Cat Storm Prep and Cutesy Storm Names

[lavendertook]

I'm waiting to see what the latest is about the storm tomorrow to decide whether or not I should try to trap Brigit when I go up tomorrow and keep her in my bathroom for 5 days. She's at the epicenter of the Delmarva peninsula. She's plenty inland for flooding to not be a life threatening issue, so it's just the wind force that I'm worried about and falling objects. For all the media hype--which I'm giving the finger right now--we are not looking at hurricane force winds, but tropical storm winds are serious enough.

However, temps will not be dropping near freezing, and if I manage to catch her for this storm, it will most likely be much more difficult to catch her for any other weather conditions that arise this winter, and I'm more worried about getting a bad blizzard some time this winter, or sustained severe subfreezing temps, or a real live hurricane this fall that does have hurricane force winds. If I trap her now, I might not be able to trap her then. So I'm leaning toward leaving well enough alone and just going up again Thursday to check on her. Did I say how much I hate the storm hype? Because I do.

And Pepco is telling us to expect days of power outages. No, Pepco, days of power outages for people who do not live in remote coastal areas are not acceptable just because you want to call this a super storm and other cutesy names. You've got plenty of time to prepare for this one and have lots of remote teams on hand if you're willing to lay out the money you collect from us. The damned hype we're being subjected to means you, Pepco should be prepared, not excused.

Comments

[lavendertook]

I just checked Pepco's page and left a scolding letter about their preparations and telling us to expect multiple days of outages with no assurance that they are doing every thing possible to make sure that doesn't happen. I figure I'll beat the wave of people who complain afterwards. (-;

I've been avoiding stocking up my freezer so I don't lose it all, and have plenty of batteries, and enough food that doesn't have to be cooked, and a big cooler, but I sure wish I had a battery operated kettle or hot plate. I do need to stock up on more water tomorrow.

Thank you for your thoughts on trapping her. I just got a big dog carrier at the thrift shop and I'm pretty sure I could get her to reach into the entrance enough for food that I could shove her in the rest of the way if I'm a sneaky enough hobbitses, or go in entirely and make closing the gate easy. She was not hesitant about going in the tub I have sheltering her new feeder. But I don't think I'd be able to play that same trick in the next few months, so I don't want to waste it until it's really needed. She may still be savvy about safe traps and drop traps that she's been caught in the past, that they may not work either.

[lbilover]

I have a propane camp stove, and that has come in handy when the power is out.

I've read that other power companies days ago started arranging for workers from other states to come in and help, so wtf is up with Pepco???? The supermarket I stopped at yesterday was nearly out of water already. I hope you don't have trouble finding it!!!

Well, all we can do is prepare, hunker down and hope it's not as bad as they say. This morning's predicted path affects both of us directly. :/

Hang in there, Carole, and I'll keep my fingers crossed for Brigid!! *hugs*

[lavendertook]

I should look into that. I've never worked with propane.

Cali says other power companies in this area are being like whiners, preferring to use the storm as an excuse to tell us to expect days of outages rather than assuring us they are doing everything possible to avoid that eventuality.

I got my extra water no problem, and I've had gallons of bottles of iced tea in the car, so I'm stocked.

*squooshes* We do seem to be in for it equally. I'm not worried about having to evacuate in my cinderblock building--just the aggravation of power loss. Is your house in low land or near a stream? I hope all will be fine with you and your pups. Thank you on fingers crossed for Brigit. She looked great today and is going into it with full health, a full coat, and a full stomach, so better she should practice with dealing with bad weather in mild temps before the winter. I've got to trust she's smart about arranging her shelter--there are so many promising looking spots around there for someone so small. But it looks like things will clear by Wednesday, so I will try to go check on her then if I can.

[lbilover]

That camp stove has come in very handy. I'm terrified of propane, but I forced myself to learn how to use the stove and I'm very, very careful with it.

Well, it's reasonable to expect with a storm like this that there will be massive outages and that it will take time to fix everything. They can't endanger workers lives by sending them out in the middle of a hurricane to try and do repairs. The big issue is do they have all available workers ready for when it is safe to go out, and so forth.

My big worry here is trees and branches coming down. I am VERY worried about that. I didn't have any flooding during Irene, so I think it's unlikely there will be any water in my basement. Nevertheless, I'm putting anything that could be damaged up higher.

[lavendertook]

*hugs* Hope you;re riding the storm safely, bb.