[Jims5543]

Anyone in the path a 1st timer? I have been through a few of these now. I spent the entire month of Sept 2004 without power with a 1 year old kid in the house.

We have a rule, weak cat3 and under sit tight.

Strong Cat 3 monitor with plans to sit tight but do not discount evacuating.

Cat4 and 5 GTFO out nothing is worth it and trust me sitting through a Cat 3 storm in your house is unnerving. The sound the wind makes screws up your head. Get away get somewhere safe and come back rested and ready to clean up.

Tips you will not get on the news.

- Gas pumps are usually on 24 hours a day, make a gas run, even if you have to run 100 miles away and get it in the middle of the night.

- Alcohol sales will be banned when evacuation is mandatory until well after the storm. Forget bread and milk make sure you have beer and whiskey.

- Fill your fridge with lots of water containers and freeze them all now, they will help keep things cold for a long while after the power goes out.

- Unplug your dishwasher, put things you cannot fit in your car in there, pictures papers thinks that you do not want to be water damaged. Close it up tight, it is water proof.

- You will be on your own after the storm, form a network of friends or family who you can work together with and help.

Above all else, be safe, I am hoping this storm would turn away and go bother the fish.