HURRICANE DORIAN IS making its way to the U.S. Atlantic coast.
As this is composed, the storm is supposed to stay at sea, but communities along the coast are expected to experience high sustained winds and even higher gusts.
PEOPLE IN MY TOWN who have been here for more than a few years pretty much know how to prepare.
Stock up on non-perishable foods in jars and cans
Make sure there are plenty of batteries for flashlights and radios; ditto candles and matches (or bar-be-que starters).
Charge up the AC/DC tv.
Stuff the freezer as tightly as possible; freeze water for drinking later.
Put water in the bathtub for flushing toilets.
I do all those things as a matter of course. Dorian is not my first ‘cane.
Cool batteries
I decided to check installed batteries; mostly in flashlights.
One light recently had been used by a plumber. Turns out he failed to completely shut it off. When I checked it, all I got was a very dim light.
The lamp takes four “D” batteries. I had six in the fridge.
I swapped out the four old batteries (and marked them with a Sharpie so I will know they are used) and installed four, fresh-from-the-fridge, batteries. (I saved the removed batteries; they still had a little power that might be handy in a “worst case” situation.)
Turned on the lamp.
Nothing.
Opened up the lamp and checked polarity. The batteries were correctly installed.
Closed the lamp’s battery compartment.
And waited.
After about 10 minutes at room temperature (79oF vs. 40oF in the fridge>) the lamp worked OK.
The points of this are that
1. Check to assure the things you might need work as OK.
2. In optimum conditions fix or replace things that fail.
3. Confirm the fixed item(s) work OK.
Back to the pantry.
Lately it seems many cans come with “pop top” lids; that’s great.
HOWEVER, not ALL cans have pop tops and sometimes the pop tops don’t pop properly. Make certain there is a known-good manual can opener available and know where to find it — you might be working in the dark.
Water, water ...
You filled the bathtub with water for flushing the toilet and washing hands.
Do you have something — a bucket or ladle — to transfer the water to the toilet or sink? I have a bucket Hitachi gave away at a Business Continuity conference many years ago.
Cell phones, smart and otherwise
Most of us have cell phones, some “smart,” some not so smart. All have batteries that require charging. Ditto computers, tablets, and such.
No AC, not charge.
If the AC fails — it hasn’t yet here — I can charge the phone and laptop batteries using a USB charger plugged into a “power port” (nee cigarette lighter receptacle). I have to start the car, and that means opening the garage, but that’s a small price to pay. Meanwhile, I keep the devices at or near 100% charge. My cell phone will function at least 12 hours on a charge; the laptop more than 2 hours, but it will be used sparingly. (The cell gets emergency notifications and email.)
Water in the tank
I have two “plastic” jerry cans filled with regular gasoline for a total of slightly more than three gallons. (For my flivver, that takes me a long way.) The car’s tank is close to full.
But, the tanks have been sitting in the garage for some time — since the last hurricane threat — so I was concerned about water in the gas. A web search on How to test for water in gasoline turned up a show-and-tell at TrustMyMechanic.com . There are test kits on the market and there are more complicated tests, but this one worked for me and all it cost me was a few ounces of gasoline.
Protecting windows
There are numerous ways to protect glass from flying debris.
Accordion shutters Metal accordion shutters are an effective option. The shutters are permanently secured to the structure usually at time of construction. Although these require minimal maintenance, they do need to be lubricated and operated from time to time. These shutters may be operated by an individual.
Roll-down shutters More expensive than accordion shutters, these also require minimal maintenance. The manufacturers provide maintenance instructions, but like accordion shutters, these should be operated before they are needed to assure no repairs are required. Roll-down shutters’ main issue is alignment on the track. On the plus side, many roll-downs have small perforations; if almost closed the shutters protect glass while still allowing in some light. Fully lowered, they are as “light tight” as any other method. These shutters may be operated by an individual or electro-mechanically.
Awning shutters Awning shutters are “drop down” metal awnings. They require minimal maintenance — primarily a coating of petroleum jelly to prevent rust on joints and securing hardware — and, as with the previous options, they should be operated well before a storm to make certain pins or bolts and nuts can be removed easily. These shutters usually can be operated by an individual.
Metal panels Metal panels are “stacked” either side-by-side or one-above-the-other. They are functional, but take up storage space and are time consuming to install and remove. Holes must be drilled into the structure to secure the panels to the building. These shutters require at least two people to install/remove.
Plywood panels Plywood panels may be the least expensive option, but they share the same problems of metal shutters. Additionally, plywood comes in large sheets that can be unwieldy in even a moderate wind. Ply boards require at least two people to install/remove.
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