Prepping for the Frankenstorm

Last year's double whammy of Hurricane Irene and the freak Halloween snowstorm taught me and my family loads about prepping for storms. We were without power for 5 days last October/November, I wrote about our adventures at the Rubin Rodeo in a piece called Occupying Suburbia. While some in my community were not happy with my tongue in cheek humor about not running away to the Ramada Inn, perhaps the consciousness will shift now that these storms are not all that uncommon anymore.

As of last night, word on the street was that there were no more rooms in any hotels in Mt Kisco. While staying in a hotel might keep one warm and dry, I still think that there is no place like home no matter what.

The good news on this storm and others is we have plenty of advance warning, so we can all prepare. For me, top of the list is food. Today I used up the last of my tomatillos to make a big batch of salsa verde. My family will be happy to know I also made a big batch of granola too. Think about snacks and foods that don't require refrigeration.

The hardware stores still have plenty of charcoal, I bought two bags, that should last a week. Once the storm passes by, the weather will be fine for a barBQ or two. We plan to eat well while we weather the inconveniences of possible power outtages that may last a long time.

Now is the time to fill every inch of your freezer with water, or soup or food. Once the power goes out, you can manage to slow the thaw by using coolers. Last year, it took ConEd two days before they showed up with dry ice. Of course last year, we had a handy snow bank outside our kitchen door to put perishables in.

We are fortunate in our home to have a gas stove. We can easily light it with a match if needed. That means plenty of tea, soup and anything else that can be cooked on a stove top.

While we don't have a generator in our house, we have something that I think can be more useful: a well maintained chain saw with plenty of gas. It was hubby's macho Father's day gift a few years back, and it has come in quite handy.  When there is a tree blocking a driveway or the road out of your neighborhood, its priceless to have guys who are skilled in the safe and effective operation of a good chainsaw.

As for lighting, we have a nice collection of good beeswax candles set aside for power outtages. If possible, stay away from cheap, smelly candles, you don't want to be breathing in those fumes.  We also have a collection of flashlights, but our favorites are groovy headlamps, they make walking down a dark hallway far less spooky and they are great to read by.

Flashlights are now hard to find even though the Frankenstorm is still days away. You could play around with making some DIY olive oil lamps. They provide better light than candles and are quite safe. There is even a video on how to make a lamp out of an orange using olive oil.

Most importantly, a good attitude is most necessary when facing an epic weather event like this Frankenstorm. Denial and or whinning won't make a hurricane go away. Prior prepping can help make your freak Frankenstorm a memorable event that the family will remember for years to come!

Resilience, the ability to bounce back from adversity, is a quality that is as important as sustainability. We must face the future with both in mind as the climate continues to warm and get weirder. Transition Towns across the country are poised to help people build resilience in their communities.

The insurance industry doesn't deny climate change is happening, they now require a hurricane/wind damage rider on homeowner policies in our area. This freaky Frankentorm is yet another reminder of what our future will hold as the planet continues to warm from deforestation and the burning of fossil fuels.