so prepared, if only everyone was! The people who laugh at being prepared are idiots. I hope the Hurricane doesn't cause too much damage in your area. Be safe!

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  17. Stay safe, stay safe, stay safe....I cant say it enough times. You know all your blogging friends will be holding your hand and giving you cyber hugs throughout the next few days.

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  18. You are so good at this. We went through a couple of minor hurricanes when we were out there and even then were much further inland- but we still tied things down. Of course, we got the same attitude here last winter with the big blizzard we had. I was amazed at how many people weren't prepared (of course, my rant is always students wearing light coats and flip flops in the snow!)
    Heck, I even prep a little every time we see a big storm coming on the radar- you know, pull out the matches and make sure the flashlights are handy- but with summer storms, the damage can be much more random over an area.
    Hang in there- we'll be watching the weather. We've got lots of friends and family in the path of this one.
    Stay safe.
    Judy

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  19. Hey all! Thanks for all the virtual hugs and support! As of an hour ago, they started issuing evacuations for our area now. Mostly the people that live on a spit of sand known as Sandbridge, right down the road. It is essentially the Northern Outer Banks (same spit of land), so we are also being told that if we are not flood prone we can hunker down. We are about 10 feet above sea level at our house and have never flooded before so I think we will stay put as of now since there is a chance of running out of fuel and being stuck on the highway otherwise. Traffic is bumper to bumper on the way out of the Outer Banks now with a 3-4 hour backup so that doesn't sound too fun. We are watching closely, I might add that hubby has been called into work anyway, so if we left it would be just me & the kids & dogs... no fun a'tall! I wish I could respond to each one of you but know I appreciate all of your comments and stories so much... it's hard to be without extended family during times like this so it means a lot to me that so many are watching and hoping for the best for us! Now time to go make banana bread... trying to get all perishable stuff into a not-so-perishable status asap LOL!

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  20. Thanks for the update. We'll keep you in our hearts. Be safe.

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