[Miswimmy1]

What hurricane is everyone talking about?

[unaluna]

Hurricane Sandy. it's outside florida right now, I think, - or more southern - but moving up the Atlantic ocean.

[allimsaying]

It looks like its moving into the NY area. I hope everyone is safe and taking the necessary precautions.

[Maven]

I'm nervous about it, because my anxiety always acts up more when it's windy and rainy and especially if the power goes out. The last time the power went out was a freak storm, and we didn't have power for three days (and my mom didn't have it for about eight days!!!). The concern with power outages is because I can have a panic attack if I can't see anything, plus my OCD is at risk of aggravation, because if I can't see where I'm going, I could easily bump into or touch something my OCD wouldn't like. And then trying to find the bathroom to wash my hands, again, not easy. And without power, we run out of hot water, eventually, and that can aggravate my OCD because I need warm water to wash my hands.

But, aside from all that, I'm not too worried. This one looks like it's going to hit us (I'm in South Jersey, but luckily not right on the coast) more directly than any we've had in a while. I've got flashlights and batteries, food, and other needs.

I'm mad, too, because this is screwing up my Halloween plans! I got three or four new Halloween shirts this year, plus a new one last year I didn't get to wear, and my favorite one with a kitten coming out of a pumpkin, and I was going to wear them each day up to Halloween (one each day, for like a week), but I'm not going out while there's a hurricane! Things should be back to normal by Wednesday (unless power is still out--I hope it doesn't go out at all, though), which is Halloween, so I hope I can at least go out in one of my shirts and wearing the cool makeup I got. I have glow-in-the-dark nail polish, too! Still, there's one thing that's good...my college is closed on Monday! (If I'd gone to the one in my county, it would be closed on Tuesday, too.) Granted, I'd rather go to school than be in a hurricane, but I'm trying to look on the bright side.

[Maven]

Oh, and one more thing: I wish power outages weren't a problem, because one thing that helps my anxiety is being on the Internet and chatting with other people (like in the chat room here). This hurricane is supposed to stick around for a while, but I hope it's gone sooner than we're expecting.

[Miswimmy1]

Originally Posted by Maven

The concern with power outages is because I can have a panic attack if I can't see anything, plus my OCD is at risk of aggravation, because if I can't see where I'm going, I could easily bump into or touch something my OCD wouldn't like. And then trying to find the bathroom to wash my hands, again, not easy. And without power, we run out of hot water, eventually, and that can aggravate my OCD because I need warm water to wash my hands.

I hav OCD too and i know all about the cleanliness and all that. I hope for your sake taht there are no power outages. OCD is no fun and neither are panic attacks. You are in my thoughts!

[Sila]

Take it from a floridian... Fill up your washing machine prior to the storm with water, fill up your bathtub, and keep gallon buckets full. Make sure you have coolers with ice in them (cheap styrofoam ones will work fine) and if you risk power being loss, eat/drink all perishable items as soon as possible like meats and milk etc. A freezer that is half full will hold food safely for up to 24 hours. A full freezer will hold food safely for 48 hours. Do not open the freezer door if you can avoid it.

Canned food like tuna/chicken breast (if you can stand it without mayo), ravioli/spagetti O's (if you can stand them lukewarm not hot), etc are good "emergency" food.

Keep a supply of batteries for flash lights, any radios you might have, and try to keep all phones fully charged as long as possible. Texting uses less bandwith and is more likely to go through than calls. Buy a cord (not cordless) phone if you have a home phone service. You dont need electricity to use those phones, just plug it directly into the phone jack.

Try to keep an extra supply of medication if you have to evacuate. Get all insurance papers, identification, etc, in a waterproof container.

if you have any questions feel free to PM me. I've been through so many hurricanes they're second nature to me. I'm used to power going out for a week or two. Hurricane Charley plowed through us in 2004 and we were stuck without power for over a week- in Florida heat with high humidity in the middle of summer. NOT fun.

Most of all, take care! You'll be alright. Be smart, and plan ahead. Work around your OCD to make sure you have back up plans in case you can't use hot water, for example. Will hand sanitizer help? Or having a certain bucket of water that you boiled before hand that you know is completely clean and safe to wash your hands with? I know it's tough, but you'll be alright. The winds aren't the main worry about Sandy- it's the flooding and power loss.

Hugs!

[Sila]

Oh, and here's a tip I just found out. Put glowsticks next to items like flashlights etc that will be hard to find in the dark.

I hope you guys will be ok

Here in NYC, low level areas will have electricity turned off at 7 PM. I am not sure I will have electricity for a few days. I am riding out the storm at home. I'm on the 5th floor and my apartment does not face the East River. This building does though. So far, management has not informed that we must evacuate. Can't wait for this storm to blow over. I hope everyone is safe.

[metamorphosis12]

What category is it?

[-jimi-]

Originally Posted by Sila

Take it from a floridian... Fill up your washing machine prior to the storm with water, fill up your bathtub, and keep gallon buckets full. Make sure you have coolers with ice in them (cheap styrofoam ones will work fine) and if you risk power being loss, eat/drink all perishable items as soon as possible like meats and milk etc. A freezer that is half full will hold food safely for up to 24 hours. A full freezer will hold food safely for 48 hours. Do not open the freezer door if you can avoid it.

Canned food like tuna/chicken breast (if you can stand it without mayo), ravioli/spagetti O's (if you can stand them lukewarm not hot), etc are good "emergency" food.

Keep a supply of batteries for flash lights, any radios you might have, and try to keep all phones fully charged as long as possible. Texting uses less bandwith and is more likely to go through than calls. Buy a cord (not cordless) phone if you have a home phone service. You dont need electricity to use those phones, just plug it directly into the phone jack.

Try to keep an extra supply of medication if you have to evacuate. Get all insurance papers, identification, etc, in a waterproof container.

if you have any questions feel free to PM me. I've been through so many hurricanes they're second nature to me. I'm used to power going out for a week or two. Hurricane Charley plowed through us in 2004 and we were stuck without power for over a week- in Florida heat with high humidity in the middle of summer. NOT fun.

Most of all, take care! You'll be alright. Be smart, and plan ahead.

Very good advice!

[Maven]

It's category 1, but it may be slightly less (which would make it a tropical storm) as it goes through.

Another thing I saw recommended, although it might be a little late now, is, turn the thermostat in your refrigerator and freezer to their coldest settings, and if the power goes out, only open the door when you have to, and do so and close it very quickly.

In case the power goes out and I don't post for a (hopefully no more than) couple of days, I wish everyone well, and I'm thinking of those of you in this storm and those who are having hard times. Take care! Don't forget your pets!