Getting Ready For Gustav

We are far enough away from the coast that we don't have to worry much about hurricanes, but close enough that we feel them by way of severe thunderstorms and flooding. Hurricane Rita knocked out our power for 2 days, and thankfully we were prepared.

Going without power is not too serious if you keep your freezers closed, have alternate cooking choices, and the temperatures aren't too hot. The biggest issue for us when power goes out is that our well pump is electric. No power = no water.

Today we are filling our water barrel. We can use this water for many of our needs. We have a gravity fed water filter so that we have clean water for drinking, and the 55 gallons that the barrel holds will last for a few days. We can haul water up from the creek for the animals' drinking water.

Our pantry is full of food that can be prepared out in the summer kitchen with no more effort than if we had full power. When Rita hit 3 years ago, we were able to feed friends and neighbors for a few days...we had a great "block party".

We will be working this afternoon to be sure that the hay barn is full and that the hay storage area (over at mom's) is well-covered. We'll be nailing down everything that's loose, taking down the canopy, filling the water barrel, filling water filters, and filling all containers we can for drinking water for the animals. I will be re-arranging the freezers so that the quick to thaw items are deep in the big freezers, and be sure the smaller freezers have things like sausage, bacon, and lunch meats. This will allow us to open the smaller freezers quickly to get out breakfast meats, and will allow us to get through 3-4 days without the need to open the deep freezers. We have canned meats, soups, stews, chilis, meatloaf, and meatballs in the pantry; so we won't have to open the big freezers at all. If we are without power for 2 days it will make no difference in the quality of the food in the big freezers. They are full and frozen solid so they should hold well if they are not opened.

We are about as prepared as one can be. You never know for sure what you will be faced with, so we do our best to cover all of our bases and help others as much as possible.

God has been very good to us, this storm is not nearly as strong as it was first projected. I pray that the worst has passed over the coast and that He will calm the winds approaching us.

My cousin has an excellent blog about emergency preparedness http://www.buildingmyark.blogspot.com/