How did you get ready for Hurricane Irene? Protection wise?

[Robk]

So there we were thinking about Hurricane Irene coming up the East Coast. I have been through quite a few hurricanes and realize what they can do. My wife has never experienced a hurricane. So here is what the thinking was,
HERS: What would you take with you if we had to leave our house? (trick question? Well you Honey! not falling for this )
MINE: How do I protect us if it all going wrong?

So this is what we did (she was actually serious). We put together a briefcase with our important items, insurance poicy, cash, credit cards, passports (useful as ID if you lose your wallet) etc. Next a small bag with a couple of days worth of clothes and some personal needs and also some water and food. Now I being the doom sayer went into full swing. I collected my pistols into one case (it can be done if you don't take all your cases, was using a tall aluminum case also) with magazines. Removed 2 of those pistols and magazines and loaded them up, went with me to the bedroom. Also loaded my AR15 up and put it in its case. All of them would go with me if we leave. I'll be dammed if they get looted from my damaged, empty house!! Now I realize this may sound a bit much, but let me explain. With the way I am seeing our society move and with so much unemployment, I feel it could have become another New Orleans if it was a strong hit. Flooding, no power, no food, leading to looting (would have been on a much smaller sclae here though) and every lowlife trying to take what is not theirs. I would protect my own!

So that being said, did anyone else prepare for the worst or did you just keep to your everyday routine and protection?

 

[45Gunner]

It's a little bit different down here in Florida where we lie in Hurricane Alley. My house is CBS construction (Cement Block covered with Stucco) and I have hurricane shutters for all the windows and doors.

When a hurricane is imminent, we close up all the shutters, pull in the patio furniture and the propane grill goes on the back enclosed porch.

We always keep a supply of canned foods, bottled water, and frozen meats. I have a generator which is capable of supplying enough power to keep the refrigerator and freezer running plus a few lights. I have enough gasoline stored outside to keep the generator running for about a week.

I always have plenty of ammo on hand and my guns, rifle, and shotgun are always loaded and within easy reach. All the important papers, passports, cash, etc. are locked in a commercial grade safe and within the safe is another waterproof lock box wherein the papers and cash go.

We hunker down and wait for the storm to pass. I live in a small gated community with only 36 homes. We all know and help each other. We have other friends that live by the water, which is in a mandatory evacuation zone so they grab what is important to them, board up their home and come stay with us. We are prepared.

We had some heavy roof damage with Wilma and now have a new roof that meets and exceeds all the hurricane codes.

 

[Doyle]

+1 on what 45Gunner said. As long as you live in a reasonably strong stucture you run from the flood and hunker down from the wind.

 

[Boatme98]

Called my kids (I no longer live on the East Coast) to give them a bit of advice. Luckily, they weathered it well. They're in Md.
I've been through a few in my time living in R.I., Mass., Md., S.C., and Fla.

 

[shurshot]

I just stocked up on extra gas for the generator and had the wife cook up a big ham and some cake. Sure enough, power went out, I fired my Honda 5000 up, ate like A KING and watched Mya smile on Ice Road Truckers. No one tried to steal my Honda generator, therefore my arms all stayed safely tucked away.

 

[Helios]

I didn't do anything, other than close the storm shutters. I already have emergency supplies, most people in Florida do, even non gun folks. It's just a way of life. Once a year you run through your supplies, pitch some things, replace some things.

People do tend to buy up all the gas in the days leading up to the storm though.

I will point out that this storm, when it hit, was not a hurricane. The last hurricane strength storm to reach US land was in 2008.

 

[Bud Helms]

Hurricane preparation.

There are plenty of sites and discussion boards for this topic, but it's not our main topic of interest. See rule #5, bullet #6.

Katrina type events as a survival topic fit in the same category as TEOTWAWKI and Zombie threads.

Firearms are the main topic of discussion here on TFL. I see it in the title (looks like an afterthought), then in the opening post( although it was not the main theme). Then the first response stayed on topic (as much as the op did). After that, not so much.

Closed.