what would you do

[weatherwoman]

I wonder what those of you who have been in really bad hurricanes, (i guess they are all bad in one way or another) what would you do different today. We have had many here in coastal NC but for some lucky reason we have been spaired anything really bad, i have not been without elect more than 6 hours or cable tv more than 24 (who cares!) our water has not been distrubed, no damage to my double wide trailer yes i stayed in it every time. I only live about 6 or 7 miles from the ocean as the crow flys so what would you guys do we need to know so we can be ready so we dont end up with some major problems that can be prevented before hand.

[hial2]

Things to do:

1) Buy a whole house generator($$$$$$$)..Being powerless (read:no a/c) in the aftermath is no fun!

2) There's never enough drinking water..Freeze all you can.(Note: don't forget water for the,hum,WC??)

3) Trim/cut trees..the mess is awful..you haven't lived till you hear your roof being bombarded with flying avocados or mangoes!

4) Have more than $50.00 cash on hand..ATMs don't work.

5) Shutter the house with real shutters,not plywood..

6) really number one...PRAY that you have a roof and the walls don't come down..(Andrew flashback)

7) last,sadly and controversial...buy a firearm

[Frank2]

Plan an evacuation route (2 or 3 are even better) in the event that you plan to leave, and, if you plan to evacuate - it's far better to take a chance and leave 24-36 hours in advance for the hotel 100 miles away, only to return home the next day if the hurricane did not turn out as planned, than to evacuate during the final 12-18 hours, only to be stuck in traffic...

Timing is very important - for example, if landfall is forecast for 6 a.m., it's far easier to leave at 5 a.m. the day before - Noon or 2 p.m. would likely be much more difficult...

[sfwx]

I wouldn't change a thing. I was well prepared and had the neccessary things to get by. I didn't like being without A/C for several days each time and I did learn that using the toilet too much wasn't good. After Frances, the city utilities was without power and all of the holding tanks out in front of the houses started to overflow. The city has since purchased generators to hopefully prevent that from happening again. I did have some damage and it motivated me to remodel my house after Frances, Jeanne and Wilma. But, after visiting Biloxi several times, those hurricanes were a minor disruption in my life in comparison to the catastrophic damage they had.

Eric

[weatherwoman]

im amazed i have not had more people telling what they would do different but what we do have so far sounds good, it helps to learn from people who have been there. you can read pamplets and newpapers all day long but what better way to learn than to learn from experence. the ones i have been in like i said we were lucky, i have a gas cooker outside so i know i want to stock up on gas, i have a genorator but never had to use it, i keep alot of water for drikning on a daily basis but i know i would need to stock up on that along with cat food for my babies, (cats) dont get the wrong idea, medical supplies of course are a must, even just for headaches im sure those come easily in the heat and worry. i did evacuate twice, once when we thought gloria was coming on shore but it didnt i left the day before only went in land 70 miles or so go goldsboro and once i left the day before fran was coming in and went in 400 miles to salisbury nc stayed with family it was fasanating coming back home the next day all the workers were out and elect companies were marching in to help. makes your right teary eyed to see how people pull together in a time of need. any more ideas that oneone has would help us all.

[Tstormwatcher]

I left for Fran, was staying in a trailer at the time. No damage other than power being out. Have stayed for everything after Fran. The most I have lost power for was 2 days. i was by myself so it was only an inconvience. I stayed for Floyd and was glad I did because many of my friends left and were unable to get back home for several days because of the flooding. I have always said that I would only leave if the storm was a cat 4 and was showing no signs of weakening. I still stand by that. I live in a home that is supposed to be able to withstand winds up to 120mph. I really hope it never gets tested.