It certainly doesn't look too good for Florida at the moment, but I'd think if anyone was prepared for this, it would be you, Rich. Hope it passes you quickly and with as little impact as possible.
My friends in the Caribbean are dive business owners, and their main problem is going to be deciding where on earth might be safe to put their boats. I used to work in that industry myself, and I remember trying to get everything tied up safely, and then having to just go home, batten down the hatches and hope.
I now live in a country where we get cyclones on a regular basis, and have very poor infrastructure to help deal with it. Here are a few precautions we regularly take when we know something's heading our way. Hope some of them might be helpful.
1. If at all possible invest in a small portable generator and fill several fuel tanks. It doesn't have to run your whole house, but a even quite small one can keep a fridge, fan, one TV or computer and one or two lights going, and that's enough to help a lot.
2. Fill bathtubs, ice chests, garbage bins, anything you have, with tap water. We have a 500 litre (125 gallon) rotamould tank we keep filled all year just in case. Also kids' inflatable paddling pools can be used. Water can be chlorinated with bleach (8 drops per gallon) if needed for drinking.
3. Stock up on cooking fuel - we get gas from cylinders, and keep an extra cylinder on hand. If you are all electric, consider getting a small portable barbecue and as much charcoal as you can manage. You may also be able to get fallen wood after the storm is over. Make sure you have matches/lighters.
4. Solar lanterns (
www.dlight.com) are invaluable if your power goes out. Or stock up on battery lanterns/flashlights, batteries and candles.
5. Bring in anything loose from outdoors - garden furniture, pot plans, etc.
6. Bring furniture into the centre of the room, away from windows and doors. Stand water-damageable items on top of tables and kitchen surfaces. Cover with tarpaulins or any large sheets of plastic you can get, tied or taped down. Cover electronics in garbage bags etc. Obviously if you are in flood prone areas and have a 2-storey house, take all soft furnishings and electronic items you can carry upstairs. If not, unplug all electrical items.
7. Get masking or parcel tape and stick it in large "X's across glass windows. to prevent shattering if hard items blow against them. Draw curtains.
8. Leave at last one window at the front and back of each room very slightly open - windows in fully sealed rooms can actually implode from increased outdoor pressure. Keep mops and buckets handy, and roll towels up under doors and windows.
9. Make an emergency waterproof grab-bag in case of evacuation: it should include all vital documents such as birth/ marriage certificates, passports, credit cards etc, first aid kit, any medications you have to take regularly, flashlight or solar lantern, garbage bags, water bottles, snacks (granola bars are good) one set of warm clothes for everyone, blankets. House and car keys.
10. Move your car away from trees. Fill up with fuel.
11. Cook all food in your fridge/ freezer while you can, and re-freeze. Pack any empty space in the fridge/freezer with newspaper, or bottles of water. This will keep it colder for longer if the power is out (as well as being more water storage). Stock up on tinned food that can be eaten cold (beans, fruit etc).
12. Charge mobile devices, and back up battery packs.
13. STAY INDOORS during the storm. More people get killed by flying objects than direct storm damage, and a coconut coming at you horizontally is no joke....(although it certainly sounds like one...
)
There's lots more, and I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir, but it's things to think about while you still have time to put these in place.
Hope everyone stays as safe as possible.
