After having a storm woop the bahjeebaus out of us in my neck of the woods I have composed a thoughtful list on advice/warnings/random thoughts. Let me know if you have any other things to add:
1. Have batteries on hand. All sizes and shapes.
2. Have flashlight and radios for the said batteries.
3. keep up on your wash as you never know when you might be stuck for EIGHT days and unable to do any.
4. Like and love the person you live with/marry or have any sort of functional household relationship with. It will either grow stronger or crack under these circumstances.
5. Have fun board games readily available. This will either keep you occupied or send your significant other running to buy a generator (brilliant move on my part to get heat/light thank you very much)
6. Make peace with yourself for not being an outdoorsy/pioneer girl at heart. Get back points for enjoying reading stories and history about churning butter.
7. Keep prepackaged food on hand. Granola bars are ok but packages of cookies will stay just as well and sooth those exhausted nerves much better.
8. Remember to pack food/treats for your pets in the emergency box. We were down to the bottom of our furry child's kibble bag and really I think she was eyeing us up and down as potential food sources.
9. HELP YOUR NEIGHBORS if you know them or not. It is just good manners and the right thing to do.
10. Treat the emergency workers to your cookies, er granola bars. They are really trying to get you back in the 21st century.
11. Enjoy the no TV if you can. While I was mourning the loss of my Tivo I wasn't being stressed by ugly news.
12. Even though your significant other has run screaming to buy a generator, suggest board games once more - you may find yourself looking across at a Trouble/Racko/Monopoloy addict. I did.
13. Don't think about it just clean the fridge out after a day or two. The melted ice cream will not morph back into a beautiful carton of creamy goodness. Make peace with it.
14. Take friends/neighbors/family up on offers of help. 99% is sincere and will make them feel good.
15. Try to buy a house with underground electrical wire. I am not an expert all I know is everyone I know was happy and warm and had power who had them.
Here's another tip if you live in tornando alley. Pack a backpack with supplies, aka...flashlight, batteries, water, candles, matches, some cash, pet food, medicine, etc. Keep the backpack somewhere where you can grab it as you are running outdoors. I had to do this a few times so we could get to our shelter, but luckily we never encountered a tornado (yet)!
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