Hurricane Party Prep

What????? You landlubbers, hill folks, and Highlanders don’t know about Hurricane Parties????? Well get ready for some Coastal, sea level thoughts.

First thing you must remember is that most Hurricanes are short lived, but really intense events. Soooo you need to get ready days ahead. First you go to the food store and stock up on milk, bread, and Twinkies. This has to be done early so you don’t get beaten out by the old folks. When you leave you should have at least a two week supply with you.

Next you have to consider the decorations. Minimal is the watchword here. Unlike your typical BBQ you don’t need chairs, tables, tikki torches, smudge pots, marshmallow sticks, smoker grills, or strings of festive left over Christmas lights you forgot to put away. Put is all away. Strip that patio or porch nekid!!!! If you can’t store them than a good round up and lassoing will do.

 

                 

          Next find some really light blow away sort of building and strap it down. (Attention guys,,, this is a great excuse to head out to Tractor Supply). You’ll need some BIG cork screws, some webbed ratchet straps, a new flashlight, and a John Deere hat.

In our neighborhood blue straps are in style this season. The 8 pack is the best deal. If they still have generators you might as well grab one of those too. Can never have too many….           

Your almost ready now!!!! the next step can be relegated to the kids. Go around and pick up all the little chachkies the girls have stuck around the yard. You know, the ones you drove over while cutting the grass. The ones that bent the blade and ended up in a million pieces that you are still hitting while mowing.               

By this time your barn should be full and looking like this

And don’t forget that most sacred item of all outdoor furniture. The one and only piece you were allowed (after some major whining) to pick out. The Honorable Hammock.

So now you are ready to sit back and wait for those wonderful 11 and 5 o’clock National Hurricane bulletins.

We added a few extra steps this time, like gassing up the chain saw, fueling the tractor, taking the mowing deck off to help drive over debris piles. You can also bring some tarps and rope in the house, fill the bathtub if you are on a well (no flushing without electric).

So you may be wondering what the Princess was doing all this time????? I have to admit, she refuses to miss out on fun stuff like this. She took the ride to Tractor Supply with me. Helped clear, took all the pictures, made some great tomato sauce from the last of the tomatoes, and best of all invented “Fried Eggplant Poppers” (don’t worry AC, the recipe will follow).

Well as of 5PM Irene was approaching the Outer Banks and getting ready to turn Northeast and hug the coast. The intensity seems to be lessening and she should be just a Cat 2 storm as she passes us tomorrow evening. Hopefully she will be in a hurry to get to the ‘Big Apple’.

That is us just below the third H on the chart. I’ll have more on this in the morning. Now I think i have to go save some ice cream from a possible ‘melt down’.

Grenville