Hurricane Irma

[Baymule]

Here she comes, headed straight to Florida. BYHer's in the path of this storm, if you need to evacuate, please go now. If you are on high ground, you probably already know what to do. Secure everything you can, pick up and put away anything loose that can become a flying projectile.

Water-fill every pot in the kitchen, place 5 gallon buckets in the bathroom for flushing. I used to go buy new plastic trashcans with lids. I put them in a secure place, filled them up and duct taped the lids down. Fill all water tubs for the animals.

Animal feed-stock up! And stock up some more!

Food. Have canned food handy. I know bread is all gone, but flour isn't. Make your own bread or make tortillas. After hurricane Rita, I scoured my brain for a faint memory to make flour tortillas, which I cooked in an iron skillet over a backyard fire. They were snatched and scarfed up by the hungry crowd we sheltered in out home. Cook a big roast for sandwich meat, make cookies and brownies now before the power goes out. Comfort food like brownies and a glass of wine goes a long way when a tree is laying on your house and it's raining in your kitchen and dining room. LOL

Contact. We will be worried about you. PM a friend with your cell number. Often times a text will go through when a call will not. Text your friend with updates so they can post here and let us know how you are faring in the storm.

Most of all, stay safe. Ya'll run or hunker down, but most of all stay safe.

 

[Bunnylady]

Have you seen the latest spaghetti models? Most of them have Irma just kissing the Florida coast, and making landfall somewhere in GA/SC/NC. Some runs even take her out to sea without making landfall on the mainland at all (hey, I can hope, can't I?)

This far out, things can change, they can change back; until this beast is north of you, you really shouldn't let your guard down (OK, some storms have done loops and reversed course, but this one has fairly good steering currents).

One further tip - laundry. You never know how long it may be 'til the next chance, so wash anything that may need it!

 

[Goat Whisperer]

@Bunnylady do you have anywhere to go if NC is going to get hit?

 

[RollingAcres]

@Baymule very well written! Great reminder!

 

[Baymule]

If you are in a low area, place an axe in the attic. If you are forced to go to the attic and you don't have dormer windows, you need a way to get out and on top of the roof.

Get fuel for your chainsaw and a new chain.

Get ALL important papers together. Insurance on you and family, car, home. What you don't take with you if you have to evacuate, place in a secure place. Put them in one of those heavy fire boxes. If you are flooded, put the fire box inn the attic, that way if the roof is ripped off, hopefully the box will be heavy enough not to blow away. Spray paint your phone number on it.

Have a go bag packed with a change of clothes, tennis shoes, energy bars, bottled water and candy bar. A sheet or small roll of plastic or tarp needs to be placed in the attic, you might be glad to have it. If you have to go to the attic due to flooding, take the go bag with you.

If you have horses, cattle or other livestock, spray paint your phone number on one side, another phone number on the other side.

Anybody else have ideas or advice, please post them.

 

[TAH]

Also keeping all vet papers. I know this is important if going out of the your in state.

 

[Baymule]

4:00 update has Irma hitting the tip of Florida on Saturday and running up the east coast of Florida.

 

[Bunnylady]

@Bunnylady do you have anywhere to go if NC is going to get hit?

We have family inland (Charlotte, Greensboro, Chapel Hill) but there is simply no way we could take all of our animals, and nobody here could be counted on to look after them. We've weathered more than a few storms here; I reckon we're good for a Category 3. For us to choose to leave, it would be literally a matter of my animals' lives or mine, since Floyd demonstrated that it might many days before we could get back in. I'm praying I don't have to make that choice.

 

[Goat Whisperer]

We have family inland (Charlotte, Greensboro, Chapel Hill) but there is simply no way we could take all of our animals, and nobody here could be counted on to look after them. We've weathered more than a few storms here; I reckon we're good for a Category 3. For us to choose to leave, it would be literally a matter of my animals' lives or mine, since Floyd demonstrated that it might many days before we could get back in. I'm praying I don't have to make that choice.

Have you checked around to see if anyone would consider hauling? Of course I have no idea how many animals you have…
There is a pretty big Ag building near Greensboro (taught a class there). Don't know if it will be opened or not. Praying you don't get the flooding or high winds!

 

[OneFineAcre]

If history is any indicator (which it usually is) it won't make landfall in GA
A hurricane hasn't made landfall on the GA coast since 1898

If it makes landfall in Charleston it will go further west toward Charlotte

The ones that effect us the worse here in Raleigh come in around Wilmington like Fran did
If it does as a Cat 3 it will be bad here particularly downed trees since the ground is already saturated

I am watching very intensely
@Goat Whisperer you better watch too