Hurricane Prep Part 2

Nov, 2012.  I live 35 miles from the Atlantic Ocean so I never thought I would be hit by hurricane force winds.  Hurricane Sandy might blow down the trees behind my home so I got ready to go to a shelter.  The hurricane turned earlier than predicted so 60-70 mile per hour winds hit south Jersey instead of me.  My home is safe, but I lost power for a week.  Everyone who had AT&T had no cell phone service. Verizon cell phones sent only text messages.  Smart phones were useless.  No TV and no radio so we didn't know what was happening.  My brother in Chicago knew more about the storm than I did.    

 

November is cold.  Thank God friends who had power took me in.  My friends don't have handicapped bathrooms so I'm glad I put my folding shower stool in a garment bag and put it in the trunk of my car before the storm hit.  Other adapted equipment I took because they would be hard to replace: The camera I use for this blog that I can operate one-handed, my Saeboflex splint, a small Asus notebook that is light enough for me to handle during Power Point presentations, and rain and winter coats I can zip. 

 

My Second To-Do List.   Print out Hurricane Prep Part 1. Additional must-haves: safety deposit box key, stamps, return labels, envelopes, addresses to pay bills by mail (no Internet), and a small flashlight.  A friend gave me this Sylvania flashlight with a light sensor.  The light turned on the second my power went out.  It is always charged because I keep it plugged in.  I can carry it and my cane in one hand.  It fits in my purse. 

Here are things that will go better next time.  Bought a new cell phone with a battery that will hold a charge.  Bought a car charger for my cell phone and learned to text.  Bought an iPod so I will have a radio next time.  Bought a battery powered lantern for task lighting.  Aiming a flashlight at a task is difficult.  Find a better way to transport software CDs (e.g. Power Point) I can't afford to replace.