Ike update

It looks like we may feel some effects from Ike, and the local newscasters are suggesting the following:

Storm Preparedness Suggestions
Posted: Thursday, 11th September 2008 9:14AM
Among storm preparedness suggestions which should be completed by late-evening Friday are:

a) Should you lose power, fill an ice chest with all available ice in your refrigerator, and place limited amounts of necessary perishable food or medicines requiring refrigeration in it.

B) Ensure that you have a working flashlight and ample replacement batteries make sure the batteries are of the right type.

C) Make sure your cellular telephone is charged. When electric service is off, be certain to only use your cellular telephone for actual calls, and limit those. Do not use it for text-messaging, playing music, reading or sending electronic mail messages, or downloading material from the Internet. A fully charged traditional cellular telephone can last for up to 84 hours, provided none of the things listed above are done. The newer multi-use cellular telephones do not last nearly as long.

D) Make certain you have a couple of days of canned meals, which are edible without heating: stews, soups, and the like.

E) Make certain that you have a fully functional battery-powered radio capable of picking up standard AM broadcasting stations, and that you have one set of replacement batteries.

F) If in your car, do not drive through flowing water which is more than 8 inches deep. This is sufficient to wash away most passenger automobiles. Trucks and sport-utility vehicles should not attempt to drive through flowing water more than 18 inches deep. Most weather- related deaths are due to flooding. Turn around; don't drown!

G) If you have an automatic garage door, open the garage Friday evening and leave it open until the danger of power failures has passed.

H) Secure outdoor objects which are too large to bring inside, so they won't blow away and possibly harm persons or the neighbors' property. This includes items such as lawn furniture, trash cans, and the like.

I) Make certain you have enough batteries for necessary medical devices.

Here is our to-do list for the afternoon:

1. Move hay over to our storage area so that we can fill mangers and button the goats and chickens up in the barn & henhouse without having to haul it in the rain or storms.

2. Fill the empty propane tank (3 are full, but we emptied one over the weekend..these are good for cooking during power outtages).

3. Clean and re-fill water barrel

4. Get prescriptions filled.

5. Filter oil for using in oil lamps (you can filter and use discarded cooking oil in oil lamps)

6. Check supply of batteries and get any that are needed.

7. Lock up yard equipment, clear off patio, and take down hanging plants.

I'm sure we'll add things to the list before tomorrow evening. Here's how the storm is progressing.