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Here are some preparedness tips for our Texas friends who plan to ride the storm out. This is based on my family's experience with Gustav and not having power for a week.
1. Get a generator now if you do not have one and plan to stay in your home, you will lose power if your are in the path. If you have one make sure its working. Generators that have been laid up for a year may not start and may have bad gasoline in them.
Note that there is also a fuel treatment you can buy if you have left over gas in your generator. Apparently it works pretty well.
2. Get a stand up portable fan for your den area and a small window ac unit from walmart for your bedroom(about $100). Get plenty of extension cords and a couple power strips. Dont run everything off of the same cord and try to keep your cords as short as possible. Your generator can run your fridge, some lights, a fan and a small ac easily, but it will lose powere if your cords are too long. You also should run several cords from the generator, do not plug everything off of one cord. The cord may not be big enough for the juice. Long cords use more juice than short ones.
All important points. IMO, fan>>A/C, only because it saves gas and draws less power. If A/C is that important to you, get out of town, or go sit in the car.
Some generators actually have separate circuits for separate plugs (why you don't run off one cord). Use one for A/C, one for fridge, one for other. This is also a good time to have satellite, because if it doesn't get misaligned, you are more likely to have TV than with cable.
If your extension cords get hot, don't use them!!
5. You cant have enough bottled water. You need food to eat that doesnt need preparation. Peanut butter is good and cold cuts if you have a generator. Get some bbq stuff for when the storm passes and get ready for the neighbors.
We made a big pot of red beans. Remember, too, if you have a gas stove, you will have to light it, but for the most part, gas service will remain on (unless there is a significant flood event, or tree roots rupture a gas line.
The handheld lantern style flashlights work well, as do maglites. You will regret going cheap on flashlights, as you will likely have to replace them next time.6. You need flashlights and batteries of course. If you have a lot of trees, get your chainsaw ready. Test out your generator and get it all set up the day before the storm. Figure out how you will run cords now, it gets crazy during the storm. Count on your cell phones going out.
Aircards are nice if you need internet, but same caveat as with cell phones. If you can get different services (sprint, att, etc) within the same household, you are more likely to get service.
8. Good luck to all. Make sure your vehicles are gassed. Dont wait another second, the lines might be too long to get these things.
YES!!!!
All very good points