Hurricane Sandy and East Coast - anyone preparing yet?

[PatsGirl]

I'm headed to work today but my fiancee is going to pull out the generator we bought last year (when they were on sale), put away all the outside furniture and decor and find the flashlights and candles. When I get home we'll go fill the gas tanks for the grill and the generator. Other than that, I don't think we'll do much. I don't expect it to have a big impact here but we'll see and in the meantime I want to be somewhat prepared.

I did text DS22 (who just got his own apartment in DC two months ago): "This is your mother. The storm is headed your way. Be sure to stock up on beer and toilet paper. Love you." I hope he gets a chuckle...we have a love/hate relationship and I do what I can to make him smile

 

[ilovemk76]

I just heard on the news that you can't plug your generator directly into your homes electrical, but ours has a line going into our house. Is that bad? It came with the house and we've never used it before.

If you plug into the house you will be putting power out of the house and could injury or kill a line worker. You need to throw the main breaker to the house to isolate your power from the power grid. Most small generators have an outlet or two. You can plug the appliance directly into this outlet.

 

[monkeybug]

If you plug into the house you will be putting power out of the house and could injury or kill a line worker. You need to throw the main breaker to the house to isolate your power from the power grid. Most small generators have an outlet or two. You can plug the appliance directly into this outlet.

Ours has it's own special little breaker box where you turn off the main house breaker and turn on the generator one. No outlets on the generator, it is wired into the house.
Is that safe?

 

[kirstenb1]

Ours has it's own special little breaker box where you turn off the main house breaker and turn on the generator one. No outlets on the generator, it is wired into the house.
Is that safe?

Yes it's safe. Sounds like you had an electrician install this.

 

[monkeybug]

Yes it's safe. Sounds like you had an electrician install this.

Thanks!
It was here when we moved in and I assumed it was safe, but you never know, people do dangerous things to their houses all the time. On the news they said "never plug a generator into your homes electrical" but I'm assuming that's for some other type of generator. Ours definitely looks professionally installed.

 

[ccstrickler]

Ours is only a "tropical storm" warning. NC is already under state of emergency. Took all outside furniture and plants in. I've been here for Isabelle AND Irene and fortunately had no damage, just lots of debris. I'm 1/2 mile back from the ocean and 1/2 mile from the sound. Lucky spot?:

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Blahhhh...I'm going to at least just get batteries and cash.

We're pretty far inland, but the wind and flooding can get bad here.

 

[skater]

Just a PSA-Please if you are in the path of this storm and you have pets-be prepared to evacuate with them if need be. Have a plan of action-know where you will go-do you have friends or relatives who will put you and your pets up? Are there evacuation centers in your area that will take pets? Hotels that are pet friendly? Do you have their food, medications, vet records? Crates, leashes, collars with identification? Water? First aid supplies? Take a new picture of your pet on your phone and a second picture of you and your pet together so you have up to date information should you get seperated. If your animals are chipped, do you have the information handy? Good luck and stay safe!

I'm sort of in the path, but thankful we're far inland. We have 10 cats in the house right now . 6 are fosters and 2 are feral kittens we're trying to tame. (I'm really not a cat hoarder ). Anyway, I might have enough carriers and small cages to get them out. I guess the worst that could happen here would be tree or wind damage.

 

[joviroxx]

Two most important things.. CASH and GAS. Make sure your cars are filled up , you have gas for the generator and CASH on hand.

 

[Carole]

We decided to rent a car and leave first thing Sunday morning. Will have to go to airport to pick up our car once back in Maryland. They have someone there 24 hours per day. Tickets with Southwest so we can use later. I would rather be home than wonder what is happening Also no drop off fee

 

[ilovemk76]

We decided to rent a car and leave first thing Sunday morning. Will have to go to airport to pick up our car once back in Maryland. They have someone there 24 hours per day. Tickets with Southwest so we can use later. I would rather be home than wonder what is happening Also no drop off fee

Why are you waiting until tomorrow. I95 is now getting high winds and heavy rain. The storm will be in full force form most of your trip tomorrow. We are so glad we drove yesterday. We had high winds until Jacksonville and then an easy drive. We are getting are home ready.

 

[violetrose]

We've had a generator for years so no need to get one, but we did fill up our gas tanks last night and went to the store to get some soups, water, and canned goods. The place looked like a tornado had already blown through. I thought we were ahead of the game going on Friday night but apparently not.

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

We're way out in the country, and anytime it gets too windy the power goes out. DH is on a business trip on the coast of Virginia still waiting to see if they will be evacuated, so I'm home alone!
Our (gas powered) generator is a pretty complicated set-up. It hooks up to a circuit-breaker box in the garage, so I will need to turn off the line from the house to the street, turn on the generator, then open the breakers in the house to whatever rooms will need electricity, then open the circuit from garage to house. Freezer and sump pump and well pump are most important, but can't all start at the same time.
I think we had better do a walk-through over the phone tomorrow so I know what I'm doing. We are expecting bad weather Monday until Thursday night. **sigh**

 

[ilovemk76]

Ours has it's own special little breaker box where you turn off the main house breaker and turn on the generator one. No outlets on the generator, it is wired into the house.
Is that safe?

Yes. Just throw the main home breaker first and then start the generator. You do not want to put power onto the "dead" wire and make it "live".

 

[Shutterbug]

http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/discussions/hpcdiscussions.php?disc=pmdepd

"TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY...HIGH WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO LASH EXPOSED
AREAS OF THE MID-ATLANTIC STATES (THE COAST AND TOPOGRAPHY) AS
WELL AS MUCH OF NEW ENGLAND... LEADING TO POTENTIALLY SERIOUS
COASTAL EROSION AND COASTAL FLOODING. THE STORM SURGE WHICH BUILT UP DURING THE SHORT RANGE PERIOD DUE TO THE BUILD-UP OF TIDES OVER MULTIPLE TIDAL CYCLES...PARTICULARLY IN CORNERS SUCH AS THE NEW
YORK BIGHT..."
"... SIGNIFICANT SNOWS ON
ITS BACKSIDE WITHIN ITS COMMA HEAD PATTERN UNDER THE
SUPPORTING/COOLING MID-UPPER LEVEL TROUGH TO FALL ACROSS THE
CENTRAL THEN NORTHERN APPALACHIANS AND VICINITY. LAKE EFFECT
SNOWS ACROSS THE EASTERN GREAT LAKES ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH FRIDAY
WITHIN THE CYCLONIC FLOW IN THE SYSTEM'S COLD SECTOR."

 

[maxaroni]

My dd is also at Ramapo. They were fine last year! No worries.

My DS was there last year as well. No issues. Of course he was a freshman last year and move in day was 3 days late due to Irene. But the October storm last year they were fine. But in mackin and a long cold walk for food. Lol

 

[maxaroni]

Anyone up in Bergen County NJ near Ramapo college?? DD is a freshman there. How was the area after Irene and the Halloween storm?

My DS was there last year as well. No issues. Of course he was a freshman last year and move in day was 3 days late due to Irene. But the October storm last year they were fine. But in mackin and a long cold walk

 

[maxaroni]

I'm farther south in Bergen County, near Paramus, but it was kind of a mess here. I was VERY lucky and only lost power for a couple hours, but my friend down the street was out 6 days. School was closed(no power, no heat) for 3 days.
That was all due to the snow on trees that were still full of leaves, branches snapping under the weight and bringing the lines down with them.

Originally from Ridgewood and DS was in ramapo last year and saw pictures of what things looked like after Irene and the Halloween storm

 

[3smithboys]

We put all of our deck furniture in the garage, gassed up the cars, got 6 gallons of water (plus 3 cases), and bought extra food. We also got batteries and more dog food. DH cleaned out the gutters this morning, too. I am trying to get all of the wash finished in case we lose power... I think it would be a good idea to fill up one of the bath tubs with water. We have never lost power for an extended period of time before, but this one looks like it's going to be nasty.... (DH still doesn't believe it, but he is humoring be and getting ready just in case!)

 

[bas71873]

Well, if nothing else, I can thank "Sandy" for a clean house, fresh sheets, laundry folded & put away, a restock of the battery supply, snacks and cookies out the wazoo (not to mention the trick-or-treat candy I have hidden) and enough gas in the gas cans to last me the next 3 to 5 summers. We're ready here in Central VA!