[hulahips]

Battery operated fans

[golf2140]

Originally Posted by roob1

Has there ever been an evacuation in The Villages due to a hurricane hitting FL?

Has anyone ever lost power and/or water for extended time in The Villages due to a hurricane hitting FL?

Please elaborate any hardships you have encountered in The Villages due to a hurricane hitting FL.

1. No

2. No

3. Been here for 2004 and 2005 never lost power. Keep calm

[asianthree]

Up north we have lost power for up to 10 days, couple times a year. We are so prepared in winter months for the worst, except flood. We have a contractor generator that will run everything except air conditioner. Thinking when I finally do last purge I just might bring it with me.

[coffeebean]

Really gun shy about flooding since seeing what happened to friends of ours in Kingwood, Texas. They never had flooding before even though other areas of Houston were flood prone even with moderate rain. They had 51" of water in their home and lost pretty much everything on their first floor.

If it were me, I would have prepared for the flood by bringing anything that wasn't nailed down to the second floor. I don't think I would have moved furniture though. Then......thinking about preparing for a flood, what if the roof blows off with the high winds? What do we do here in our homes with no second story? If we prepare for flood and move things to the attic, then we have to worry about the attic being exposed if the roof blows off. What do we do????

[jsw14]

Originally Posted by golf2140

1. No

2. No

3. Been here for 2004 and 2005 never lost power. Keep calm

YUP, Keep Calm is the word.. Tap-water won't kill Ya...

[coffeebean]

I'm ready to drink water from my Clorox cleaned tub. Agree....tap water won't kill ya.

[Happinow]

I just saw the news and they predict winds of 100mph in Orlando! I'm worried...... Is anyone leaving????

[Rango]

Got beer!

[obxgal]

Here are some tips if Irma decides to come this way:
A few hurricane tricks for those who may need it:
1. Start running your ice makers now and bagging the ice in freezer bags. Fill as much with space in between your freezer items as you can.
2. Freeze regular tap water for pets, cleaning or drinking in tupperware-type containers. REMEMBER to leave a small bit of space between the top of the water & the lids so the ice expands but doesn't crack the container.
3. Start using up your perishables to make more room for ice in the freezer.
4. Fill up all vehicles & check tires & oil. Fill up any gas containers you may have.
5. Cash from ATM, at least enough to get you through tolls and gas out of town. Call your bank if you plan on leaving the state so they don't freeze your card for out-of-area "suspicious" transactions.
6. All important docs screenshot & send to your email. Take originals in sealed bags or plastic bins.
7. Pet & livestock food & supplies. Vet records in case you need to shelter then at a storm-safe facility.
8. Evacuation plans and share with family members so they know where you're headed.
9. Consider putting heirlooms & photos in plastic bins in a high place, or safe room if you don't plan on taking them with you.
10. SECURE ALL FIREARMS & AMMUNITION PROPERLY.
11. Old rags & beach towels on your windowsills. Even with the best windows & shutters, water seeping from the wind pressure happens. A few damp towels is better than soaked drywall or floors!
12. Shutter windows and doors and bring everything outside into your garage or house NOW. Do not wait until the day before. Better to get done early and relax than wait until its too late.
13. If you don't already have your hurricane supplies, you might want to get them now. Shelves are already empty in most places.
14. Stock up on can goods, bottles of water. Canned tuna, salmon, baked beans (all can be eaten cold). Peanut butter, Jelly etc. Might be with out electric.
15. If you have a grill, stock up on propane.
16. Fill your tubs with water to flush your toilets with.
17. Lower your pool water to prevent flooding from that.
18. Have a hand can opener.
ALSO Stock up on meds.!!!

And don't forget to take in anything that could fly during high winds. Bird houses, feeders, grills, lawn furniture, lawn ornaments, etc.

[jsw14]

Originally Posted by Rango

Got beer!

Yupper's.....

[Trayderjoe]

Originally Posted by obxgal

Here are some tips if Irma decides to come this way:
A few hurricane tricks for those who may need it:
1. Start running your ice makers now and bagging the ice in freezer bags. Fill as much with space in between your freezer items as you can.
2. Freeze regular tap water for pets, cleaning or drinking in tupperware-type containers. REMEMBER to leave a small bit of space between the top of the water & the lids so the ice expands but doesn't crack the container.
3. Start using up your perishables to make more room for ice in the freezer.
4. Fill up all vehicles & check tires & oil. Fill up any gas containers you may have.
5. Cash from ATM, at least enough to get you through tolls and gas out of town. Call your bank if you plan on leaving the state so they don't freeze your card for out-of-area "suspicious" transactions.
6. All important docs screenshot & send to your email. Take originals in sealed bags or plastic bins.
7. Pet & livestock food & supplies. Vet records in case you need to shelter then at a storm-safe facility.
8. Evacuation plans and share with family members so they know where you're headed.
9. Consider putting heirlooms & photos in plastic bins in a high place, or safe room if you don't plan on taking them with you.
10. SECURE ALL FIREARMS & AMMUNITION PROPERLY.
11. Old rags & beach towels on your windowsills. Even with the best windows & shutters, water seeping from the wind pressure happens. A few damp towels is better than soaked drywall or floors!
12. Shutter windows and doors and bring everything outside into your garage or house NOW. Do not wait until the day before. Better to get done early and relax than wait until its too late.
13. If you don't already have your hurricane supplies, you might want to get them now. Shelves are already empty in most places.
14. Stock up on can goods, bottles of water. Canned tuna, salmon, baked beans (all can be eaten cold). Peanut butter, Jelly etc. Might be with out electric.
15. If you have a grill, stock up on propane.
16. Fill your tubs with water to flush your toilets with.
17. Lower your pool water to prevent flooding from that.
18. Have a hand can opener.
ALSO Stock up on meds.!!!

And don't forget to take in anything that could fly during high winds. Bird houses, feeders, grills, lawn furniture, lawn ornaments, etc.

Nice list! I would add to the list to charge all phones/devices you might need prior to losing power (basically if the storm is predicted to track here, make sure you charge your devices before the winds arrive).

One thing that we have for after the storm is a set of tarps just in case we lose shingles so that we can try and add at least a little protection to the underlayment. When the tornado came through (was it 2007?), our home lost some shingles, a vent, and a screen (we were lucky as homes two streets over had more damage). If you have spare shingles (or can get them fairly quickly after a storm) and are handy and can replace them yourself, then you probably aren't as concerned.

[kcrazorbackfan]

Originally Posted by golf2140

1. No

2. No

3. Been here for 2004 and 2005 never lost power. Keep calm

The sky is falling, the sky is falling. We've got propane, canned goods, water, generator, gas in all containers - everything everyone needs but it's something we have all the time.

Isn't central Florida where all Floridians go to when there is a evacuation?

[coffeebean]

I plan to put the gas BBQ grill in the house. What do I do with the propane tank? I don't want to leave it outside.

[Nucky]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

I plan to put the gas BBQ grill in the house. What do I do with the propane tank? I don't want to leave it outside.

Please don't even think about using the BBQ Grill in the house or garage. Google it for the details why it's a bad idea.

[newknees12]

Take good photos of the interior and exterior of your home before the Hurricane. Helps a lot if you have to do an inventory of damages. Upload it to the Cloud for safekeeping.