Highlands Today’s hurricane magazine will be produced in a few weeks, and we’re looking for tips that may help others survive the next big blow.
To contribute, e-mail or call Gary Pinnell at 386-5828.

Move to Indiana.  (Sorry Gary.  Had to give you a hard time somehow)

When you cut your plywood for the windows, label the pieces as to where they belong “front living room window”, etc. That will save time the next time you have to put them up. (Time is of the essence when a hurricane is approaching).

Videotape the contents of your house before the season starts. Then, if you have storm damage, you have proof of your contents, making an insurance claim easier. Make sure to have the date showing on the videotape.

Do not buy much frozen food, meat, dairy, and other food that must be refrigerated during hurricane season. We learned this lesson the hard way during Hurricane Charley. Only buy what you need for the week.

ILovePickles - 08 May 2008 01:17 PM

Move to Indiana.  (Sorry Gary.  Had to give you a hard time somehow)

LOL, Pickles! Of course, they get their share of tornadoes- which is worse?

Indian vegetarian food, if you like it, is a great source of non-perishable “provisions"- rice, lentils called “dal”, etc. It is deceptively easy to cook- all you need to be able to do is to boil water and throw in a few spices to make some basic dishes. The grains and dal keep for years without refrigeration. There are online Indian food shops where you can buy the food and spices. It’s cheap (although the price of rice has been going up), and it doesn’t have all the preservatives that the packaged meals with the water-activated heating strip do.

Stock up on batteries, charcoal (for grill cooking), first aid supplies and drinking water well in advance of the Hurricane season.

Go to an ATM and get cash out in advance of the storm; if the power is out, you won’t be able to, and stores’ POS terminals that process debit cards will not be working. It’s a good idea to fill up your gas tanks in advance of the storm, in case you need to evacuate. If the power is out, gas will be hard to get. Of course these days, you have to mortgage your house to fill up your tank.

thevoiceoftruth - 09 May 2008 09:39 AM

ILovePickles - 08 May 2008 01:17 PM

Move to Indiana.  (Sorry Gary.  Had to give you a hard time somehow)

LOL, Pickles! Of course, they get their share of tornadoes- which is worse?

Tornadoes.  I suppose it’s because you can see a hurricane coming and can be more prepared.

We have a hurricane box, it has everything we could need, battery operated fan, tarp, rope, duct tape, coffee, canned meats, crackers, soups, batteries, flashlights and lanterns, instant coffee so I do not kill anyone.

We have a battery radio and 2 with earphones incase someone wants to listen to something different.

ALWAYS have a NOAA radio, we have one all year long on and ready.

When the time comes we add fresh bottled water and freshen up any shelf stable foods.

We also keep all important documents like, house deed, car title, insurance papers, birth certs, social security cars, ID, one copy of each bill, living wills for each family member and whatever else is important and place into double zipper bags and then place in the supply box that stays with us in the hunkering down place.

We have given copies of everything to my family, and we have copies of theirs so God forbid something bad happens, we already have what we need.

We get a new full tank of gas for the grill, and also do light grocery shopping for the season.

IF the season seems to be especially bad, we will also pack a going away bag and get the kitty carriers ready and supplies for them.

In 2004 we also packed up anything irreplacable in case we decided to take off, but we never did.

Lastly when a really bad storm is comeing straight at us, we leave in a zipper bag a listing of who is inside incase we get trapped or worse.

Do not forget to have a corded phone in case there is no power and tie down or bring in anything that you want to keep in your yard.