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I have an elderly relative that I need to go and stay with when it snows. She has a gas log fireplace that will singe your eyebrows if you happen within 3 feet of it, snow shovels, three 10 pound bags of de-icing salt, candles, battery operated lanterns, a crank radio, hand held can opener, water. I've already picked up non-perishable foods, toilet paper and paper towels.
Most importantly however, is my super duper secret weapon....XANAX.
I've printed my boarding passes, heading to San Diego, flight leaves in the early AM, so I'm prepared.
EDIT> Removed a bunch of stuff that has already been said...
Make sure you have a car-charger for your cell phone, to go with that full tank of gas.
We also have a power inverter available, as my daughter uses a nebulizer, so if we were without power, then we have a solution.
EDIT> After reading about all the people grilling food before the electricity goes out, (duh, you can just set it outside and it won't thaw!), I think I'll bring the door from our old '73 F-150 into the house. That way if the power goes out and we get cold, I can just roll up the window...
How much ice are they actually predicting? I have been unable to watch any television reports today - and online, there is not much information other than we will have freezing rain after the snow tomorrow.
This was on WRAL's site yesterday: (Snow and ice to start week :: WRAL.com) We won't see a snowy impact," Maze said, "but could see more of an icy impact."That is a worry for Drew Elliot of Progress Energy. Ice can weigh down power lines leaving customers in the dark and cold. "An eighth of an inch – that's worse than six inches of snow in some cases," he said.
Freezing rain often causes major power outages by forming glaze ice. When the ice layer exceeds 0.2 inches (0.5 cm), tree limbs with branches heavily coated in ice can break off under the enormous weight and fall onto power lines.
So I guess we're okay (as far as outages but not as far as slick roads) if the forecasters are right (at least two of them are predicting only .10 inches of ice).
The forecasters are saying "significant ice." If that means an ice storm, that's a bit worrisome. We might all have to prepare a bit more than buying milk and bread.
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Don't forget eggs. French toast is a great comfort food in case of a storm.
I went down to the shed and dug out the kerosene heater. We will fill the tubs with water that gets used to flush toilets and do a little washing. Remember your water heater is also full. Don't drink any of that stuff, though, stick with bottled.
If the power does go off, you should flip off most of the panel breakers so you don't get a big surge when power is restored. You should also have and old style phone that does not require 120 VAC.
The hard part is finding all this stuff when you wake up freezing at 400 AM. Keep a flashlight handy.
One other tip is to go out and flip up the wipers on your car so it is easier to clean the windshield. Oh, and bring the scraper inside in case your doors freeze over. I apply Rainex in the Fall to make the cleaning easier.
I have an elderly relative that I need to go and stay with when it snows. She has a gas log fireplace that will singe your eyebrows if you happen within 3 feet of it<>
My gas log has a solenoid in the feed line and an electric fan; not much use as an emergency heater.
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If that means an ice storm, that's a bit worrisome. We might all have to prepare a bit more than buying milk and bread.
