This shit happens every year: there’s a tropical storm headed up the coast that’s going to mean the end of all life as we know it, people freak out because the news weathermen tell them to, and then when it gets here it rains for a couple of days and it’s a bit windy.
I for one have not changed any of my plans whatsoever (which by the way, are to pack all of my things in a UHAUL and move).
If I’m wrong and the storm blows a tree into my apartment, at least I won’t have to clean it before turning in the keys.
Yes that attitude worked out so well during Katrina. This storm is going to be bad. It by all accounts it is going to hit New Jersey straight on. For a category 1 storm it is enormous. If you live south of there it probably won’t be too bad. But for those living on the coast and more flood prone areas of NJ it will be very bad. It won’t be the end of the world to you. But it probably will be to some. I hope you don’t live in any region that will have a mandatory evacuation. Because people with that attitude get themselves in trouble which makes people like me risk myself to go get their stupid ass out of trouble.
It certainly applies to those in the DC metro region. That derecho this summer lasted all of 10 minutes and was the worst storm I’ve ever seen in the area, and it still wasn’t remotely the end of the world (and I drove all the way through the city to the airport right in the thick of it).
I had to brave the supermarket this morning, because we needed toilet paper and some other stuff anyway. I still had my choice of toilet paper, but there was slim pickings in the bottled water aisle. The store was packed to the rafters between football shoppers and disaster shoppers. If I’d thought about it a little more, I would have gotten some more potatoes, carrots, and onions for the meat I know I’m going to have to cook if we lose power. When I was there, I saw someone who had a basket full of Fiber One cereal. He’s going to be in for a bad time this weekend.
Gov. Christie has ordered a mandatory evacuation of the barrier islands by 4pm Sunday. My grandmother moved off of LBI years ago, but I think she’s got a few friends still there. I hope they get out OK.
Fill a bunch of plastic jugs or other containers with water and stick them in the bottom of your freezer to freeze into ice. They will provide reserve cooling capacity if the power goes out. If you use clean jugs you will also have extra drinking water after they thaw.
Wow, you’re in the 11.5" of rain over the next 5 days area… I can’t even fathom what that amount of rain would be like. Can you board up and head inland?
I’m in Philadelphia, a city not known for its speedy and prepared infrastructure. Luckily, my house is well away from the rivers and not likely to flood, and I’m stocked well with candles. Probably not getting to work Monday or Tuesday, because I can see SEPTA imploding, school closing, or both as likely options. Power wise… Well, if PECO is as diligent at restoring services as they were at pursuing my deadbeat ex roommate, maybe we’ll have it back in a week.
And this time no overnight hurricane sewing party like we did for Irene. (when you take two cosplayers to a hurricane five days before the con or:" Tornado watch! Get the sewing machine and costumes in the basement!")
I just returned from the grocery store. Not a gallon of water to be had. Guess I’ll just fill up some kitty litter jugs and hope I won’t have to drink out of them.
And remember, more delicate perishables in your fridge (milk, soft cheeses, some cold cuts, etc.) are only good for about 4 hours once the power stays out, and that’s if you didn’t open the fridge. Large blocks of ice put in the fridge and freezer will extend how long they’re good for.
When I was there, I saw someone who had a basket full of Fiber One cereal. He’s going to be in for a bad time this weekend. 
