Dammit. I hate any storm stronger than a little thunderstorm. I hope it changes direction again and gets away from land. I mean I know that hurricanes get weaker when they hit land, but when it's a category 5 to begin with, how much is it going to slow down???

Here are some tips to prepare for the hurricane.

Here's How:

1. Prior to an actual storm threat, follow these tips:Ê
2. Keep trees and shrubbery trimmed, so to avoid breakage and to keep loose limbs from becoming airborne in a storm.
3. Have some method of shuttering windows and doors, either permanent storm shutters, or pre-cut plywood.Ê Taping windows does not prevent breakage, and is often ineffective in preventing flying glass.Ê
4. Make an evacuation plan.Ê Make sure all family members are aware of it.Ê
5. Determine in advance what you will do with your pets.Ê You can't leave them behind, and pets are not accepted at most storm shelters.Ê
6. Stock up on bottled water, canned goods, flashlights, batteries, radio (battery operated) canned goods.Ê Have available Sterno, or a camp stove.Ê
7. Once a Storm is threatened, follow these tips:
8. Move all outdoor furniture, yard tools, and other outdoor items inside.
9. Cover the windows with shuttering.Ê
10. Move furniture to a higher floor, if available.Ê
11. Move any vehicles that will not be utilized in an evacuation to higher ground.Ê
12. Monitor emergency broadcast resources carefully.Ê Evacuate when instructed to do so.Ê
13. After a serious storm, follow these tips:Ê
14. Do not examine your home for damage with matches, candles, or other other "flame based" lighting.Ê Use flashlights.Ê
15. Avoid downed power lines.Ê


Tips:

1. Appoint out-of-state family or friends to keep track of family member's whereabouts.
2. Disconnect allÊ electrical appliances and main power switch prior to evacuating.
3. Do not venture out to view storm damage in other areas until notified by authorities it is safe to travel in your area.

For those of you who surf in Florida:

The best swell in 5 years is on the way from hurricane ISABEL. From studying the forecast maps, it looks like the swell should start showing today and continue to build throughout the week. Wednesday and Thursday should be the day with 8-10' waves all down the eastern sea board of Florida. With a 150mph hurricane passing only a couple hundred miles off the coast, this will be the best you can expect! Enjoy!

Personally, I'm thinking about taking a trip to SC or NC if the storm decides to head northward to the Virginia Beach area. I'm wanting to break out the 7 foot pintail for the occasion.

The hurricane is fastly approaching Maryland!! I'm kind-of excited for it, but scared at the same time. The best part...my job has shut us down until noon on Saturday! They can't take the risk of having us work with the agent (mustard gas) if the storm does head our way! Yippie! Hope everyone is doing well in North Carolina. Be safe!

Damn, I'm thinking bout going to Florida for surfing purposes since it's dying here. I know I'll be in Bali for the New years since it's also the typhoon season there.

I am in no way scared....Storms are cool! I love wind and rain...I've lived thru them before, and nothing's ever happened...

BRING IT ON, ISABEL!!

I am a little anxious about Isabel. I am so glad that I am not near the beach.

Mustard gas?!?!? Now that's some nasty stuff... you work at Fort Detrick?

AlphaSigOU,
No, I work at Aberdeen Proving Ground. I'm working on the project to destroy the agent stockpiled since WWII. It's pretty interesting, to say the least.

Well, as anxious as I am to experience my first hurricane, I am a little nervous for potential damage. I didn't think that being in Raleigh, and this now being categorized as a level 2 storm, that I had anything to worry about. But today I read that Hurricane Hugo was also only a level 2 when it hit Raleigh a few years back and the damage was incredible. My mom had no electricity for a few days and so many trees get knocked over--in a past storm one actually fell ON the house...so yeah, getting a little apprehensive. The weird part is knowing about it for so long. I am so used to living in tornado alley where you have no warning and the damage is unbelievable--I still remember OK City from a few years back.
Just keeping my fingers crossed that there is no major damage--cause I love storms--and I am selfish and don't want any of my material possessions ruined!:eek:

TRUE. I live in the NC foothills on a farm. After Hugo in '89, we had to log the entire farm as a result of the damage to our trees. It was horrible--no power for a week. No school for two weeks. etc.

apparantly it's heading more toward the coast now... New Jersey is supposed to get hit pretty hard late tomorrow. I heard that some schools in Delaware already cancelled school for tomorrow and Friday... that seems a little silly.

I remember Hurricane Andrew all too well. It was during my first week or so of university ever... and during one of the worst parts of it, some lovely individual decided to pull the fire alarm. That was *really* not fun!

That reminds me... I need to hit the supermarket... and buy water. I have a well, so no power = no water. :(

About a year and a half ago, a lightning strike hit a 200+ year old oak tree in my parents' yard. It fell on their house and took out one of the upstairs bedrooms. (Let's hear it for prewar construction - if it were a newer house it probably would have taken out half the house.) I am not anxious for a repeat performance starring Isabel and my house (which is NOT prewar)!

Eh, I should probably get some stuff like water. Bah. The reason I left Florida was to get the heck away from hurricanes. The first week of undergrad, Floyd came, and my first month of grad school, Isabel.:mad: