- Jun 12, 2014
- 9,609
- 18,842
Founding Member
Mods, I started this in the main sports section as that is the one most people go to. As the hurricane is threatening all of Florida, I wanted as much exposure as possible, your choice to leave it here or move it.
My fellow Gators, having lived 25+ years in various places in the Caribbean, I've been through this drill many times, and living in 3rd world places, you learn little things to make it easier. This thread is for everyone to contribute to help one another.
The most common things you already know, have batteries, flashlight, candles, gas, water, food,
Some things I have done that have worked well.
1 - Get a Brita filter, a new 50 gallon plastic trash container, wash it with bleach, fill it using the brita water from the tap. Save yourselves the long lines or no water situation, can be used for cooking, cleaning, bathing if you have other drinking water sources soon after the storm.
2 - An empty liquid detergent container works great for washing hands or dishes, the little bubble dispenser limits the water so it goes a long way. (this is for when the running tap water is off)
3 - Get a small inverter to run a basic fan (don't get those fancy electronic ones, they have a hard time with the inverter AC) and a deep cycle battery, having a fan on at night to sleep when there is no electricity goes a long way. Keeps you from running a generator at night for just a fan and a light or two
4 - Have some cards, books to read, it gets really boring waiting on electricity to come back and roads to be cleared.
5 - Put your valuble papers in ziplock bags with contact information, will keep them dry and if blown away, possible found and returned.
6 - Get what you can in a backpack of your most valuables, if you have to leave, it's ready to go
7 - Have another backpack with 2 days of clothes, 2 days of food, water, basic survival stuff, your BOB, Bug Out Bag, if trapped somewhere, you'll have 2 days minimum to get yourself out of the situation
8 - Use screws instead of nails when possible to secure things
9 - Trim the trees around your power lines, internet, if needed, and if you can, this way if service stays on you won't have a problem, and if it goes off, when it does come back, you will be one of the first to get it in your area.
My fellow Gators, having lived 25+ years in various places in the Caribbean, I've been through this drill many times, and living in 3rd world places, you learn little things to make it easier. This thread is for everyone to contribute to help one another.
The most common things you already know, have batteries, flashlight, candles, gas, water, food,
Some things I have done that have worked well.
1 - Get a Brita filter, a new 50 gallon plastic trash container, wash it with bleach, fill it using the brita water from the tap. Save yourselves the long lines or no water situation, can be used for cooking, cleaning, bathing if you have other drinking water sources soon after the storm.
2 - An empty liquid detergent container works great for washing hands or dishes, the little bubble dispenser limits the water so it goes a long way. (this is for when the running tap water is off)
3 - Get a small inverter to run a basic fan (don't get those fancy electronic ones, they have a hard time with the inverter AC) and a deep cycle battery, having a fan on at night to sleep when there is no electricity goes a long way. Keeps you from running a generator at night for just a fan and a light or two
4 - Have some cards, books to read, it gets really boring waiting on electricity to come back and roads to be cleared.
5 - Put your valuble papers in ziplock bags with contact information, will keep them dry and if blown away, possible found and returned.
6 - Get what you can in a backpack of your most valuables, if you have to leave, it's ready to go
7 - Have another backpack with 2 days of clothes, 2 days of food, water, basic survival stuff, your BOB, Bug Out Bag, if trapped somewhere, you'll have 2 days minimum to get yourself out of the situation
8 - Use screws instead of nails when possible to secure things
9 - Trim the trees around your power lines, internet, if needed, and if you can, this way if service stays on you won't have a problem, and if it goes off, when it does come back, you will be one of the first to get it in your area.