((((((( clay )))))))) hold on ~~ it's gonna be a bumpy ride ! plz be safe when that monster storm hits

Prediction is now for later - 8am Tuesday instead of 2am Tuesday, and every bit that it's pushed back later is good for me - but it's still tracking to make landfall just 20 miles from my house and then track directly through my town as a cat 1.

Things like this make me nervous:

(((( dance )))))))) be safe ~

it's my first hurricane. does that make me a hurricane virgin?

Of course! Are you in the path -- which means pretty much anywhere east coast/NE?

Need ideas for preparations? Or for appropriate hurricane party beverages? ;)

Holy crap in a bucket: Expected accumulative rainfall for my area is almost 13" -- right at the center of this diagram, highest for any place along the storm path. We normally get around 45" of rain PER YEAR.

http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/qpf/zoo...l_Days_1-5.gif

Chateau Reader in New Jersey is open for business! ;)

CIJS-(I know that is another thread) That there are many naughty and tawdry remarks I almost replied to your post, but, I didn't!

:)

Oh Sandy!
 

So far it's been a nice over cast day here in the Jax area...

Too early to know for sure what this storm will do, but I believe there's no doubt that wherever it hits, it will be massive, it will be slow moving, and it will be messy.

Grocery stores are already crazy here. I picked up some extra gallons of water and non-perishable foods that don't involve cooking in case I lose power. Tried to pick the most healthy things I could.

Last year I lost power for 8 days in Irene, and then another 5 days in the Halloween storm. Three years ago I spent three days pumping 6 feet of water out of my basement. The news had coverage of my city mall under water. That was 4 days of no heat, no water, no electricity. I learned my lessons well.

I'd rather assume the worst but do so without over-panicking. Maybe I'm over-preparing but I'd rather have all my bases covered.

Things I did today:
* Removed everything from the yard that could become an 50 mph projectile into my windows
* Prepared to eat down as much of the frozen/refrigerated food as I can before the storm hits, so if I do lose power for days again, I won't throw out a ton of food
* Made sure I have plenty of clean drinking water for at least 4 days
* Stocked up the rest of the extra firewood in the garage so if I lose power, at least I can have fireplace heat
* Put all the candles, matches and flashlights in an easy place where I can find them. Also got out my old walkman and the batteries for that so I can listen to radio announcements via headphones if I need to.
* Put a flashlight in the car so if I lose power before I get home from work, I can find my way into and around the house to the other flashlights
* Started charging everything that needs to be charged.
* Got all my pumps, hoses and extension cords ready in the garage in case I get flooding again and need to pump water out.
* Started making lots of extra ice to fill the freezer and a cooler if I need to keep some food items on ice in a power outage.
* I don't have enough food in the fridge/freezer for it, but if I did, I would turn up the settings now to get them cooler.
* Filled up my gas tank, and some spare gas containers in the garage.
* Made sure I had a written list of phone numbers for friends in the area that can help me if I am stuck in case my cell phone dies.
* for the pets- I have a new bag of food and tons of clean litter.
* I double checked my evacuation kit and my medical kit, making sure I have everything I may need ready to go if I have to get the heck out of here.
* went to the library to pick up some good books.

Right before the storm I will..
* Unplug non-essential appliances in the event of a power surge
* Locate all of my shovels in the garage if this thing turns to snow
* make sure I have 4 days of clean clothes and towels in case I can't do laundry for days.

Sandy is expected to be a Cat 1 hurricane when it hits.

Not to scare people, but some of us have been through even just a "tropical storm", and they are frightening. If it is at all doubtful that you are safe where you are, there's no shame in getting out. Better to get out than to be hurt-or worse.

I would add in terms of prep, to get your important papers together in something fire and waterproof. Insurance policies, Social Security cards, ID's, birth certificates, all things like that.

Be safe.

Dug out sleeping bags and extra blankets in case of power loss...have water and stuff...new batteries for weather radio and lanterns...brought in all my outdoor stuff today so it doesn't go flying away...charging everything I can on Mon and Tues...scared to death....we don't get this kind of thing around here....luckily my parents are close and they have a generator...so we can camp out there if need be...hang on everyone...let us all stay safe and warm. Love and hugs. :rrose:

Great preparedness everybody!

Brace yourselves it's heading up FL into ya'lls neck of the woods.

all i have to say is...i cant wait for this big bitch to pass.....i have a malformation of my inner ear that reacts to barometer changes and i have got a wicked headache from the storm front moving in so slowly.....if i were a sailor this would be a talent...a gift even....but since im not....it just friggin hurts....

:seeingstars: