(Part 4) Top products from r/TropicalWeather

Even if your wife is planning to breastfeed, have formula on hand just in case. I'd recommend the ready-to-feed (RTF) stuff that comes in the little bottles (like this). That way you don't have to worry about your water source, or washing/sterilizing bottles. You can get individually wrapped nipples for them, too (Amazon link). One of the other commenters said you have to refrigerate the RTF formula, but that's only true once it's been opened.

If your wife *is* planning to breastfeed, i'd recommend a manual breast pump and/or a haaka in case baby has trouble latching and she wants to express milk. They have electric pumps with battery powered options, too, if you want to look into that. (in this case you'd obviously also need bottles and a way to wash/sterilize them).

Obviously diapers and wipes too. Another thing is we do so much freakin laundry, which, in the event of an extended outage, wouldn't really be possible. So more onesies and swaddles than you think you need and burp cloths/rags in case you have a spitty baby.

Some items we Amazon Primed in the first week or two that we didn't know we needed: simethicone gas drops, probiotics, vitamin d drops, velcro swaddle, different size pump flanges, slow flow nipples, saline spray/drops, miracle blanket swaddle, and a partridge in a pear tree.

Newborn babies are hard, and I hope you don't have to deal with a hurricane at the same time! Praying for calm weather in your area!

I know of two, purchasable options that exist:

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Security window film on the inside of windows - won't stop glass from breaking, but will control glass particles and could prevent something like a branch breaking all the way through the glass: https://www.amazon.com/Security-Window-Film-Wide-Roll/dp/B004LDBPY2

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Hurricane clips exist, which let you place plywood in the window casing without drilling (not an option on all window types, but pretty great if it works for your space): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014PYV0P0/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_AlBADbHFM1CCB

I have the same situation. I've boarded up a few times, and the first couple of times I was in a hurry and I just screwed directly through the plywood into the stucco around the window. Yes, it left holes after I took it off, but it works, though you do need to have plywood that's larger than the window opening. To do that, I bought Tapcon screws like these. They're made to screw into concrete and anchor something. The packs of these screws also come with a drill bit that works on concrete. It's easier if you have a hammer drill, but that's not required. So I'd just drill straight through the plywood into the stucco in each corner(ish), then screw those blue screws in. I think I did that for two different hurricanes back in 2004 (I'm in Orlando) and it worked fine.

Later, to stop putting holes in my house every time I boarded up, I put in some bolts sort of like these (I can't find exactly what I used) that are threaded on both ends. Then you just slide the plywood over the holes (assuming you drilled matching holes in the plywood) and put a wing nut over it to lock it down. The bolts I got came in a set with the wing nuts and even with rubber covers for the exposed inch or two of bolt to keep the threads clean. Yes, I've got these white pegs sticking out of the corners near my windows, but it is pretty easy to put the boards up now.

I’ve been reading an amazing book about Polynesian settlement. You should check it out. It’s fascinating and a really good read. The problem is it’s led to a google earth and Wikipedia binge where I’ve learned about islands formed by a god doing goatse to captain cook to the physics of sailing and now I’m ready to leave my family and buy a sailboat.

I'm a first time homeowner in FL and am considering boarding my windows when the time is right.

However, in the past I lived in a stucco house with deep window casings where I could use Plylox, which are fantastic!

In this house with Hardie board siding and wood window sills, the window is not nearly as deep so plylox won't work. Is there a good mounting system that I can put into the window sills and reuse without having screw into the sill each time I need to put plywood up?

Edit: I guess I'd use something like this maybe? https://smile.amazon.com/Simpson-SPS25344-KT-Storm-Panel-screws/dp/B008BQ2CTW/

One suggestion from past experience, buy a tire plug kit like this or this. If your area is hit by a serious storm there will be roofing nails and other debris on the roads. The plugs will usually do a good job with nail punctures and it's easy to do.

You can buy a 12v fan that runs off of a cigarette charger in a car. Then you can buy a $100 deep cycle marine battery and run the fan for almost two weeks. You can also use the battery to charge your phone. All in, for less than $150, you can charge your phone and have a fan for over a week without power.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003SS62PS/
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00G8WLX78/

A windup radio is important (something like this).

Candles & Books.

Whatever works for you. :) Personally I'd rather go to the dentist than WalMart.

Kirkland batteries are also available on Amazon...

https://www.amazon.com/Kirkland-Signature-1-5V-Alkaline-Batteries/dp/B003FZ4RQA

They are more expensive there though (I think they are $11 at Costco vs. $22 at Amazon). But probably still cheaper than 48ct. Duracells.

I've seen this thing called "hurricane tape", not sure if that meets your criteria, or if you could get any in time. Here's a listing on amazon, but you might be able to get it somewhere else.

And here's a video of it in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIwNNuLo42w

Edit: Fair warning, standard advice is NOT to simply tape your windows. So hurricane tape might not be as good as the company would have you believe. It might be worth taking the fine from your apartment to board up your windows instead.

Try these, should help.

https://www.amazon.com/Trinity-Vibes-Fill-er-up-Piece-Purple/dp/B0084FXAQE?th=1

When you get diarhea, you should get one of these and you might not need any of your bottled water.

https://www.amazon.com/LifeStraw-Personal-Camping-Emergency-Preparedness/dp/B006QF3TW4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1504822268&sr=8-3&keywords=lifestraw

They already exist. A company named quick dam makes them : Quick Dam Water Activated Flood Bags 1ft x 2ft, 6-Pack https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0085S0612/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_p6fTAb78BFQPD

Also
https://www.amazon.com/Hemingways-Hurricane-Phil-Scott/dp/0071479104
About the labor day storm of 1935. It's what I think about when I think about evacuating early, and the time at which it's better to stay. TLDR, they waited too long, then got on a train out of the Keys, the train went into the water. lots cry.

During an extended blackout your rechargeable batteries will be flat and you'll have... nothing.

Highly recommend a small DC-AC inverter so you can charge your toys from your car. like this guy for $20 arrives 9/12

There's also something to be said for having a few Duracells for the flashlight. They're all sold out by now though.

https://www.amazon.com/Talstar-11452-PL-Granules-Insecticide/dp/B006GHV9B0/ref=sr_1_11?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1537105204&sr=1-11&keywords=talstar+professional+insecticide

No more battle.

Not a Floridian but went through Hurricane Irene and Superstorm Sandy (south shore of Long Island) and have a few things to say about generators.

Neighbor has a whole house generator. We had a lightning strike take out a transformer leaving us in the dark - his generator (natural gas - pretty sure its a generac) kicked on instantly. I was jealous to say the least.

Fast forward to approaching Hurricane Irene. I had a bad feeling and went out to get a generator last minute. Every store I went to was sold out. As we were in a storm surge area we evacuated inland to my in-laws. While there I hit up their local Home Depot and literally walked in as they were receiving a delivery. I grabbed a Briggs and Stratton 5500 watt generator as it was pretty much they only thing they had on the delivery truck. Coupled with a few 5 gallon gas cans I was good to go - or so I thought.

Generator

Irene came ashore and left my in-laws neighborhood without power for a week. Morning after the storm I power up the generator and run extension cords to his refrigerator and gas stove - yes gas stove - apparently some newer models need electric to even turn on the burners - no match lighting! Anyway - my house remained dry and with power. The generator stayed with him until they got power back a week later.

That experience made me realize running extension cords to power select appliances was a pain in the ass and largely under utilizing the generators output. I began to look into interlocks, backfeeding (don't do this) and dedicated breakers with transfer switches.

Generator Breaker With Transfer Switch

It was one of those things that I meant to get around to but never did.

Fast forward a year or so to Sandy. Same deal - evacuated to my in-laws and brought the generator with me. Stood outside during the storm and watched the flashes and listened to explosions as transfers blew one by one. Yep - powers going to be out a while.

Anyway I headed home to find I had about 3' of storm surge come in and go out. It took out my ground floor two-car garage, utility room (heat, hot water heater, washer/dryer), half bath, family room and guest room. No power obviously.

Called an electrician that day and got an estimate of $1600 to install the dedicated generator subpanel and transfer switch (yeah $300 part and $1300 in labor for a 4 hour job but I was the idiot who waited for a disaster to get it done). BEST MONEY SPENT.

Parked generator outside, chained to a tree, hooked up the 30amp cord and had power to 90% of my house. Tv, computers, lights, refrigerators - pretty much everything but the A/C. A few months later my stove went out - pretty sure the dirty power from the generator was the cause but what are you going to do.

Anyway - the point of the story is - you can get by with a sub $1000 generator but spend the money to do it right with a dedicated subpanel and transfer switch. Work with your electrician to figure out what circuits you must have on during a disaster. Figure out the loads and get a properly sized generator. Bigger is not always better when you are running a generator if you aren't actually consuming the power it puts out - you're just burning extra fuel for no reason.

Getting gas after Sandy was a pain in the ass. Right after I got real interested in tri-fuel adapters for gas generators. Right now its in that "I'll get around to it someday" bucket. But watching the aftermath of Irma and Harvey might actually get me to get off my lazy ass and get it.

I have natural gas at my house but during Sandy there were catastrophic fires in Breezy Point Queens due to natural gas leaks (houses shifted and gas lines broke - flooding water shorted electrical and boom). So the rumor is that they've installed shut-offs to kill natural gas delivery to any area in a flood zone to prevent that in the future. Not sure if its true or not but something to consider if you go with a natural gas genny.

Anyway - here's the Tri-Fuel Conversion Kit

I found I could run the generator for around 12 hours on 5 gallons of gas.

Oh - my neighbor with the whole house generator. Completely screwed - flood water took that sucker out. He now has it mounted on a raised platform about 6' off the ground alongside his house....

EDIT to add: The contractor grade gas generators are LOUD. If you are feeling spendy look at some of the Honda EU series generators. They are quiet enough to stand alongside and have a conversation plus they put out "clean"power if you are worried about sensitive electronics. The smaller EU2000 series can be hooked up in pairs (parallel?) to double their output to 4000 watts.

u/TheSpiritofTruth666 said:

> Desperate individuals and crackheads are going to shrug off pepper spray.

Can confirm. However, the initial shock of it is debilitating enough, if you're fast, it gives you an advantage for follow-up attack with another weapon. Police are trained to spray, then INSTANTLY follow with baton strikes to the big thigh muscles for maximum debilitation, with minimal risk of breaking bones or causing other serious injury. This is my technique too. Only people loaded up on drugs can shrug off that amount of pain, and then you need to either retreat or do significantly more harm.

Never strike the head, neck, or shoulders with a club weapon. Even with no visible injury, it is unacceptably likely to kill or severely injure them. If you have to do more harm to stop an attacker, aim for the knees, arms, hands, hips, etc. If they're armed, or otherwise obviously intend to do you harm (as opposed to just steal something), then you're wisest course of action is to run. If you're too close to run or you're protecting your family, go for the head, and stop the attack immediately, but understand one or both of you are probably going to die.

Oh, and get yourself some GOOD pepper spray, and keep it in your hand so you're extremely fast with it:

• 2 UDAP Pepper Spray Blue Hard Case Self Defense Key Chains 736902509296 | eBay
  
• AmazonSmile : Udap 6MF Mugger Fogger 3.1 Oz : Bear Protection : Sports & Outdoors
  
  Use a coil keychain lanyard to prevent losing it after dropping it, which you will need to do when you switch to the baton or club weapon for the follow-up deterrence strikes to fully defeat the attacker:
  
  
• AmazonSmile : 10 Pcs Spring Coil Keychain Retractable Plastic Bungee Cord with Key Ring and Plastic P Shape Trigger Hook Theftproof Anti-Lost CurlCord by NUOMI, Stretch to More Than 2 Meters, Black : Office Products
  
  Remember, if you need it, you need it fast. Don't put it in a bag, case, or holder you have to open and fish around to find it. Ideally, you want it already in your hand long before you realize you have no choice but to use it. The element of surprise adds shock value that greatly increases the effectiveness of the pepper spray and the blunt strikes. Basically, in the mind of the attacker, he's in a lot of pain because you're always 2 steps ahead of him, and he doesn't want to know what comes next after the baton strikes if he continues to persist against a strong and prepared defender (probably serious injury or death).