I should add that if maggots are allowed to breed in a powerless refrigerator, the unit will almost certainly be permanently ruined. Homeowner’s insurance will not cover this since most people living in coastal zones now have hefty deductibles for named windstorms.
Frankly, the named windstorm deductible is a big reason I’ll probably never evacuate again. This is a decision everyone must make for himself, as circumstances dictate — but do not let govt. officials panic you into a stampede. Buildings in good repair that were honestly constructed in the first place don’t just blow down, even in cat 3+ storms. The damage comes mostly from windblown water, through broken windows and roof damage. The DANGER comes from storm surge: homes and cars should be 15+ feet above mean high tide level to be considered safe from Irene’s storm surge. People at risk for storm surge should be planning their getaway. Pack a bug-out bag now, with a week’s worth of clothes.
Another thing people should do now is make extensive photo/video records of their possessions.
Hadn’t thought of the fridge problem for evacuees. We’ve never lived close enough to have to evacuate. We had to deal with interminable power lossage and evacuees!
Note to those in the eastern parts of PA and upstate NY. You will have evacuees. They’re currently booking all your hotel rooms right now! They will check in and then hit your grocery stores. Then *you* will be out of bread and milk too! Be warned.
I should have known better...I was following Irene on the AccuWeather forums, but decided to see what the Weather Channel had to say. WTF? ‘Social network’? Here’s what’s trending on Twitter? Hashtag North Carolina? What? Ye gads...projectile vomiting here...back to AccuWeather...
Not exactly depending on where you are. Atlantic Beach hasn’t been hurricaned in decades. In NC tradition, people got cheap and planted mobile homes all around that area. My sister had one in Swannsboro. Better yet, they attached sheds and desck structures to the mobile homes. All of that becomes like artillery in a Cat3/4. And they float around.
We have this strange substance falling from the sky...