We live in hurricane country which means I check and refresh my supplies by June 1st every year.
Hurricane Irma was the scariest thing I ever lived through - hunkering down in a small block built bungalow - in the dark, with the windows boarded up was traumatic.
The uncertainty of knowing whether we would be in the storm's path - well, it was the first superstorm to cover an entire state, so really there was no place to go and hide from the storm.
Didn't help that a storm surge was predicted as well, but nobody really knew if and to what extent it would affect where we live. Hell, the receding waters in the Tampa Bay were terrifying to watch.
Anyway - lessons learned:
1. Get the hell out of dodge - there is no way I'm staying put when there is another superstorm coming! That means serious emergency funds because you can't just drive over to a friends house or hope to ride out the storm in South Carolina or Georgia.
We had friends who ran out of gas halfway to Georgia and ended up weathering the storm in the parking lot of a Walmart.
Mr. R. had a colleague at work who thought he'd escaped only to get hammered and flooded in Jacksonville - completely on the other side of the state.
Our neighbors took their 94 year old mother and drove to South Carolina then couldn't get back, because the roads were impassable for a couple of days and their funds were about to run out and they couldn't get gas to get back home - not to mention their hotel room there got flooded.
So yeah - I'll hunker down for a hurricane, but if it is another superstorm the next flight is mine!
2. Water - normally, I rotate three cases of 24 bottles, but in the future if there is even a whisper of a storm I'll triple that amount immediately. Two days before the storm hit water was scarce and literally guarded by a store security guard who allowed one case per person.
Yes, I filled the bathtub and all the big pots and buckets with water and about six big bottles of empty orange juice jugs. It helped to stay busy instead of watching the weather channel and totally freaking out.
3. Didn't really have a good rainproof, moisture proof, lightweight protective cover or box for papers and jewelry. Realized Mr. R. had no idea where two of his important documents are, mine were ready to grab and organized - fixed that since.
4. I spent the last few hours before the storm hit on finishing up a video and pics of the interior of all closets, cabinets and close-ups of the jewelry etc. Should have had that on a chip and cloud already, at least I now have the inventory we need.
5. Did not doublecheck that the flashlight-radio combo still worked - radio worked in June, but didn't work when I needed it.
Then I discovered that the second big lantern Mr. R. meant to take to work and order a battery for was not working either. It is the kind that looks like one solid chunk of battery, well he never took care of it.
Thankfully, I had a short wave radio and batteries for it, but I was surprised at the poor reception and am wondering if I could have improved reception if I knew something about SW radios.
We had enough flashlights and battteries, but it would have been prudent to have some that are solar and/or hand-crank.
6. It takes a lot longer than you think to board up all the windows and I was glad my son came to help with the big windows. Those boards are bulky and heavy.
Best thing we did was leave the proper screws etc in the wall of the house around the windows and marked each board.
7. I had all the components for a bug out bag - but it was not assembled and that cost time and caused anxiety.
8. We didn't have a dedicated box of food and water to just grab and take with us either. Having food on a shelf is great if we stay, but we almost left and it would have taken more time to put together a box for the car.
9. We only have two small gas cans - we should have had at least one big gas can. We filled up way before they ran out of gas - one of the simplest and most important preps.
10. Needed boots to wear in flood water and into debris - for safety. Flip flops don't cut it and all my other shoes are heels or good leather shoes.
In general - I was glad to have a kitty carrier, extra food, emergency cat litter and box and garbage bag liners - stored all together in an easily accessible place so I can set it up in the house or throw it in the car. (he is an indoor/outdoor cat so we don't normally need it)
Poor kitty was spooked too, tentatively explored all the damage outside the day after.
Irma brought massive destruction, but we got lucky, this time. Only minor property damage, but weeks of clean up from debris and trees. Our neighbors were not so lucky. We have friends who are just now finishing up with the cleanup.
I may not care for our governor, but I was sure glad that he got seriously involved in procuring tankers of gasoline for all of Florida.
Old people in nursing homes are screwed - the power failed, the caretakers left - no food-no meds, many deaths due to the heat and no air conditioning.
Voluntary evacuation - just go - don't wait or it may be too late. I truly wish I'd bought a plane ticket, but couldn't convince Mr. R. to leave in time.
On my list to do or buy for this year:
1. Boots to wear in a flood or piles of debris. Wish I had those during Irma!
2. Inflatable tube and a pump for it.
3. One of those bathtub liners to fill with water, that can be closed and preserved - debating.
4. Have a to go bag already packed.
5. Research and buy a solar radio and a crank radio and lantern. Already picked up a 250 lumens hybrid solar flashlight (holds a charge for years) that can also charge mobile devices.
6. Check marine supply store for a watertight container that will work well for holding papers.
7. Considering a generator.
8. Have a box of food ready to go in the car. Started on that.
9. Adding masks and a box of gloves and potassium iodine tablets to my list.
10. Considering buying emergency ready meals - enough for two for one week.
11. I want two of those silver emergency blankets for the car.
All in all, I think our prep was OK we had enough food, water, first aid and tarps, duct tape, camping gear to deal with all sorts of potential emergencies. Let's hope we don't have to test it again this year.
The biggest problem in the aftermath of the storm was that you could not get ice and gas was still scarce. Food spoiled because there was no power and it took a couple of days before the stores were open and fully stocked again.
No AC is bad enough but no power and no hot water for over a week was no fun. Some of our friends were without power and water for ten days. We never lost power - I suspect we are on a grid that supplies something to do with emergency services.