How To Prepare for Irene (the Hurricane, not the Ex-Wife)

So, Lady Irene will be paying the East Coast a special visit (un-invited) this weekend and you’re probably not even close to prepared for her, right? Well, of course, I’m in the same boat, so if you need some tips, check these out:

Get cash. If there’s no power, there’s no access to ATM machines.
Get gas. No electricity means gas stations can’t pump.
Charge your mobile devices. A power failure may knock out your cellphone. And if the only other phones you have at home are cordless, you could be without any telephone service at all.

Get food. You should have several days worth of non-perishable food on hand. But if there’s no power, you better have a good, old-fashioned manual can opener since your electric can opener will be useless.
Get batteries and a radio, and know your local stations. WTOP operates at 103.5, 103.9, and 107.7 FM

Get supplies for your pets. If you can’t stay in your home, most emergency shelters will not accept pets such as dogs and cats.
If you need to buy something, do it today. If the power is out, places like supermarkets will not have scanners or cash registers. Lines could be be VERY long.
Stock up on bottled water. If you get water from a well, you’ll need jugs of water for personal use including toilet-flushing because if the power goes out, no well water. Fill up your bathtub, too.
Clean out your rain gutters. If we get heavy rains, they could be a trouble spot.
Look at large trees near your house. Find branches that could pose a potential threat in high winds, and trim them now.
Bring in or lash down lawn and patio furniture and plants. Those items could turn into missiles smashing your windows in high winds.
Make sure your sump pump is operating and that storm drains are not blocked. If the power goes out and your sump pump can’t operate, consider getting items in your basement that would be ruined by water placed up on saw horses or tables.