2013 Hurricane Preparedness Expo- WED -JUNE 1st (Miami: condo, Home Depot, garage)

[SeetheUSA]

Thanks for the tips PSLhomie. Great advice!

I went yesterday, and I was pretty disappointed. If you wanted a window shutter convention, this was the place to be. That was about it. Countless companies begging for your address to come sell you shutters. Oh, and a Tupperware rep was there selling her goods.

We stayed maybe 20 minutes.

[JERSEY MAN]

Originally Posted by SeetheUSA

Thanks for the tips PSLhomie. Great advice!

I went yesterday, and I was pretty disappointed. If you wanted a window shutter convention, this was the place to be. That was about it. Countless companies begging for your address to come sell you shutters. Oh, and a Tupperware rep was there selling her goods.

We stayed maybe 20 minutes.

Sounds like a dud Seetheusa, people begging for you to spend your money. PSLHomie thats great advice. I was up north when sandy hit, had the cars filled with gas, both freezers filled with plastic gallon containers, enough food, non perishables, lantern lights that are powered by batteries, plenty of extra batteries(they don't go to waste) candles(be very careful because u could burn your house down). It simply amazed me about the lack of good prep by some people for a storm that the meteorologists say was the largest ever in the atlantic ocean.

[pslhomie]

Here's the thing about hurricanes. Anyone who has been through them knows that your preps are not for during the storm but for after. Before the storm you secure everything that you can outside and determine the best place to be during the storm whether it is in your house or at a shelter. All of your preps are for after the power goes out and for survival after the storm has gone. You can have the greatest preps in the world but if you house is under water or leveled then you have nothing.

What you need is to prepare for 3 days after the storm. You have enough food and water to subsist basically. By then either the power will be back on or you will have a longer term plan. The relief trucks will all be in place and ready to serve your needs. If everything is ok at your house but you don't have power then go visit relatives or check into a hotel until it does. In fact you might want to make a reservation at a hotel somewhere out of town to make sure you have a room. I would only do this if you are sure you are going to be hit as it may cost you to cancel.

Having plenty of ice and water will keep you out of those long hot lines waiting for ice and water. I did that once and will never do it again. Keep your gas tank above half full from now until December. Top off days before the storm so you don't get caught in the lines. If the storm gets closer and you are driving past a gas station without lines then pull in and top off. Be more conservative with your driving. Be careful where you store gas because it can burn your house down. Last don't panic the chances a storm will hit this area are historically very low. Just use common sense.

[SeetheUSA]

My plan: cat 1-3, we will ride it out. Anything over that, I'm taking the kids and heading up to NC.

One thing I have figured out is to buy plastic portable file storage. I leave all important copies of documents, video of home goods for insurance, and birth certificates in that. If a storm comes, all I have to do is pack that plastic tote with me and then all essential documents are with me.

[alsidw]

I was sorry I missed the hurricane expo but family came in town, now I am glad I did not waste my time. I wonder why it was poorly organized? the green market is the same thing- I went twice and never again, a real dud.

Part of my hurricane prep is making sure my generators are in working condition. When I relocated I gave away all my 5 gallon gas containers figuring they were cheap and they were perhaps 10 years old. Well, to my surprise the Gubmint got involved with plastic gasoline containers and put a long established manufacturer out of business and now thanks to that 'regulation' now 5 gallon plastic gas cans have tripled in price.
So if anyone has any gas cans they might want to sell please let me know.







Thanks

[pslhomie]

Oddly enough I see them at garage sales all the time. One other thing you might consider is a can of spray foam. If for instance you have a leaky sliding glass door and the wind pushes water under it and into your house first try stuffing towels to block the water and if all else fails spray the foam insulation and it will expand and stop the leak. I would only do this as a last resort because of the clean up but it may save you some damage.

Sid is a fellow experienced hurricane survivor so he knows a lot. Actually the show is kind of informative. I learned a few things. Yes it was smaller this year and I don't know why but oh well, I got a few things.

[alsidw]

Yes, Katrina was an experience I do not wish to repeat; be prepared and be self reliant, do not count on anyone for help- prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Personally I include mosquito spray in my hurricane kit and I have a small window air conditioner that can be put into a bedroom using a generator for power. Chain your generator and since bolt cutters are very prevalent and effective put the generator in a hard to get to place. There is a good book written by Douglas Brinkley- THE GREAT DELUGE and I suggest all to read it to learn what can and did happen.

[SeetheUSA]

LOL- I got halfway thru that book and set it down Sid. Good description but kind of dull IMO. I was there in NO on our 5 year anniversary trip for Katrina. We stayed right across the street from Harrah's casino. I hope to never have to go thru that again. I would never live in that city- no matter how much they paid me.

[alsidw]

We are thrilled to be here in PSL.

[FlaLadyB]

stopped by Walmart for some videos...they already have hurricane supplies up front ....

I am going to bump the old post on what you need