madeleine45
I have lived through all sorts of things including in living in an earthquake zone and there were a couple of quakes and a few sort of rumbles. also sailed and took care but have been stuck in a force 11 when i was right out at sea and could not run for shelter. So my take is this. I look at all the information that I can glean, from reliable sources - this does not include internet sensationalists, or newspapers whose anxiety raising attitudes they hope to sell more papers and have less to do as they can fill the paper with trivia and what people thought of trivia. So firstly practicalities. Yes go round and pin down and sort out whatever you are able to do. so this to me would include cutting back large shrubs especially old ones. Not totally but I find it better to be in charge of what is cut so old branches and crossing branches. If the wind is going to wreck it all you might as well have a go at lowering the levels. Then do check round for any bamboo canes or clothes line holders or anything that could possibly fly off in a bad wind. Pack them all in an outside shed if possible . If not tie the whole bunch of whatever you collect together - I use a bungy cord to collect things together easily then also tie thickish string or thin rope round the whole lot. Go round and firm in any precious plants which should help them stay in the soil where you want them to be. Then inside I collect together my important collections from their normal place, so have a metal closing box into which I put passport, bank books, birth certificates,insurance documents etc. Lesser documents I would use your phone to get a picture of them all, so that at the worst you do have all the numbers and relevant dates etc on you if you have to suddenly leave. Whenever I have moved I always have a barrel style bag into which I put a clean set of duvet and pillow covers etc, also 3 sets of underwear, a comfortable old pair of shoes or trainers or slippers, a wash bag with basic needs and some older towels and a pair of easy to pull on trousers and t shirts and a good warm jumper - I have an ancient cashmere jumper, looks tatty, but is very light and very warm. In each bag make sure you have a torch with spare batteries. So it may seem a bit over the top. However I always feel that it is actually very calming. Once you have all this ready and near a door, whatever the storm does you know exactly where your things are, you are not panicked into putting yourself in danger trying to collect things. Any sense of danger and you can be out and away. Your lives are always more important than material things, but having your passports, wills, and in particular I always keep a spare prescription list in my bag. In a difficult condition, trying to remember the strength of your tablets when you are moved to a strange place and the chemist does not know you , is a lot of hassle. Once I have all the things I think I need, I will probably ring family or friend and tell them I am sorted and that my first port of call if I have to leave is to x hotel or whatever and that I will ring them and let them know what is happening. So now you are in charge , prepared and organised. that is the best you can do and if you do specific extra things like lifting things onto tables etc take photos so that in the future when the insurance is dragging its feet or trying to tell you that you did not do the correct thing You can prove that you did!! If you have 2 or 3 sets of house keys that you normally have one each, it might be worth leaving a set at friends or relatives who do not live on the same road as you. You can return the favour in case it is their property not yours that is affected. Look at your drive or garage. If you are near a river or large amount of water you need to look and see if the car is safer where it is or would be better moved to a higher area. well everyone to their own view. My friends think I go over the top, but they have not lived in the situation I have, and also having to explain in a foreign language , so having copies of everything is easier and better later on. i love my radio more than tv so make sure I have a battery operated radio in case the power goes and that is about all i bother with. if it starts to be very very windy I boil kettles and fill all the thermos I have so that if the power goes I still have some hot water.Havent got it now but used to have camping gaz stoves etc and a tilley lamp and used to have them at the ready too. Then you can dress warmly, make a decent drink and sit and read or play scrabble etc and dont let it get to you. I am 76 and have survived so far and intend to continue to do so, but I am not going to be frightened by such things as the papers. At that stage you can console yourself that you have done the best you can and can relax in as much as you can, prepared but not panicked!!
???????thank you for your common sense which everyone seems to lack these days, preferring instead to jump on the hysterical bandwagon.
