MAV -- need your advice....

[HuntersMom0129]

Okay...since you just went through the whole evacuating bit, can you outline what you would take with you if you had to do it over again? I know that you weren't able to take everything that you wanted to, but now that you've had time to think about it, do you have an evacuation list for next time?

I'm afraid that we will be heading North to Shreveport soon if Rita heads this way and I want to make sure I'm prepared.

What is up with all of these freaking hurricanes???? Enough already.

[larasmom]

i have never been in a hurricane or had to evacuate but i would bring the following items:

all important papers (birth certs, ss cards, licenses, mortgage papers, health insurance cards, etc.)

enough clothes for a week

flashlights and batteries

battery operated radio and tv

diapers, wipes

all your medications

photos that cannot be replaced and have special meaning to you

all credit card and bank information.

make sure you have plenty of cash in hand in case the place you evacuate to loses power as well and you cannot use credit cards

phone book with all important numbers

cell phone and car charger and plug in charger

i am sure i left things out and those who have been thru evacuations will better be able totell you.

i pray that everyone is safe. remember family and pets are the most important things.

[BC-MAV]

Larasmom said just about everything!!!

I would add:

formula or HDT milk in a box that needs no refrigeration.

an ice chest full of water, drinks, etc... so if it takes a long time to get to your safe place then you at least have some hydration on the evacuation route.

Canned goods that you can pop open.

A manual can opener if the cans don't have pop tops.

Dry goods. We brought a loaf of bread, a jar of PB, and a jar of jelly and made sandwiches in the car since there was no place to stop.

extra gas in a container to put on a trailer if you think it is safe to do that... gas stations might run out of gas....

a tent and sleeping bags just in case you get to your safe spot but there are no hotel rooms? I mean that would be worst case scenario to sleep in a tent or sleep in your car but if you were in a safe spot you'd be away from hurricane winds.

Oh, and if you have time empty your fridge if you think there is a big category 5 coming your way. YUCK!!! Our 2 fridges are still full of rotted food and DH could not move them out of the house.

pet food if you have a pet, leash, carrier

[HuntersMom0129]

Great!! Thanks!

We may be hooking up our popup camper & taking it along also. If worse comes to worse, we would at least have a place to sleep. We'll probably have a convoy of about 25-30 family members, so I'm sure sleeping quarters will be tight (luckily, we'll be divided between 3 or 4 houses, though).

Someone on the other board mentioned videotaping your home for insurance purposes, so I have the camcorder charging!

Mav - are y'all planning on evacuating again? Do you have somewhere to go? If we head out, you are more than welcome to come with us.

[BC-MAV]

Yes, videotape the contents of your house and outside of house. DH did that a long time ago. Homeowners insurance should cover the lost contents of your house like silver, furniture, etc... should there be a major hurricane. We are not evacuating YET! DH is gonna call from Baton Rouge at 1 pm... maybe we will go there. The car is filled with gas, we have cash, and we have dry goods, water, formula and diapers. The important papers are in NOLA at DH's office downtown so we don't have any important papers to bring-LOL! Where are ya'll going to???

[ClaireNola]

I would add a portapotty if you have one!! If you end up in bumper to bumper traffic for hours it will be handy.

Good luck ladies! Unfreakingbelievable...

[larasmom]

please leave as soon as you can. they just said it is already a CAT 5

[BC-MAV]

Forget the porta potty... DH, Beau, me, my 81 year old Mom, and the dog all used the SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY-LOL! My Mom said "I don't know any of these people!" You know when you gotta go, you gotta go. I at least didn't moon any of the people evacuating in the process of going potty. I tried to drape myself with a towel on the side of the interstate but it proved fruitless and took more time. I should have just mooned the drivers and did what I needed to-LOL! Oh, Lordy help us!!!1

[ClaireNola]

Originally Posted by BC-MAV

Forget the porta potty... DH, Beau, me, my 81 year old Mom, and the dog all used the SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY-LOL! My Mom said "I don't know any of these people!" You know when you gotta go, you gotta go. I at least didn't moon any of the people evacuating in the process of going potty. I tried to drape myself with a towel on the side of the interstate but it proved fruitless and took more time. I should have just mooned the drivers and did what I needed to-LOL! Oh, Lordy help us!!!1

Actually, Reagan and I *both* used the porta potty!! I did it in the back of the suburban, she did it on the side of the interstate

Thanks for the chuckle MAV!

[BC-MAV]

I'm sure we gave a laugh to the other drivers... I mean picture DH and Beau with their backside to the interstate.... my 81 year old mother about to fall down the incline going potty while mooning the drivers... and me trying to drape myself and unbuckle a belt and keep a hold of my shorts while trying to pee!!! I actually peed in a cup that my mother WAS drinking in, inside the car. That took a lot of gymnastics. ( it was empty) I couldn't bare to use the side of the road, but then desperation set it-LOL!