When I come down to Tampa on Tuesday, I'll be carrying my " summer mini prep kit," which is:

a light weight fleece sleeping bag + bug netting

bug wipes

water, several trail bars

pack of kleenex

pack of cards

a light weight LED flashlight.

60 minute phone card

I planned on stopping at the first Publix and picking up: a box of bottled water

several packs of tuna

box of crackers

batteries for the portable radios that my relatives have

I won't let the gas tank of my rental car get below a 1/2 tank. I also have extensive maps of the area.

Is there anything else in the way of personal hurricane supplies that I should consider? I'm assuming that there's already plywood stored around the trailers for the windows. If not, I'll get some.

-- Anonymous, August 18, 2001

Answers

Oh, yeah. Also have a palm-sized first aid kit (band aids, gloves, asprin). I'm not trained in advanced emergency procedures, so I don't carry that sort of equipment.

-- Anonymous, August 18, 2001

Suntan lotion. A fan, manual or battery powered. sunglasses. A hat.

Flea powder. [sand fleas can be quite bothersome]

-- Anonymous, August 18, 2001

I Should've included a more complete list: hat, glasses, and sunblock are in the main bag, with hand wipes. But I hadn't considered a fan or flea powder. Thanks! I do have several light weight "camping" fans that I bought for power outages here. I'll add one (minus batteries) to the pile and check the weight. Probably do-able. I wonder if airport security will give me grief about the flea powder if I shake some into a plastic bag. I'll put it in my makeup bag. (:

-- Anonymous, August 18, 2001

medically, along with the aspirin and bandages, get something like Neosporin, for disinfecting. you can get bandages with this already in them.

pickup some bleach, just in case you have to purify your own water. Zepherhills water comes from nearby, but that doesn't mean all the water around is as good as that bottled water.

i wouldn't worry about the hurricane overmuch. It'll probably hit us in Miami anyway...the weatherpeople are always wrong...

-- Anonymous, August 18, 2001

well, you can just pick it up locally after you get here, if you think you'll need it.

-- Anonymous, August 18, 2001

If it comes down to it, find a sheet, or towel, or old t-shirt, so you can make a sign to display in front of the house where you are, letting help know how many are there, and if anyone needs specific attention. If everyone is okay, write that. this is for after the storm, of course.

If you can hang it inside a window, all the better...

-- Anonymous, August 18, 2001

I'm glad I asked. Have added Neosporin and bleach to the list. I can almost bet neither household with have those. As for the bottled water, that's a staple up here, too. I toss a box into the trunk at the beginning of the summer and usually go through it before mid- September for one reason or another. It'll get used.

And you're right. I'm not that worried, or I wouldn't be coming down, but I still want to make sure that I have a few useful items around so that I don't have to be one of the frantic people in the stores at the last minute.

-- Anonymous, August 18, 2001

Good idea about the sheet. I'm sure that will be available. I'm actually staying at a motel and spliting time between two households (very small trailers), one of which does not seem to have working a/c, which I find hard to believe, but knowing the relative in question, it's possible that she poured a gallon of oil into the unit or something and is too embarrassed to call the Carrier guy herself. Then again, who knows? If you think of anything else, Barefoot, post it here. I know that I always think of stuff several hours after I start lists.

-- Anonymous, August 18, 2001

Wow, a true doomer! Donit it make ya proud? But Meems, if a storm does head that way, providing you have everything under control (and who would doubt that you won't?), you must go to the supermarket and watch the action! You don't have to buy anything, really, just push a cart around. Oh, okay, maybe throw in a few luxury items, like house-brand baby wipes, paper plates and cups, Sterno and a lighter (you can go through the express lane). But do check out what people are putting in their carts. You'll wonder what those three gallons of ice cream and a week's worth of steak are for. Some people just load up on bread, half of which will be stale in a few days. And, of course, if you're in a store run by an unscrupulous manager, you'll see them doubling the price on things like batteries, flashlights, charcoal, masking tape and bread. Being in a store within twelve hours of a hurricane can be a very educational experience.

-- Anonymous, August 18, 2001

*Why* would anyone be buying ice cream with the threat of a possible power outage?? You have a point about the entertainment value of being a looky-loo. If the situation arises, I'll consider it. (;

-- Anonymous, August 18, 2001

The reasoning is there won't be any power, so buy things you can cook on the grill and desserts that don't need baking. It doesn't occur to the purchasers that refrigeration will be needed.

-- Anonymous, August 18, 2001

you eat the ice cream during the hurricane. You know, during the hurricane party!

The steaks are for the next day. Although we have considered having a small roast, and if anyone asks, we'll say we don't know whose cat/dog it is...

Yeah, we were feeling mean when we came up with that plan.

-- Anonymous, August 19, 2001

get yourself a pair of work gloves, and if you expect to be doing heavy stuff, aside from possibly moving sheets of plywood, get a sturdy pair of gloves. typing calluses are not the same, and not as helpful, as working hands calluses. Hmm, they can come in handy during sewing. maybe some sort of sewing kit might be handy? I would assume that it would be easy to get one where you are going. Most likely one of your relatives or their friends/neighbors will have what is needed, if it is needed.

Hmmm, was just thinking about water again, and Montezuma's revenge. Maybe some pepto-bismol or something like it? LOL

-- Anonymous, August 19, 2001

Work gloves are already packed and I'm wearing work boots (and taking a pair of sandals). I've got appointments with two contractors scheduled for later on Tuesday, but I suspect I'll be the one who ends up sealing the drives and hauling out trash/brush. Wish that I could take my chainsaw, but that would raise some eyebrows at airport security since I'm taking strictly carry ons. Maybe I could convince the Rent-a-Cops that I'm an artist and that the chainsaw must stay with me since it's a professional tool?

-- Anonymous, August 19, 2001

That's a good idea about the Pepto . . . I'll drop several tablets in my "pill box" (35mm film canister).

-- Anonymous, August 19, 2001

I have a better idea now what I'm dealing with, Barefoot. You see, I have three elderly female relatives who moved down to Tampa. Two of them live together in a trailer and the other lives in her own trailer in the same park, over a few streets. For years, their husbands did maintenance and dealt with plumbers, etc., etc.

They bought these two trailers from some other relatives, and this cousin, whom I've met once or twice, was supposed to help with the renovations. His method of "helping" appears to be to show up for a couple of hours once every several weeks and to leave a mess. Case in point: the bathroom window in one trailer was cracked. He took out the window and replaced it with some screen that he stapled on to two pieces of scrap wood. He then used duct tape to fasten this "window" over the hole. It's been that way, now, since late May or so.

I'm getting this description from one of the daughters who is there now and somewhat at a loss as to where to start.

Why have the relatives put up with this? Well, they claim to be broke, as many elderly do, and they are too timid to tell this guy to either fix what he starts or don't bother coming back. I don't know how much they have paid him, but I'm assuming that someone has paid him something.

Anyway, said daughter has checkbook, Visa, and "small bills" with her, so I'm hopeful we can hook up with several professionals to fix the big stuff. I'm sure that a visit to Home Depot will yield a solution for the bathroom window that goes beyond duct tape and staples.

-- Anonymous, August 19, 2001

One god thing you may be able to get thru Home Depot, is the name of a good handyman. that way,after you're gone, the relatives can call the handyman for any further needs.

Home Depot has individuals who will do work, installing doors, etc, and they stand behind them and the work. As long as the relatives get what they need from Home Deopt, that is...

I think it would be better than the cousin. And you run less risk of getting hurt yourself. Remember, it's hot down here.

Salt tablets? Definitely, if you're planning to do major chores outside in the daytime. Heat stroke can sneak up on you fast.

-- Anonymous, August 19, 2001

Chain saw--should be able to rent one. Unless there's been a storm that took down a lot of trees. . .

The 80-year-old woman next door will not deal with repair people, due heavily, I'm sure, to her desire to punish her son, who is called for every problem, from a loose screw in a light switch to the roof needing replacement. Funny--I see her out there whacking down large branches (up to 5-6" in diameter) with an ax. I also see her out there for hours and hours, digging on the yard and doing other outside work. She's also dealt with me on several occasions (which is why we've ignored each other for a couple of years and why there's a six-foot fence on that side of the house), so you know she's capable of handling difficult people. The son has been resisting her lately and has almost persuaded her to go into a retirement or assisted-living facility, where she (and he) won't have to worry about all the maintenance crap.

I don't envy you, Meems. It's not an easy situation--older people want their independence but don't want the hassle of maintenance and dealing with people. Maintenance around Chez Old Git et Sweetie is already a hassle; I'd love to move to a lower maintenance place if we could unload this house. That's probably not a viable option, so I guess I'll have to think about more ways to reduce the work around here, especially outside. I'm thinking large paving stones and greatly increased patio areas. Next spring, I think, if all goes well.

-- Anonymous, August 19, 2001

Well, they're going to have to learn to deal with handymen, and yes, we'll be auditioning several, I'm sure. On the one trailer, I just want to bring in a contractor and crew -- they could do the big stuff in about a day. On the other, I think we're dealing more with overgrown bushes, mold/mildew, and soiled carpet types of problems -- that's the relative who will probably end up with some sort of assisted living. I'm trying to get her son to visit while we're there. He could donate a few dollars to the upgrades, and we'll keep her from smacking him too hard while he looks over the situation. (grin) I'm told she had three unhousebroken dogs there, but they aren't there now. She's not letting anyone inside of the trailer at the moment, so it'll be interesting to see what happens between now and when I arrive. She knows that I don't take "no" for an answer when health department issues are involved.

-- Anonymous, August 19, 2001

Barefoot, you're right about the salt. I do intend to do more supervision during the heat of the day. If we can hire enough helpers, I can do hauling and sealing and then kick back a little. It's been a long, busy summer for me already!

-- Anonymous, August 19, 2001