Hurricane Sandy Brings Out Last Minute Prepping

Prep Blog ^ | 10/28/12 | Butch C.

[Kartographer]

I don’t want to bother talking about all the things that should have been done over the past year or more to prepare for an event like Sandy, heck we’re writing about that stuff every other day. I’d like to talk about what folks can do even at the last minute to help them get through this situation as safely and comfortably as possible.

So I’ll just imagine for a moment an average house that has zero Preps. Just the usual non-prepper house with a few days of food, a couple of flashlights with questionable battery life, a few spare batteries, a few bottles of water, and hopefully a box of bandaids in a bathroom drawer somewhere. Not ideal but very common. There are literally tens of millions of people waiting for this storm to come charging into them whose situations look similar.

[Kartographer]

Better late than never!

[al baby]

Ok my folks were drinkers When they maintained 3 trash barrles full of supplies for the big one. Dad had 2 half gallons of bourbon and vodka

[Kartographer]

This is a cut down version of the Things that Disappear during SHTF. And no you might not need all this things, but it’s a list that a lot of people have tweeted over the years and my suggestion is to use it as a check list check the things you have, circle the things you need and cross other those you don’t

1. Generators (Good ones cost dearly. Don’t for get gas for them and beaware that afterwards the sound can be a magnet for thieves.
2. Water Filters/Purifiers
3. Portable Toilets
4. Seasoned Firewood. Wood takes about 6 - 12 months to become dried, for home uses.
5. Lamp Oil, Wicks, Lamps (First Choice: Buy CLEAR oil. If scarce, stockpile ANY!)
6. Coleman Fuel. Impossible to stockpile too much.
7. Hand-can openers, & hand egg beaters, whisks.
8. Water Containers (Urgent Item to obtain.) Any size. Small: HARD CLEAR PLASTIC ONLY - note - food grade if for drinking. Fill-up bath tubs or trash cans for flushing toilets
9. Mini Heater head (Propane) (Without this item, propane won’t heat a room.) or portable kerosene heater.
10. Propane Cylinders (Urgent: Definite shortages will occur.
11. Survival Guide Book.
12. Mantles: Aladdin, Coleman, etc. (Without this item, longer-term lighting is difficult.)
13. Baby Supplies: Diapers/formula. ointments/aspirin, etc.
14. Cookstoves (Propane, Coleman & Kerosene)
15. Lighters the ones with the long ‘noses’ for lighting grills, stoves, candles....
16. Feminine Hygiene/Haircare/Skin products.
17. Thermal underwear (Tops & Bottoms)
18. Bow saws, axes and hatchets, Wedges (also, honing oil)
19. Gasoline Containers (Plastic & Metal)and extra gas.
20. Garbage Bags (Impossible To Have Too Many).
21. Toilet Paper, Kleenex, Paper Towels
22. Milk - Powdered & Condensed
23. Fire Extinguishers (or..large box of Baking Soda in every room)
24. First aid kits
25. Batteries (all sizes...buy furthest-out for Expiration Dates)
26.Extra pet food.
27. Matches. {”Strike Anywhere” preferred.) Boxed, wooden matches will go first
28. Flashlights/LIGHTSTICKS/Lanterns
29. Cast iron cookware (sturdy, efficient)
30. Duct Tape
31. Tarps/stakes/twine/nails/rope/spikes
32. Candles
33. Canned Fruits, Veggies, Soups, stews, etc.
34. Bleach (plain, NOT scented: 4 to 6% sodium hypochlorite)
35. Extra sleeping Bags & blankets/pillows/mats
36. Carbon Monoxide Alarm (battery powered)
37. Board Games, Cards, Dice
38. Paper plates/cups/utensils (stock up, folks)
39. Baby wipes, oils, waterless & Antibacterial soap (saves a lot of water)
40. Rain gear, rubberized boots, etc.
41. Hand pumps & siphons (for water and for fuels)
42. Chocolate/Cocoa/Tang/Punch (water enhancers)
43. Woolen clothing, scarves/ear-muffs/mittens
44. Boy Scout Handbook, / also Leaders Catalog
45. Graham crackers, saltines, pretzels, Trail mix/Jerky
46. Popcorn, Peanut Butter, Nuts
47. Socks, Underwear, T-shirts, etc. (extras)
48. Lumber (all types)
49. Cots & Inflatable mattress’s
50. Gloves: Work/warming/gardening, etc.
51. Lantern Hangers
52. Glue, nails, screws,, nuts & bolts
53. Teas
54. Coffee
55. Chewing gum/candies

Some additional suggestions:

If you have a extra Frig go ahead and fill the Freezer with ice.

If you have a Freezer, fill up and extra space with 2 ltrs of water or I use empty ice cream tubs so they have a chance to freeze and will help keep your freezer cold if the power goes off.

Check your meds and make sure you have enough to last you a couple weeks or better.

Don’t buy food that needs refrigeration. If you have kids buy powder milk or hot chocolate mix made milk.

If you don’t have or need a chain saw think about at least buying a axe and or a bow saw. You won’t be able to cut up downed trees, but you can clear away branches and small limbs for those who do have chain saws. and DONOT forget some good leather gloves.

Here’s another suggestion; If you don’t have any get yourself some space saver bags and vacuum seal changes of clothes, photo albums important papers and bedding. This way if you must bug out, because your house gets damaged, flooding, etc you will have dry stuff that’s protected from the weather on your move out.

Get cash!!!

Makes sure you can get to your fire wood and it is covered so it stays dry.

[TheRhinelander]

I’m good here in central MA. After a vicious ice storm back in 2008 National Grid came through and cut down all the bad tress along the main lines, I live along one of them. We haven’t lost power since, that includes Irene and the freak snow storm of October last year.

That said, i have plenty of water, generator started on the first pull today, my gas cans are full and I’m ready to rock.

I’m not worried about this storm. 3 inches of rain is nothing that my sump pump can’t handle and the winds won’t be that bad here.

My sister in law outside of York, PA. Different story. She’s nervous. I gave her all the advice I could.

[Kartographer]

"Dad had 2 half gallons of bourbon and vodka"

For medicinal use only I am sure. ;-)

[Morris70]

Forgot Beer and Guns!

[demkicker]

I’m especially praying for all republican voters that haven’t yet gotten to the polls! Seriously - I hope this will be one of those ‘much ado about nothing storms’ - although it doesn’t look like that’s the case.

Stay safe FReepers!

[BobL]

Awesome posting!!!

He manages to show people that there is a LOT that can be done, even for last-minute preppers. People often just give up - but DON’T - keep at it. Let the Obama voters give up, since daddy will be there for them.

One other thing - if they live in an area that may flood, and have a second floor, then get everything important up there. We do that here in Houston, but thankfully, we don’t have to deal with hurricanes nearly as much as those in New York.

[Kartographer]

Preppers’ PING!!

[Lurker]

I’ve been to several trade shows this year. At every one of them someone has been giving away those little LED keychain flashlights with some company logo on them. At the end of the show I always ask if I can take a few of them.

I’ve got a dozen or so by now. They are in our cars, on our keychains, in our go bags, desk drawers, etc. Are they Surefire or Maglights? No. Are they free? Yep. Do we have them in quantity? Yep. Will we be able to find one or three when we need them? You betcha.

[freedumb2003]

>> Dad had 2 half gallons of bourbon and vodka<<

What if the storm lasted longer than one day?

;)

[gundog]

Don’t ferget yer lotto tickets. Fiber-optics could be down fer days. I swear we get hit with 2 of these every year and it’s no big deal. But let the eastern seaboard get wet and the world’s comin’ to an end. Take yer lumps and have fuel for the chainsaw. You’ll need to clear the road so “help” can get to ya.

[Library Lady]

I made a run on doughnuts this afternoon, so we’re good.

[Kartographer]

Two or three like this a year?

Reminds me of what a State Trooper told a bunch of us at summer camp one year, he said: “You know how on tv a guy gets shot and an the says it isn’t anything it’s just a flesh wound? Well I’ve had a flesh wound and they HURT LIKE HELL!”

[gundog]

I think our terrain takes most of the sting out of it. You can find some really messed up stuff, but generally nobody dies. This place is just meant to shed water.

[B4Ranch]

I like this list! All I I can think to add is a case of oil for the generator, a gallon of Apple Cider Vinegar and a gallon of Hydrogen Peroxide.

[cuban leaf]

I’ve been watching the storm track sites on Drudge, and it is looking like Sandy is heading out to sea.

[Kartographer]

Well most of the bigger east coast citys are built on bays and are only a are just above sea level.

Boston’s official elevation, as measured at Logan International Airport, is 19 ft (5.8 m) above sea level.

Some of Manhattan is only 8 feet above sea level.

Philadelphia the same with lots of areas less than 50 feet above sea level.

And everyone knows Washington DC is a swamp.

And everyone of the major cities have a river to channel the storm surge in land.

[JoeFromSidney]

My son lives in Maryland, right on the waterfront. I called him today to see how things were going. He replied, "I'm in Texas." He's there on a business trip. He'll survive, but he may have trouble getting back home next week. I hope his house survives.

[JoeFromSidney]

My son lives in Maryland, right on the waterfront. I called him today to see how things were going. He replied, "I'm in Texas." He's there on a business trip. He'll survive, but he may have trouble getting back home next week. I hope his house survives.

[metmom]

People in Syracuse are wasting no time nuking the stores in their panic buying.

But at least, this time, they are not waiting until they are in the teeth of the storm, like usual.

http://www.9wsyr.com/default.aspx

[metmom]

I think our terrain takes most of the sting out of it. You can find some really messed up stuff, but generally nobody dies. This place is just meant to shed water.

We're like this in CNY. The ground is somewhat rocky from the glacial moraine and drains very well.

We are in a hilly area with one tiny little creek down the street that has not been known to flood but once in the last 100 years.

Our biggest risk is power outages, but we have a generator and gas.

[metmom]

Try weather underground rather than Drudge.....

http://www.wunderground.com/tropical/tracking/at201218_5day.html

[metmom]

And everyone knows Washington DC is a swamp.

You mean a literal one, too? Like geologically?

[gundog]

Power outages. My biggest risk is that the neighbor will take her BBQ in the house again. If her son hadn’t arrived in the nick of time, it would have been flames whipped by 75 MPH winds.

[metmom]

How can someone so stupid survive into adulthood?

[Vendome]

I’ve often thought it would be nice to have a place in the QueerHobeth/DelMarVa area. But, I would not stock it with anything I cared about if a storm came along and wiped the place off the map.

I would stock it with tons of food stuffs and emergency supplies including a rubber boat or two.

Most of the homes I stayed in had living quarters one floor up from the ground with the lower part usually reserved for HVAC, Propane and storage.

[gundog]

From LA. Only explanation I can see. Her kids ain’t too bright, either.

[DuncanWaring]

I believe that is the case.

[bgill]

The article said to fill the bath tub with water but neglected to say fill pitchers and other large containers with water. Go ahead and make up extra buckets of water for the pets while you still have water. Go ahead and make up tea, koolaid and juice for the humans. Depending on your situation, a toilet will flush with a gallon of water so put some buckets of water in the bathroom for flushing.

Get busy cooking while there's still electricity. Bake several batches of cookies or a cake since they don't need refrigeration later. If you don't have freezer room, cook up whatever meats you have in the fridge. The weather is cool enough if the power goes off to keep food chilled and a cold meatloaf sandwich is much easier to prepare than trying to prepare raw ground meat.

Also, clean the house. Mop and vacuum while you can. Clean the bathrooms and kitchen and pick up some clorox wipes (convenience) and hand sanitizer because you don't want to deal with a nasty germy bathroom. Put a bottle of hand sanitizer in each bathroom, kitchen and bedrooms to remind everyone. Get the dishes done and the kitchen counter clean. Without water, you can't clean it well later. Speaking of dishes, pick up some paper plates and cups at the store.

[Vendome]

If it last more than a day then I’m gonna repurpose potatoes and rice... LOL

[Cementjungle]

I’ve been watching the storm track sites on Drudge, and it is looking like Sandy is heading out to sea

Shhhh... don't tell anyone. This is Barry's big moment to show voters how on top of things he is. We can't cancel this event now.

[Kartographer]

http://egsc.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html

New York 410’H to Sea Level
Philadelphia 421’H to Sea Level
Baltimore 489’H to Sea Level
Washington DC 410’H to Sea Level

[cuban leaf]

They only have one animated gif view (radar) however, they have a nice “historical” example that seems to support the BAMM model. Also, if you watch the water vapor gif on Drudge, you get the feeling the air to the west of the northeastern states is starting to push it out to sea.

I’m no expert, so I’m making these predictions to see just how wrong a layman can be. :-)

[ThomasThomas]

It still kinds early for the last minute folks, maybe some of the procrastinators are getting ready now. The grocery store near my house has most of it’s shelves bare but that is because of their union values high wages over jobs. The store will be closed soon. My sister lives near DC. They to make sure nothing important in the basement is left on the floor.

[metmom]

Those are great ideas.

It’s amazing how much water one can use cleaning and using the toilet.

[metmom]

You can’t do any worse than the meteorologists.... ;)

However, what I see if you look at a radar loop, is that the storm that came into the east coast from out west is now BACKING UP and moving back up to the NW. That huge midwest storm came within a few miles of us before starting to back up.

UNPRECEDENTED!!!!

I don’t know that I’ve EVER seen that before and that means and allows for westward movement of the hurricane.

http://www.9wsyr.com/content/weather/neradar_loop.aspx

[Bigg Red]

My 2 cents:
Fill your washer with water. If it turns out you don’t need the water, you can still use it when you run your next load of laundry.

Use cheap solar lights for indoor lighting. (Don’t forget to put them outside during the day for their recharge.)

[Marcella]

When we had a hurricane coming in, we wanted to get ice at the last so it would last longer keeping our food cold, so we would go to a small Mexican grocery and they had plenty of ice to sell. People go to the big stores and they sell out of everything quickly when there is one day left until the storm hits. This little store still had non-perishable food and ice when the others had none.

Let the people rush the big stores but get what you need just before the storm hits, at small grocery stores.

[bgill]

Good idea about filling the washer with water.

Also, get the laundry done so if there’s a power outage, at least you started out with clean sheets, towels and clothes.

[Raebie]

You’re kidding, right?

[Marcella]

“I’m no expert, so I’m making these predictions to see just how wrong a layman can be. :-)”

Really, really, wrong.

[cuban leaf]

Really, really, wrong.

---

Probably. But we’ll see. :-)

[Kay Ludlow]

And everyone knows Washington DC is a swamp.

You mean a literal one, too? Like geologically?

Actually, yes! The land was provided for the home of government because it was no good for farming. They had to drain the swamp in order to build in it. The District of Columbia was mosquito-ridden back then, and because of the malaria and other mosquito-borne illnesses it was considered dangerous to spend the summer there. That's the original reason congress had a summer recess, to avoid the malaria season by getting out of the swamp for several months.

[NELSON111]

Well...I've been a meteorologist for 25 years. I can tell you....you will be REALLY REALLY wrong. BAMs models do not work outside the tropics...and not very good there either. They do not account for changing atmospheric conditions...and the BAMM is the medium depth tropical model...which is good for small hurricanes or tropical storms being steered by the mid layers. This system ain't that...

So...I've got a house that I own...and I'm willing to bet it...that's how sure I am you are wrong...LOL

[metmom]

How appropriate......

[cuban leaf]

So...I’ve got a house that I own...and I’m willing to bet it...that’s how sure I am you are wrong...LOL

---

I probably am wrong. :-P

But I’m just calling it as I see it and am anxious to see if a long shot (me) is gonna come in on this one. ;-)

[djf]

Today I completed filling a 5 gallon food grade bucket with NFDM. (Non-fat dry milk)

Should be good for a decade if I need it that long...

[Yehuda]

This is today in 1 store in Manhattan:

[Revolting cat!]

That’s worser than North Korea!