Lessons learned from Irene

asides from being slightly bored i just read and played guitar a lot. most annoying thing was no contact with people and no fridge!

Lessons learned here is NEVER EVER question my husband on a purchase for the house no matter how expensive. A few years ago he bought a generator for about $800 (it is large enough to run our fridge, extra freezer, hot water heater, sump pump, microwave, cell phone chargers and a few lights throughout the house). We have NEVER EVER needed it. That baby ran pretty much 4 days straight (once the sump pump stopped running we gave it some downtime)

My 2 immediate neighbors are NEVER EVER allowed to go on vacation at the same time again. I have been left dealing with the mess of their flooded basements.

I need a key to BOTH neighbors houses AND I should voice my opinions.
Neighbor 1 - (how is a district manager with the power company) assured me that our power would be priority if it went out as we are on the same grid as the PD. HE LIED. They had power, we were out for 4 days. Oh yeah, he wouldn't give me a key to the house because I wouldn't need it. I offered to hook his sump pump up to our generator. No worries. Yeah - he had 12+ inches in his basement. Spent today emptying his freezers and fridge (daughter got us in through the garage door - she has an opener for it but no key to the house). Then I spent 2 hours shop vaccing his basement (daughter is pregnant and her hubby is out of town)

Neighbor 2 - had a "new" sump pump system installed the morning before the storm, and the day they left on vacation. No need to worry Lani, it is a suction based system. If the power goes out it will still get the water out of the sump well. Right. They have a finished basement and left Friday night. Sunday I got to call them in California and tell them they had a foot of water in their basement (I did get their sump pump connected and the water out but too late). I spent today hauling anything I could salvage out of their basement before the carpet guy comes tomorrow (oh yeah, I need to stay home for that too) because THEY DID NOT COME HOME FROM VACATION. Really? First neighbor is on a cruise in Europe, we can't reach him. Other neighbor should come home.

Power is underappreciated.

Lani

Ahh shucks, why thank you. They would do the same, I have no doubt. We all moved in to new construction about the same time and have been neighbors for 13 years. Our kids have grown (are growing) up together. We often joke if one of us wins the lottery we all move together.

I'm leaving a brochure for the Bermuda triathlon in their mail. Think they'll get the hint and pay my way?

True, it's tough going without power.  Been there a few times with various hurricanes.  I wish you guys the best and hope everything gets up and running ASAP.

Other lessons learned from hurricanes in the south:
1. You can never have enough mosquito spray.
2. Beer is an absolute must for your food rations. Our city was declared dry post-Ike!!
3. If you have a generator, think of also having an inexpensive window-unit A/C to put in one bedroom for sleeping in post-storm sweltering heat.

I could continue, but those are the top of my list for next time.

Whisky, gas, cash and bullets...   They will be worth more than gold when the big one comes.