I just heard it looks like Hurrican Ivan could be heading toward Florida next week! Talk about a triple threat. 3 in a row! My thoughts and prayers go out to all the Floridians. What a end of summer!!!

As their Governor was heard to remark..the people have finally gotten rid of their "hurricane amnesia."

What is unfortunate is that many of these people seemed very un-prepared...what did they do with all those candles and flashlights they bought the LAST time?

Hopefully nobody will suffer any further from "Ivan the Terrible."

Janny, our summer in Florida doesn't end until Hurricane season does, which is the end of November although the weather does break usually in October.

lmf

TopMan, you bring up a very good point. Every time there is the least threat of a storm people here buy batteries enough to arm a mechanical army to fight Iraq. And they buy enough candles to light up Asia! So when the storm doesn't come, I'm always curious what they did with all those things, since they're back again buying thousands more. I've stood in line before a storm at the hardware store watching people buy literally hundreds of batteries of every type. I always wonder what they're doing with all of them.

If I may, I'd like to make a practical suggestion, which is useful for bith the individual and the environment.
I live in NYC, and was downtown for both 9/11, and the Blackout last year.
Just after 9/11, I bought 2 essential things for myself and others in my family. One is a windup flashlight, which never needs batteries. The other is a windup radio, which also does not depend on batteries, can be recharged manually, or with solar power.
I consider these 2 things vital in a survival situation, and I carry them with me in my "Go" bag. During the blackout last year, when I saw lots of people trying to buy batteries, and most stores were locked up, this reinforced my decision.
Now my office, (in a high floor in a midtown manhattan building, has bought these for every department.

You can find them online at www.freeplay.com, among other places. They also sell a windup recharger for cellphones, another smart idea, Radioshack also sells a version of a windup short wave radio which includes a solar cell.

Just a thought....

Still sending positive thoughts to everyone in Florida...

I have a designated closet for long lived hurricane or emergency supplies. Sharper Image and Brookstone are always developing must haves for this space. As for foodstuffs, I buy things every July and donate same in November to the Harry Chapin Food Bank. The food goes to good use and my emergency supply is always in date.

LMF

That's a great donation strategy. Much better than my niece, who was thinking of giving the stuff out to Trick-or-Treaters.