Damn Hurricane is Stressful...
Aug. 26th, 2011 09:57 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkatSpent all day at work fretting about not finding stuff I needed from the stores, after work, due to the stores being raided by the people who didn't have to work today. Really should have bought this stuff earlier in the week. I swear, I think I've made ten trips to the stores. And I still can't find certain things, very weird things...such as "masking tape".
Yes, there has been a run on masking tape, believe it or not. Every other tape is available, but masking tape. Why do I need masking tape? Because in a hurricane you can use it to tape up your windows so they don't shatter inwards, they'll break, but stay intact. If you don't want them to break at all - use a piece of card board in the middle. (Actually, I've been told the winds are worse the higher you are - such as above the 10th floor. I'm technically on the 4th, so all good. Assuming the roof doesn't peel off. Shouldn't in a category 1, assuming it is a category 1.) Do have duct tape however...can most likely use that to tape up plastic bags to protect self from debris. Couldn't find it anywhere - but the hardware store does have it and they will be open again at 8am tomorrow. Bright and early. I may go early. Besides masking tape, I need candles (even though I'm not supposed to use candles and already have three flashlights and a shit-load of batteries), plastic zip lock bags (according to the Momster, if you put water in the bags and freeze it, it will keep things cooler longer in the fridge), plastic containers - to fill up with tap water. More cash from the bank. AND I truly hope that is it.
I came home, grabbed my cart, grabbed my cloth shopping bags and took off. Proceeded to stand in long lines everywhere I went. (People do not bring your entire family to the grocery store - leave the kiddies with one parent at home, PLEASE. Particularly in small stores. We don't need you, the stroller, the three kids, and the Daddy. It's annoying. These stores aren't that big. Some people even brought their dogs. I kid you not.) Have come to the conclusion that the new electronic self-serve device CVS installed is more trouble than it's worth - you scan, you do the checkout, you pay, and teller is a computer. And it constantly is going out of service, requires assistance, or some things just won't scan. This made the line at CVS even longer.
Apparently my cart was too small, silly me. It fit the six tall 16 fl oz bottles of water (equaling gallon 2.5), and two bags of groceries, just barely. Ended up carrying the third over my shoulder. That was trip one.
Trip two...equally exhausting, during which I discovered there was a run on Patron Tequila. I snagged the last bottle. People were raiding the liquor store, who'd have thunk it? Bought more water bottles. More toilet paper. Paper towels. Veggies. And juices - honest aid pomegrant is the hot item at the moment.
The other thing that was hard to find? Kitchen matches. I did find those. Not sure what I'll do with them, but hey, I have them. Have the same problem with the batteries - have a ton of batteries. There's been a raid on batteries! So, very happy bought these babies early on. Enough to fuel my flashlights and pocket AM/FM radio for at least two weeks. Don't really have anything else to use them for. Cell phone is charged. Ditto with computer, Kindle, ipod touch.. all of which I have been charging.
Got home, unloaded all the bags, only to discover one little problem...I don't really have the space for all of this stuff in my cabinets and fridge. And I'm not sure why I bothered buying stuff for the fridge. But...I'm also pretty certain the electricity most likely won't go out. What will is the cable - that's a given. (So much for True Blood on Sunday. But hey, at least I get to see Doctor Who. It's the little things.) If the electricity stays on - I can do a Dexter marathon and a Harry Potter marathon. Also have the first disc of the Australian series - Rain Shadow about two female veternians. (I need something female centric, medically oriented, and not violent to cleanse the palate.) Or I can read George RR Martin...have Feast of Crows both in hard back and on the Kindle (don't judge me, its easier to read on the Kindle) and Dance of Dragons in hard back (again, don't judge me - but I like to flip through the hard back book to see who the point of views are, read the appendix and look at the cool maps.) If the cable stays on? You can get updates on the insane storm, plus photos! If there is no storm - I will be very happy.
Momster called twice - she's worried. (And being the Momster, has managed to come up with things each day that I desperately need and have not thought about getting, which is not helping with my stress level.) Should point out she's not about herself. All they got in Hilton Head was a smattering of rain. No, she's worried about me. The news is terrifying her. Small wonder. Governor Cumo ordered the shut-down of all mass transit by 12 noon on Saturday. That is historic. That has never happened. They've never shut it down completely. Going to be a bloody chore starting it back up again. And by mass transit - I mean buses, subways, and trains - all of it. Bloomberg, not to be outdone by the Governor, and not willing to take any chances, ordered the evacuation of all hospitals in low-lying areas today, as well as the mandatory evacuation of all low lying areas in all five burroughs (Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island) by 12 noon on Saturday. (I don't live in an evacuation zone - but I do live within shooting distance of them - which means I'll get a perfect view of the storm surge outside my window, lucky me.) That also has NEVER happened. He's just ordered the mandatory evacuation of 250,000 people. Mind-boggling, ain't it? Also a bit worrying. They haven't been evacuated all that far - just to the non-evacuation zones. Which are about to get VERY crowded.
If you go here -http://project.wnyc.org/news-maps/hurricane-zones/hurricane-zones.html, you can see the zones for yourself. I'm on 3rd Street between Hoyt and Smith in Carroll Gardens. The Green Zone is behind my apartment, the orange (low-lying) and yellow zones are next door. Basically I'm in a white zone that seats literally next to the mandatory evacuation area, and the zones after it.
Another way of explaining this..I'm on third street one door down from Hoyt, Hoyt is all yellow, 4th street and Hoyt is in orange (this is the mandatory evacuation area), 4th Street and Third - basically my backyard is in green - this non-mandatory and only dangerous with Category 3 hurricanes, Third and Hoyt is in Yellow (this is only mandatory with Category 2). So you figure it out? Do you think I'm in trouble? I honestly can't tell. All I know for certain is I'm not in the mandatory evacuation zone but everywhere directly south of me is or as far as I can see out my back windows. Is this worrying? Oh yeah.
Not that scared of the actual storm - they tend to not last that long. More scared of the after-math, which is likely to be a huge mess, work and life wise for quite some time. I'm really hoping that's not the case and preparing for worst case scenario will aid us all in the end.
Weird sunset...sort of overcast with this dim purplish glow. Eerie. And it was hot and humid today.
I was dripping wet by the time I finished with the shopping and did quite the work-out, lugging home the equivalent of 40 pounds of groceries in the course of two different trips. Up three flights of steps.
I feel completely unprepared and overwhelmed. The information is confusing and stressful. And I've no clue if I bought the right things or did the right things. Every time I think I've got everything covered, someone comes up with some crucial item that I forgot to get.
Off to de-stress a bit, before I have to get up tomorrow morning and start all over again, hardware store first, discount store second. Goal: Candles, Masking Tape, Window Protectors,
And containers to hold lots of water - in case I need it to flush toilets or clean or cook with.
Also some drinks that doesn't require refrigeration. And a cooler if I can find one.
It sounds silly, doesn't it, all this crazy preparation when others are rather blase about it.
But that's NY for you. Today a tourist told an interviewer how lucky they felt to have experienced both an earthquake in NYC and a hurricane. Hmm. Gotta love tourists.
Yes, there has been a run on masking tape, believe it or not. Every other tape is available, but masking tape. Why do I need masking tape? Because in a hurricane you can use it to tape up your windows so they don't shatter inwards, they'll break, but stay intact. If you don't want them to break at all - use a piece of card board in the middle. (Actually, I've been told the winds are worse the higher you are - such as above the 10th floor. I'm technically on the 4th, so all good. Assuming the roof doesn't peel off. Shouldn't in a category 1, assuming it is a category 1.) Do have duct tape however...can most likely use that to tape up plastic bags to protect self from debris. Couldn't find it anywhere - but the hardware store does have it and they will be open again at 8am tomorrow. Bright and early. I may go early. Besides masking tape, I need candles (even though I'm not supposed to use candles and already have three flashlights and a shit-load of batteries), plastic zip lock bags (according to the Momster, if you put water in the bags and freeze it, it will keep things cooler longer in the fridge), plastic containers - to fill up with tap water. More cash from the bank. AND I truly hope that is it.
I came home, grabbed my cart, grabbed my cloth shopping bags and took off. Proceeded to stand in long lines everywhere I went. (People do not bring your entire family to the grocery store - leave the kiddies with one parent at home, PLEASE. Particularly in small stores. We don't need you, the stroller, the three kids, and the Daddy. It's annoying. These stores aren't that big. Some people even brought their dogs. I kid you not.) Have come to the conclusion that the new electronic self-serve device CVS installed is more trouble than it's worth - you scan, you do the checkout, you pay, and teller is a computer. And it constantly is going out of service, requires assistance, or some things just won't scan. This made the line at CVS even longer.
Apparently my cart was too small, silly me. It fit the six tall 16 fl oz bottles of water (equaling gallon 2.5), and two bags of groceries, just barely. Ended up carrying the third over my shoulder. That was trip one.
Trip two...equally exhausting, during which I discovered there was a run on Patron Tequila. I snagged the last bottle. People were raiding the liquor store, who'd have thunk it? Bought more water bottles. More toilet paper. Paper towels. Veggies. And juices - honest aid pomegrant is the hot item at the moment.
The other thing that was hard to find? Kitchen matches. I did find those. Not sure what I'll do with them, but hey, I have them. Have the same problem with the batteries - have a ton of batteries. There's been a raid on batteries! So, very happy bought these babies early on. Enough to fuel my flashlights and pocket AM/FM radio for at least two weeks. Don't really have anything else to use them for. Cell phone is charged. Ditto with computer, Kindle, ipod touch.. all of which I have been charging.
Got home, unloaded all the bags, only to discover one little problem...I don't really have the space for all of this stuff in my cabinets and fridge. And I'm not sure why I bothered buying stuff for the fridge. But...I'm also pretty certain the electricity most likely won't go out. What will is the cable - that's a given. (So much for True Blood on Sunday. But hey, at least I get to see Doctor Who. It's the little things.) If the electricity stays on - I can do a Dexter marathon and a Harry Potter marathon. Also have the first disc of the Australian series - Rain Shadow about two female veternians. (I need something female centric, medically oriented, and not violent to cleanse the palate.) Or I can read George RR Martin...have Feast of Crows both in hard back and on the Kindle (don't judge me, its easier to read on the Kindle) and Dance of Dragons in hard back (again, don't judge me - but I like to flip through the hard back book to see who the point of views are, read the appendix and look at the cool maps.) If the cable stays on? You can get updates on the insane storm, plus photos! If there is no storm - I will be very happy.
Momster called twice - she's worried. (And being the Momster, has managed to come up with things each day that I desperately need and have not thought about getting, which is not helping with my stress level.) Should point out she's not about herself. All they got in Hilton Head was a smattering of rain. No, she's worried about me. The news is terrifying her. Small wonder. Governor Cumo ordered the shut-down of all mass transit by 12 noon on Saturday. That is historic. That has never happened. They've never shut it down completely. Going to be a bloody chore starting it back up again. And by mass transit - I mean buses, subways, and trains - all of it. Bloomberg, not to be outdone by the Governor, and not willing to take any chances, ordered the evacuation of all hospitals in low-lying areas today, as well as the mandatory evacuation of all low lying areas in all five burroughs (Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island) by 12 noon on Saturday. (I don't live in an evacuation zone - but I do live within shooting distance of them - which means I'll get a perfect view of the storm surge outside my window, lucky me.) That also has NEVER happened. He's just ordered the mandatory evacuation of 250,000 people. Mind-boggling, ain't it? Also a bit worrying. They haven't been evacuated all that far - just to the non-evacuation zones. Which are about to get VERY crowded.
If you go here -http://project.wnyc.org/news-maps/hurricane-zones/hurricane-zones.html, you can see the zones for yourself. I'm on 3rd Street between Hoyt and Smith in Carroll Gardens. The Green Zone is behind my apartment, the orange (low-lying) and yellow zones are next door. Basically I'm in a white zone that seats literally next to the mandatory evacuation area, and the zones after it.
Another way of explaining this..I'm on third street one door down from Hoyt, Hoyt is all yellow, 4th street and Hoyt is in orange (this is the mandatory evacuation area), 4th Street and Third - basically my backyard is in green - this non-mandatory and only dangerous with Category 3 hurricanes, Third and Hoyt is in Yellow (this is only mandatory with Category 2). So you figure it out? Do you think I'm in trouble? I honestly can't tell. All I know for certain is I'm not in the mandatory evacuation zone but everywhere directly south of me is or as far as I can see out my back windows. Is this worrying? Oh yeah.
Not that scared of the actual storm - they tend to not last that long. More scared of the after-math, which is likely to be a huge mess, work and life wise for quite some time. I'm really hoping that's not the case and preparing for worst case scenario will aid us all in the end.
Weird sunset...sort of overcast with this dim purplish glow. Eerie. And it was hot and humid today.
I was dripping wet by the time I finished with the shopping and did quite the work-out, lugging home the equivalent of 40 pounds of groceries in the course of two different trips. Up three flights of steps.
I feel completely unprepared and overwhelmed. The information is confusing and stressful. And I've no clue if I bought the right things or did the right things. Every time I think I've got everything covered, someone comes up with some crucial item that I forgot to get.
Off to de-stress a bit, before I have to get up tomorrow morning and start all over again, hardware store first, discount store second. Goal: Candles, Masking Tape, Window Protectors,
And containers to hold lots of water - in case I need it to flush toilets or clean or cook with.
Also some drinks that doesn't require refrigeration. And a cooler if I can find one.
It sounds silly, doesn't it, all this crazy preparation when others are rather blase about it.
But that's NY for you. Today a tourist told an interviewer how lucky they felt to have experienced both an earthquake in NYC and a hurricane. Hmm. Gotta love tourists.
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no subject
Date: 2011-08-27 02:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-27 02:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-27 03:22 am (UTC)My good friend and neighbor and her whole extended family are in NYC for a wedding tomorrow! Perfect timing, Irene! Killjoy.
If you've got water, you should be fine. Bored or stressed, perhaps, but fine. Stay safe.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-27 02:23 pm (UTC)Feel for your family, I probably passed your sister and her family in the multiple stores I visited on Court.
Yeah, they mentioned there were a lot of people who had to cancel or post-pone weddings this weekend. But hey, Monday is supposed to be beautiful.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-27 02:21 pm (UTC)Hope you are okay. And it wasn't too severe. My mother stated there was damage in NC, but mostly in the outer banks.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-27 01:49 pm (UTC)I'm mostly worried about you being without power for a couple of days (because you won't be able to post and assure us that you are okay).
Stay dry and safe... and let us know how it was when it is finally over.
{{hugs}}
no subject
Date: 2011-08-27 02:20 pm (UTC)No problem. Did that on Thursday.
I'm mostly worried about you being without power for a couple of days (because you won't be able to post and assure us that you are okay).
Forget about the power. If my cable goes out - ie, the internet cable, I won't be able to post. Could do it from work, assuming I can get to work - I'll probably be calling in sick on Monday, since mass transit is unlikely to be up and running until possibly Tuesday or Wed.
I don't have wireless. It's all broad-band. I have Wifi off of broadband cable. That's above ground, so likely to go out immediately.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-27 02:44 pm (UTC)I'm hoping that Irene will continue to down-grade and dissipate before she gets to you, but of course I'll worry about you if (or when) you lose your online connection!).