Fellow SC people, I have some questions for you.

[krisj]

Okay, what are you expecting/planning for? Charley was what, a Cat 1? and didn't do much. Gaston, did alot, however, I really didn't need my hurricane stuff. We were only out of electricity for a little bit one day and with Charley, I didn't lose it but for an hour or so.
Now, I wasn't here with Floyd or David or anything else except what we have had this season.
I don't know whether to plan on some rain and wind and okay, soccer may be cancelled, but that's about it. OR, more wind and maybe I should get stocked on ice.
I don't have any of that bottled water stuff. Do I really need to worry about getting that?
I honestly don't know with the way it is looking to go along the coast how much of a storm will be left when it gets here.

What are you doing/not doing to prepare, if anything?

[seahawkjd]

I've been in southern NC so close enough. My best advice is this. Fill up the gas tank, you will always use the gas. Buy can goods of things that you would normally eat but can be prepared without electricity, you'll use them one way or the other. Fill up the bathtub, you can always open the drain. Get some bottled water, again if you go to the gym at all you'll use it. Then as long as you're in a safe structure you'll be fine and you haven't made a single preperation that could be considered unnecceary under any condition.

[Carolinagirl]

krisj I live about 30 miles inland and lost power with Gaston for 2 1/@ days. I'm still not quite sure what to make of this one yet, though. I have bottled water and charcoal for cooking if needed. I don't think it would be a bad idea for you to do the same. If you don't open the water, it will keep for several years. It's better to take a little time now than to be really uncomfortable later. Sorry I couldn't have been more help.

[charleston_hugo_veteran]

i am not doing anything , yet....not worried about it!

I am not in a flood prone area (i live on a hill) and i lost elec. during gaston for about 2 hours.

[Suncat]

Having a battery powered flashlight and radio are not bad things to have around, either. Be sure to have some extra batteries for both, too.

[Rieyeuxs]

Charlie and Frances moved too fast to do any real damage. Not only that, but they were coast brushers too. It depends on if Jeanne wants to come straight in, or sidle up the coast like it's forecast to do.

I'm also taking intensity into consideration. 1 or 2, I'll stay put. 3 or mandatory evacs, and I might make a run for it. I don't think any of the storms caused mandatory evacs (yet!) for Charleston. I'm on the IOP connector, so I'm playing the wait and see game...

I do know one thing, I'm gassing up the car this afternoon, and tonight's going to be a busy one at the store!!!

[M_0331]

plan for cat 1 80 mph winds (worse case). i am in your area.

[krisj]

We didn't have too much flooding, just in the streets, during Gaston. I do live betwee the Wando and another creek and do live in a flood area, at least we were required to buy flood insurance. They didn't seem to flood badly during Gaston though.
SO CHV, you are not worried at all?

[charleston_hugo_veteran]

not at this time....I think florida will take a lot out of her.

[krisj]

Okay, ya'll talked me into it. I will go to the store and buy a few bottles of water and some batteries for the radio. I did hang onto that during Gaston. Guess we are having ice cream tonight!

[tallbunch]

well I'm not leaving unless I know I cat 3 is coming right at me. I can then bolt. THat is VERY UNLIKELY. People here will not go anywhere. We haven't been hit directly in years....A LOT of years.

My only concern is local people calling off school on Monday when I have to go to work.

[TigerMo]

1. Always have water -- you never know what will happen if the treatment plants lose power for an extended period of time.

2. Batteries, flashlights, hurricane lamps etc.. because even if its a weakend storm, power could go out.

3. Have something you can eat for a couple of days without cooking it.

This isn't a huge storm, but you just never know. If it stayed over the ocean when it curves North, and then strengthens and decides to come ashore here, it will not be pleasant at all. Even a cat 1 or 2 can cause problems. Clean up outside the house - get all the potential flying debris inside or tied down.

I treat every one that comes through with repsect and generally over prepare. Boat will come out of the water tomorrow. Hurricane shutters rolled down probably on Sunday unless Jeanne stays over Florida and weaks considerably. Plywood on the few openings without shutters on Sunday evening if it looks like they'll be needed.

But I'm a Hugo survivor so I get nervous.

[cfe]

I live in Mt. Pleasant..
I am just planning on similar situation as with Gaston (possible tree limbs down, no power, bring porch furniture in, etc.) If things change, I will change my gameplan.
I have not lived here long enough to go through a major hurricane or even evacuate.
Hope I don't have to this time, either!
But, yes, it looks like soccer practice Monday afternoon may be washed out!

[Rieyeuxs]

So, krisj, what store ARE you heading for??? We may be out of batteries... Water I do have though!

[charleston_hugo_veteran]

1. Always have water -- you never know what will happen if the treatment plants lose power for an extended period of time.

2. Batteries, flashlights, hurricane lamps etc.. because even if its a weakend storm, power could go out.

3. Have something you can eat for a couple of days without cooking it.

This isn't a huge storm, but you just never know. If it stayed over the ocean when it curves North, and then strengthens and decides to come ashore here, it will not be pleasant at all. Even a cat 1 or 2 can cause problems. Clean up outside the house - get all the potential flying debris inside or tied down.

I treat every one that comes through with repsect and generally over prepare. Boat will come out of the water tomorrow. Hurricane shutters rolled down probably on Sunday unless Jeanne stays over Florida and weaks considerably. Plywood on the few openings without shutters on Sunday evening if it looks like they'll be needed.

But I'm a Hugo survivor so I get nervous.

me too....but i think this will be just a big rain event...with some gust...

[krisj]

So, krisj, what store ARE you heading for??? We may be out of batteries... Water I do have though!

Harris Teeter.
Have people been buying batteries already? None of my friends are talking much about Jeanne.

[Rieyeuxs]

Nope, not me! I'm with Target. We do have batteries, if you buy them today. We had to ship out most of our stock to Alabama, so not much backstock left. I'm calling out for more, but until this crazy storm decides where it's going, our DC will hold off shipping more

[Chilly_Water]

You've also gotta figure in that the Charleston electricity infratructure is the pits. Transformers blow over here on JI whenever it rains hard and I lose power for an hour or two. My mom lost power DT for a bit during Gaston, and I know Mt.P got rocked especially around Old Village and Sullivan's island area.
As for supplies, SE Coasters should have their 'cane kit prepared at the beginning of the season. You can't beat Costco...seriouosly the best fifty $ a year one could ever spend(you save that much in one "big" trip so it's a wash).
Radio Shack has the wind-up baterryless radio that is GREAT. Channel 5 w/ Walsh simulcasts on a few stations.
Am I concered about Jeanne? Not at all, it will be an inconvenience. If it hugs the coast like it's forecasted, it won't be bad, BUT keep an eye on it.

[rjp]

I already have plenty of batteries and water that I ddin't have to use for Gaston/Frances/what have you. I amazingly didn't lose power at all during Gaston. I live close to Northwoods Mall, just to give you a sense of where I reside. Seems like everyone around me was without power, though. I'll just stock up on some beer--just incase.

[cswitwer]

Hey Kris.

I have all the batteries and water, etc already. I'll gas up tonight or tomorrow, and make sure we have food that doesn't require electricity.

Otherwise, I'll be watching the storm closely and if it looks like it could be a threat, I'm getting up at 4am to move inland a bit. I don't ever want to get caught in Floyd-like traffic.

I don't expect to need to leave, though. But we will leave if we're expecting a direct hit of a 2 or above (maybe 1, my partner's a little nervous after all the transformers kept exploding behind our house during Gaston).

CHV-- what part of town are you in? I'm at Windermere & Folly Rd, near 61. Our streets flood pretty badly, and I'm awfully close to the Ashley River.