i know not a big deal 1st named storm bunch of rain etc......

Yeah... but did you see the news? Local news reported that Lowes (IIRC) has moved over 25,000 generators, I think (I think, only heard half of it) and that was during the tax free hurricane prep holiday. There's been a run on flashlights, etc. sort of like before a hurricane.

I would expect after the season we had last year, people will take this year a little more seriously. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

"...the tax free hurricane prep holiday."

This has got to be one of the most useful things I have ever heard of a government doing. Forgive my ignorance (I don't live in hurricane country), but is this a fairly recent program? Whoever thought it up should get a medal.

Regards, VInce

The hurricane sales tax holiday is new for this year. I have not heard whether or not it will be returning next year. The state of Florida has had a back to school sales tax holiday for a few years and it is very popular.

Doing anything different for this year?

I bought the generator last year, so this year I'm buying 2-3 more gas cans. Won't fill 'em until there's actually a threat, but I never thought they'd be impossible to find when I needed 'em.

Will pack a more complete bag for bug out purposes. Probably won't drive north, but I would like to be as comfortable as I can if I have to go to a shelter.

Already stocking up on a couple of weeks of non-perishables (hey, this is a big deal... I eat out a lot. :-) ).

Bought 6 of these (Reliance Aquatainer 7 gallon plastic containers) last year for water storage. Will clean and refill for this year.

I need to find some sort of area light. Flashlights are great until you just want to sit and read or eat or listen to the radio or... Recommendations?

I've hired a lawn guy to come cut the remaining brush / trees back and away from the house. Had new fencing installed to replace the easily blown over rotted out stuff that still managed to survive from last year.

Bought several tarps to use for emergency hole repair.

Bought a battery operated FM radio.

Will buy a small inverter to run various things off car battery. Also need to get a car adapter for my cell phone.

Looking for a camp stove to cook / reheat with. Also, some small metal cookware.

Mostly, I'm just trying to get ready before there's even a watch issued. Last year, I didn't prepare until it was too late, then couldn't catch a break between hurricanes to catch up. Among other things, a power outtage is boring. No internet, no TV. I'd read all the stuff I had, so mostly I just listened to the car radio. I think I'm going to buy some books and such and put 'em away until either the next black out or this fall, whichever comes first. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I guess that's mostly it. If I don't get a direct strike, it's just a question of staying in the house (with or without power) for a week or more.

Hi Groo - area lights have been a very interesting item to me since the Blackout of '03 (sounds more dramatic when you call it the Blackout of Ought-Three <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />).

Here's a thread from candlepowerforums that has some suggestions:
CPF disaster light suggestions

My shorter, quicker answers on this:
--In fluorescent lanterns, the only one I've had is the GE Steelbeam. Apparently, GE has run through several versions of this light - slight changes to the body is the only thing I've see change. Blue, red and now green bodies available at Costco for $15 each. Sturdy, acceptable performance, you'll be able to read around a table with one of these. It's just on and off, though, no adjusting light output.
--Check your local Big Lots. I have a buddy in Tampa who found two Energizer lanterns being sold on final clearance there in the past week. First is the Energizer 2-LED folding lantern. These HAD been available at Office Depot stores, usually behind the counter, next to the batteries. However, the light was discontinued a while back, and on CPF some said that they would no longer be for sale at retailers. I don't know if it's true across the board, but they're no longer available at my local Office Depot.
These lanterns run on 4AA batteries, claim 200 hours on low, 100 hours on high. Not much difference in output between low and high. They fold so you can angle the light in a variety of ways, and have a hook and a hole in the tail you could thread paracord or similar cord through, to hang or suspend them in a variety of ways. These are a HUGE deal at $2.99 each. A stack of them, and you could light the bathroom, etc., just enough to get around, or use several in one room to boost the light level.
2-LED folding lantern
--Also at Big Lots, the Energizer Accent Lantern. These are sold in a pack of three, and were meant to be yard/walkway lights, but they're very small 1-LED lanterns that run on a single D-cell battery for something like 100 hours. Again, not lots of output, but long life and more than adequate for nightlight, enough to read by if held close, and the 3-pack is $8.88. (scroll down a bit to see photos of the light)
Accent lantern
--Innovage 12-LED lantern. These also run on 4 D-cells, like the Steelbeams. Roughly the same size, they are fully adjustable on output. At highest output, they're in the ballpark of the Steelbeam, and they claim 40 hours of battery life at full output. Available at boscovs.com online for $10.99 each, and sometimes in stores at Rite-Aid for special or seasonal sales.
Innovage
--The Nuwai (or sometimes you'll find it under other brands) 12-LED lantern. Also 4 D-cells, adjustable like the Innovage version. I think the build quality is a better on these Nuwai lanterns than on the Innovage, but prices on this lantern tend to be in the $35-$55 range. For that reason, I think the Innovage is a much better deal, and well worth it for the price of $10.99.
EMS version of lantern

Good luck with your preparations.
Dave

Outside of the Bug out Bag, I like to lay in a supply of extra stuff at the beginning of the storm season:

1. Toilet paper
2. Candles
3. Rotate out meds, bottled water and canned food. ( and pet food!)
4. Update tools -- gloves, pry bar, tarps, blankets, etc.
5. Add suggerstions from ideas read here.

Hey Groo,

Check out Coleman's dualfuel lanterns and two burner stoves, I've got one of each that have a permanent place in my BOB gear, though they're occasionally used camping/boating/whenever. They both saw service last year on loan to my folks (tornado in Utica). I usually stick to Coleman fuel (it burns a bit cleaner) but it's comforting to know that a fill-up is only as far away as the closest gas-tank. In my experience, they're dependable and fairly low maintainance, which in my books is a plus. As far as the light from the lantern goes, when Mom & Dad's entire neighborhood was blacked out, the people next door came over to find out why my folks had power...the lantern lit the kitchen up that well... let's see a battery powered lamp do that! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Troy

Be carefull when using Coleman lanterns inside, the gas ones emit CO and CO2 in quantity. Have plenty of ventilation.

The only thing i have been thinking of getting for this season is a bigger generator. What i have will run the fridge, freezer, and well pump. But something that will run all of the above and a couple of window shakers at night would be nice. I can work all day in the heat but i sleep better when i am not sweating.

Groo,
The car size inverters work well, it easily kept my laptop and power tool batteries charged. Wasn't able to spend as much time online as i would have liked but was still able to get my ETS fix. Also have the 12 volt charger mounted in the truck for streamlight stingers so i was able to keep the flashlights charged.

OK, so a bit of an update. I just got ahold of some of the Energizer "Accent" lanterns last night.

Doing the "standing in the bathroom with the door closed and light off" test, these don't put out tons of light. I think they'd be best used as a nightlight/find your way around the dark room light. You could read with them, basically sitting at the edge of your book, but it's a ghostly/diffused light.

A couple intersting things about these lanterns - they fit snugly into a stake that's about 8 inches long, so they can be sunk in a yard (they were designed as outdoor yard lights).
Also, they have two half-circle rings on top that you could use to hang them off a suspended string or hook/nail in a wall.

They're designed to run on a single D cell, but with sizer/adapters for batteries, you could use any smaller battery to run them (for a shorter runtime)
battery adapters
Also, folks on CPF have talked about creating their own adapters out of pipe from a home supply store. I plan to store these with a single lithium AA battery in them, so they can store ready to use, and I can replace them with D batteries at leisure/when necessary.

Dave