Sales Tax Break for Hurricane preparation - updated

I have some interesting additions to the normal list...

I get gallon ziploc bags and ziploc containers and fill them with fresh water... then I fill our chest freezer with them.  First of all, there's more water for drinking.  Second, a huge block of ice like that can stay cool in the freezer even if turned off for days.  Third, it can keep other things cool!

I also like to have my extra propane tank full for my grill.  My neighbors bought little propane cook tops to have working stove burners...

Besides a generator for major things like fridge and fans... there is a small battery type generator that I need to pick up.... it can run 7-8 hrs on a charge.  They're sometimes used to jump cars.. but they have 3-4 outlets and can power several fans all night without the noise of the main generator.

Wow!!  Here we go again...I wonder if we'll get any storms this year.  I can't believe we already had "Andrea" before the season even started...   STAY SAFE MIAMI GIRL!!! 

***We're in the center of the state so we RARELY get much of anything!  One day, we won't be so lucky...

How awesome that your post got picked up in the paper!!!!  Ines...I always stock up on water and stuff even though we don't get huricanes like you do.  We tend to lose power a lot so I always want to be prepared.

Ines...

During the "off" season I collect these necessities and hide them. I have so many packages of batteries hidden that I no longer have any idea of where to find them all :)

I have to hide the water too. We have this terrible habit of breaking into the hurricane water when we run out of bottled water :)

The gas for the generator and the propane are usually the only things I have to fetch. After the '04 season I learned to be (and to stay) prepared.

Congratulations on being picked up by the Herald. That my dear should speak volumes to you :)

TLW...ROAR!

batteries batteries batteries

water water water... water water everywhere and not a drop to drink

I saw something really cool on sale @ Target... a portable AC unit... 7000btu can cool around 200 sf of space... great if you have a camping trip with everyone in the master br!  24hr cycle too...if you have a good generator that can run overnight, it will pull a LOT less than an HVAC!

 Can't run smaller generators longer than 4-5hrs or you'll burn them out though!

Which will happen first... a Cat 4 or Gas over $4?

I understand your reaction completely. After going through Andrew, and more recently through Wilma, just the mention of hurricanes is enough to accelerate my pulse and make my hair stand up! I do the shopping at the beginning of the season, so when a hurricane approaches I can concentrate on other last minute things before the power goes out and the hurricane actually hits. The first hurricane we went through was Andrew, and back then I didn't think of anything else but buying water, canned food, etc.. Then the power went out for more than two weeks, and since the roof was leaking we had extensive water damage. So now before the storm hits I do the laundry and vacuum floors (with two dogs we have to!), and cover computers, printers, tVs, etc., with plastic bags, and also put pictures and picture albums inside plastic bags. Sometimes this may not make a difference as in cases where your roof is blown away and your home completely destroyed. But in our case with Andrew, I could have savaged my computer and many pictures that were completely ruined by the water. And believe me, you know the moment to cover and protect your stuff has passed when you are desperately running around with buckets and cooking pans trying to keep water from getting to every corner of your home.