Well, I'm preparing as best as I can, here on Long Island. Forecasters predict the Hurricane, named Irene , will make landfall on Long Island. We are expecting 90MPH winds.
I have stocked up on bread and cheese, and bought a fresh jar of peanut butter (I had run out of PB). I bought eggs, and hard-boiled a dozen. I have about four gallons of water in my 'fridge. I plan to pt masking tape on my windows later.

My batteries are charged, and I have an inverter, so at least I will have my radio, in the event the power goes out.

Who else is preparing for the big storm? Long Island was devastated by a hurricane in 1938, but that was before I was born.

According to Google and City Flood Maps I'm 20 feet above sea level and out of the expected flood zone. I'm also one short block away from the supermarket. Still, it never hurts to have a fresh supply of PB&J on hand.

Do you have flash light, candles, first aid kit? It never hurts to be prepared. I went all out for a storm about 2-3 years ago, but it turned out not to be that bad. But I figure its better safe than sorry.

I am supposed to fly back from Cancun to Boston tomorrow....

A: I hope to hell that flight isn't cancelled.
B: I hope to hell I can get a ride in on Saturday because I have been off the bike for a week now....

Having been through so many of these "Storms of the Century" that never materialized, I have to admit that I'm slacking on any kind of preparations right now. In fact, like many other readers, my biggest concern is that I might miss one of the precious late summer-fall weekend rides that I look forward to every year around this time.

I'll probably charge up my Nite Rider bike light, which is the best damned flashlight I've ever owned. And perhaps I'll fill some water bottles...but that's about all.

Since I'm about 1000 feet above sea level, I'm not too worried about this hurricane unless the high winds bring some trees down into the house or knock out power. In any case, I've got plenty of beer and food.

Here in Great Neck, not worried about flooding. But we have some additional water here and plenty of clif bars.

A.) It probably will.
B.) It's moot. I'm willing to bet you won't be here.
It might be better that way dnuzzo. Stay well.

For those in places that lose power, feel free to send me all your ice cream.


just kidding, stay safe and above water folks!

Jay

I'm in Teaneck. We've stocked up on everything. One thing I might add: take pics of your rooms in case anything gets damaged. It's easier to show for insurance purposes.
Also, have all your IMPORTANT forms(passport, insurance info, birth cert.) with you or in a safe place.

Deck furniture in basement, grill in garage, batteries fresh, making sure I have wax for the surfboard and a vacation day or 2 - bring it

I'll be stocking up on spam, deviled ham, crackers and spray on cheese.

I actually went out and bought water today, the big jug office water cooler sizes. First time in 30 years living on L.I. I had to laugh at all the folks buying cases of the 20oz sized Evian, Fuji and Poland Springs. I'm thinking they are not getting the concept that in 4 days you'll be using it for a bath.

I was/am a bit more worried about this one as it's really headed direct for Nassau County and I'm 3 blocks south of Sunrise in Freeport. I actually got a call today from what I think was Mango-Mango's office telling us that "everyone that lives south of Sunrise is in a mandatory evacuation zone". WTF !, first time I've every heard that one !. I'm not in a Cat 3 zone and barely in a Cat 4 zone so am staying put. Freeport's got it's own power system and we tend to stay up, crossing fingers...

I heard a good tip on the Weather Channel tonight: Fill some tupperware containers with water and freeze them. Should you lose electricity, the ice will help preserve items in your freezer or refrigerator for a longer period of time. I was all over that, but I haven't stocked up on milk, eggs, and bread. I don't normally make french toast, so why would I make it during a hurricane?

Blueberry capital of the world - NJ!?!?

Maine produces 25% of all lowbush blueberries in North America, making it the largest producer in the world.[citation needed] Maine's 24,291 hectares (60,020 acres) (FAO figures)[Full citation needed] of blueberry were propagated from native plants that occur naturally in the understory of its coastal forests. The Maine crop requires about 50,000 beehives for pollination, with most of the hives being trucked in from other states for that purpose. Many towns in Maine lay claim to being the blueberry capital, and several festivals are centered around the blueberry. The wild blueberry is the official fruit of Maine and is often as much a symbol of Maine as the lobster. While Maine is the leader of lowbush blueberry production in the United States, Michigan is the leader in highbush production.[6] In 1998, Michigan farms produced 220,000 tonnes (490,000,000 lb) of blueberries, accounting for 32% of the small, round berries eaten in the United States.[7]

Significant acreages of highbush blueberries are cultivated in the states of New Jersey, Florida, Georgia and North Carolina.[8][9]

so much for tour de putnam! charging my ryobi 18v batteries for the flashlights and charging my seca 1400 headlight. dutchess county (NY) tends to lose power with these things - good thing I had my beach vacation last week.

I lived in Biloxi, Mississippi during a category 2-3 hurricane about 15 years ago. I watched the storm surge raise the water level in the back bay 20 feet at the apartment complex I lived in at the time. Narragansett Bay, where I live in now, is funnel shaped which means that a storm surge magnifies the flood level well more than might be expected.

The tupperware ice trick is a good one Miss Kenton. I'm freezing some water right now and will lay in some extra food today. I have two kerosene lamps in the event power is lost for several days and a portable radio.

Cleaned up the yard this morning. Stocked up yesterday.
That leaves me with plenty of time for a nice ride today

https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ Irene seems to be moving just a tiny bit faster now. Time to batten down the hatches.

New Jersey, IIRC, is the Tomato Capital of the US, followed by California.

I've filled four half-gallon milk bottles with water, and put them in the freezer, but not all-the-way full, so they don't burst.

I bought more saltine crackers, and more canned beans.

I got a bottle of vinegar.

I put the masking tape on my windows.

I've got lots of bicycle lighting to use as flashlights, I'm not worried there. I've got 12 volt Ebike batteries, and an inverter, so I can listen to the radio.

I have a home made camp stove, and about ten pounds of charcoal. Moving my furniture in from the balcony.

Batten down the hatches!

Mom's winter home is in Malverne, Long Island, and nobody's home. Not sure if any of the neighbors have a key. I heard that taping the windows is an old wives' tale. Should I be worried? Any suggestions?

Mom is up in Gloucester right now with her store in Rockport, right on the water, and we might be heading there to batten down the hatches and then take her back with us to Boston if the sh*t hits the fan. They've been talking about evacuating Gloucester and Rockport...

As for me, in Boston, we live next door to a cemetery so I'm not worried about flooding. I think it's pretty likely my rickety old shed will implode, which I would not be too upset about since it would be nice to have our insurance pay for a new one. But I'd cry if all my bikes that are inside that shed got crushed, so they're going into the basement along with the outdoor furniture. We cancelled our paddling trip to Maine this weekend -- not going to want to drive back to Boston on Sunday in these conditions.

Still planning on doing D2R2 tomorrow even though going home will be a bit sloppy.

It doesn't do much harm to be hungry for 2 or 3 days . Does anyone know, of those mandatory evacuations, where will the people stay? Is the city going to offer free hotels?

I'm on the next to the last block of the evacuation zone.
Just prepped the house and am sitting it out.