Weather forecasters have given the east coast of the United States the ominous prediction of a "Frankenstorm" early next week -- an anticipated massive collision between the warm & wet tropical air mass known as hurricane Sandy and an arctic blast from the north. Rain? Snow? Damaging winds? All of the above? It depends upon which model you believe, although most tend to be converging on an unpleasant combination of the three that may extend as far inland as Ohio.
Regardless of which weather model you trust, what seems obvious to me is that I'd better get prepared. But what does that mean? How do you prepare for an emergency? The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has an entire website called Ready devoted to the topic, where you can learn how to build a Basic Disaster Supplies Kit, create a Family Emergency Plan, and Graduate from Readiness U! The National Weather Service also has an entire section of their website devoted to Weather Safety.
In my situation, I can expect a power outage. I may get stuck at home for a few days. So I need to check our stores of drinking water, easy to prepare food, and essentials like medicine and toilet paper. I can't plan to do any laundry past Sunday, so I'd better get to that now. I should also gas up the car, load up on groceries (although perhaps not too many perishables), and get cash from the bank. Flashlights, candles, and warm blankets should all be placed within easy reach. And maybe I should head over to the library for something to read, just in case.
In any event, stay warm, dry, and safe this Halloween. And keep an eye out for Frankenstorm!
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