Did you spend extra because of Hurricane Sandy?

[Marlea98]

I bought extra nonperishable foods, extra water, extra batteries, and flashlights, but I'll just keep them in the cabinet in case we need them later in the winter for another storm. Isn't that a logical plan? Why would you bother to return all that stuff after every storm passes? What a pain!

Can someone explain to me why I need to buy a half a dozen flashlights every time there is a storm? My husband always buys lots of flashlights, and we have a couple places where we keep them and the extra batteries for storms. However, every time we need a flashlight or extra batteries, there are never any in there...the kids always take them to use, but then they never can seem to find them when I try to round them all up. I swear, someday I'm going to open a closet and there will be an avalanche of flashlights fall on top of me and squish me!

That sounds like us with cyclones! If it's not torches it's the batteries (I can usually find them in the wii!)

 

[java]

Ok, brace yourself.

I stopped in the Korean Deli and a guy walked in behind me, holding a flashlight.

He asked the guy behind the counter if he had any D batteries. As I was standing at the counter and blocking his view, I turned and gestured at the large multi-pack of Ds open on the counter. The guy was all 'yay!'

The guy behind the counter asked how many he wanted - guy said 'two.'

"Five dollars."

Demand? Meet supply.

Yes it was expensive here too, but I'm glad we have them now..Cornflake stay safe in the city. I must be nuts but I used to love a good old city shut down, so quiet. I really hope the subway doesn't flood.

 

[java]

Oh and it kooks like my old office will be under water( corner of Wall and Water)

 

[MsDisney23]

Oh yes, I got up at 4:00 am Saturday morning and waited in line to buy one of 240 generators. $799.00 a pop! No problem as we are right in the bulls eye. Now we have one, so I look at it as a great investment. Outside of that not really.

 

[4GoofyCrew]

I usually have a good amount of food in the pantry from purchasing when there are good sales. I probably should stop at Sams Club today and pick up a case or two of bottled water. Our biggest concern will be losing power.

We are out of the zone because we are way over in MI but they are predicting extremely high winds and power outages way over here. Also the lakes have some crazy (almost unheard of) warnings being issued because of the wind/waves.

Stay safe everyone!!!!

 

[cornflake]

Yes it was expensive here too, but I'm glad we have them now..Cornflake stay safe in the city. I must be nuts but I used to love a good old city shut down, so quiet. I really hope the subway doesn't flood.

Thanks. I like it too - same as summer holidays, it's so quiet and empty. Well, unless you go to the market or the open pizza places last night around midnight, heh.

Subway will be ok - floods all the time, which is why the shutdown is so... inexplicable. How many nor'easters were you here for that shut the trains because the water poured onto the tracks too fast?

As for your old office - you don't think they named it Water St. by accident, do you?

Still no rain here btw. I'm not doubting that it will or anything, but shutting everything down 12 hours ago and it hasn't even begun to rain seems ...

 

[java]

Thanks. I like it too - same as summer holidays, it's so quiet and empty. Well, unless you go to the market or the open pizza places last night around midnight, heh.

Subway will be ok - floods all the time, which is why the shutdown is so... inexplicable. How many nor'easters were you here for that shut the trains because the water poured onto the tracks too fast?

As for your old office - you don't think they named it Water St. by accident, do you?

Still no rain here btw. I'm not doubting that it will or anything, but shutting everything down 12 hours ago and it hasn't even begun to rain seems ...

Last night on the news they were saying it takes at least 8 hours to shut it all down which is why they started early.
Once in my old building they issued an evacuation order, stupid gut were staying. I climbed down the 19 floors to find a foot of water in the lobby. I got out of here fast. Several ended up staying the night in the building!

 

[Marionnette]

Not me but the college kids made grocery runs and did a number on their emergency credit cards (which I will end up paying). The only thing I went out to purchase was additional dog food. But that was because we were low on food for our little dog. She's on a diet and cannot eat what the big guy gets.

Don't forget your animals! Make sure you bring them inside your house or barn. And have extra water for them!

 

[cornflake]

Last night on the news they were saying it takes at least 8 hours to shut it all down which is why they started early.
Once in my old building they issued an evacuation order, stupid gut were staying. I climbed down the 19 floors to find a foot of water in the lobby. I got out of here fast. Several ended up staying the night in the building!

I know but they've been saying - and still are - that it'll really hit tonight. Why 7pm last night?

I'm against shutting it down systemwide to begin with, I think there are too many people and not enough other options. I also think it'd be preferable to do partial shutdowns - why not just say 'after X time, there won't be trains past Canal' or buses past wherever whenever.

Oh well, time for a fun day of 'watch the reporters who annoyed the assignment producer trying not to get swept into the Hudson/East/Bay/LIS, etc.'

 

[Pooh2]

Nope! Did not spend anything extra. We had already done our winter emergency stock up on water, non perishables, batteries and such.

Pretty quiet here so far!

 

[DisneyFansInLINY]

Ok, brace yourself.

I stopped in the Korean Deli and a guy walked in behind me, holding a flashlight.

He asked the guy behind the counter if he had any D batteries. As I was standing at the counter and blocking his view, I turned and gestured at the large multi-pack of Ds open on the counter. The guy was all 'yay!'

The guy behind the counter asked how many he wanted - guy said 'two.'

"Five dollars."

Demand? Meet supply.

Wow! That is just awful! I went to Costco on Friday in the mid afternoon and all the batteries and flashlights were sold out since Thursday night. That seemed kinda strange to me until I saw a group of men with those crate type carts buying tons of bottled water. I knew that it wasn't for their families. Buying out all of the disaster supplies to turn a profit is just wrong. I'd rather sit in the dark then pay for someone's greed.

 

[cornflake]

Wow! That is just awful! I went to Costco on Friday in the mid afternoon and all the batteries and flashlights were sold out since Thursday night. That seemed kinda strange to me until I saw a group of men with those crate type carts buying tons of bottled water. I knew that it wasn't for their families. Buying out all of the disaster supplies to turn a profit is just wrong. I'd rather sit in the dark then pay for someone's greed.

I was being a bit facetious. Not about what happened - that's exactly what happened and exactly the price for 2 D batteries.

However, I don't think it was really particularly gouging or anything - $5 for two batteries isn't so far outside the norm. These are the places that charge you $.65-.75 for a single postage stamp.

He also had bottled water, one of the only places in the neighbourhood that had regular, non-gallon or up sizes. He was 'advertising' that fact by stacking a couple of cases outside, so he knew how much in demand it was, and he was only charging $2.50 a bottle, which I'd wager is the totally normal price there.

I don't think they normally sell loose D batteries out of a bulk pack, no but... that's how they exist, profiting off being convenient and not Duane Read. :

 

[Pooh2]

Wow! That is just awful! I went to Costco on Friday in the mid afternoon and all the batteries and flashlights were sold out since Thursday night. That seemed kinda strange to me until I saw a group of men with those crate type carts buying tons of bottled water. I knew that it wasn't for their families. Buying out all of the disaster supplies to turn a profit is just wrong. I'd rather sit in the dark then pay for someone's greed.

We have local church and civic groups that will buy in bulk for weather disasters at Sam's to distribute to elderly and shut-ins. The group you saw could possibly have been from a local deanery or civic group.

 

[danygirl]

I have a small stockpile, so I don't have to stock up, but I did buy extra dog food and some pumpkins to carve. Also bought big ziplocks, you fill them with water and put them in the freezer instead of buying ice and bottled water.

 

[ilovemk76]

I know but they've been saying - and still are - that it'll really hit tonight. Why 7pm last night?

I'm against shutting it down systemwide to begin with, I think there are too many people and not enough other options. I also think it'd be preferable to do partial shutdowns - why not just say 'after X time, there won't be trains past Canal' or buses past wherever whenever.

Oh well, time for a fun day of 'watch the reporters who annoyed the assignment producer trying not to get swept into the Hudson/East/Bay/LIS, etc.'

You do not disappoint!!!

 

[Claudia Kellenberger]

I think the only thing that I bought extra was D-Cell batteries.
Believe me ... They were extremely difficult to find! Most places were
really cleaned out of D-Cells. I also left work at 2:45 instead of 4:45.
I was feeling really crummy with a head cold, too.

 

[Arielle22]

On Sunday DD17 was out in my car and I told her to fill the tank (gave her my debit card) so that we would be prepared.

Yesterday I was home and took DD and her French exchange student (who is temporarily stranded here due to the storm) out for a drive. The exchange student had never seen the ocean so stormy (live right near the water).

I got in the car and the low fuel light was on. I ask DD what happened and she said the lines were too long at the gas stations so she didn't stop. The gas stations near us were out of regular yesterday so we had to get supreme. I didn't fill the tank but I was extremely annoyed at DD and explained why it should have been filled.

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

On Sunday DD17 was out in my car and I told her to fill the tank (gave her my debit card) so that we would be prepared.

Yesterday I was home and took DD and her French exchange student (who is temporarily stranded here due to the storm) out for a drive. The exchange student had never seen the ocean so stormy (live right near the water).

I got in the car and the low fuel light was on. I ask DD what happened and she said the lines were too long at the gas stations so she didn't stop. The gas stations near us were out of regular yesterday so we had to get supreme. I didn't fill the tank but I was extremely annoyed at DD and explained why it should have been filled.

Oooh, I'd have been mad!
Living out in the country the power ALWAYS goes off in a storm, so yesterday morning I not only filled up the car, but also bought 20 gallons to run the generator for a few days. Over $100 total! Of course, the electric never went off, so DH now has gas to run the snowblower every day this winter!

 

[Gigi22]

It didn't cost us a cent, yet. We keep a supply of batteries at home, also water, and had stocked up on groceries (regular run) last week. We just discovered that our solar battery radio, about 15 years old, no longer works. We are replacing it --- it will cost around $25.

 

[Dizisfun]

Same here.

We were at Lowe's yesterday, getting a part for the generator. They had a sign saying no refunds on hurricane supplies.

People really returned water?

Idk about water, but I do know that people will buy generators, use them and then return them. My DH works at Lowes and they were told yesterday NO REFUNDS on generators that had been used. Obviously if someone bought a generator and it didnt work they would refund for that, but otherwise NO

The only extra money that I can think that we spent was for the gas that we bought for the generator. We filled both vehicles with gas, but we will use that anyway. As for food all we really bought was Peanut Butter, Marshmallow Fluff, and Jelly. Plus two loafs of bread. We have canned food in the house anyway. and we always have flashlights and batteries in the house.....

We were without electric for over 18 hours.......power came back on around 1230 today