Waiting for Sandy

Wait. That’s all I can do.

I moved into this house in the summer of 2003, just in time to get hit, in September, by Hurricane Isabel. According to Wikipedia, “Isabel in Virginia proved to be the costliest disaster in the history of Virginia.” I don’t recall if my electricity went out, but 1.8 million Virginians lost electric power, and I was probably one of them. I’ve experienced several power outages since I moved into this house. The electricity usually comes back on in two or three days. That may sound like a long time, but compared to people living in surrounding rural counties who lose electric power for two weeks or longer, a couple of days isn’t bad.

In August, 2011, my state was hit with Hurricane Irene. A house on my street had its metal roof peeled back and everything on the top floor was soaked by heavy rain. Another house closer to mine had a large tree toppled in the front yard. My next door neighbor lost part of her roof. And the electric power was out for a couple of days.

When a hurricane hits, the thing I worry about most is electric power. After a day, the grocery stores throw out all the perishable items. You go there to buy food and all the cold storage units and freezers are empty. There’s nothing but empty shelves behind those rows of glass doors. There’s nothing to buy unless it comes in a can or a cardboard package.

Without electric power, my own perishables last about a day. So I have canned soup, tuna, and salmon on hand. I have bread. In case the city water pressure is lost, I filled bottles with tap water. Before the storm hits I will half-fill the bathtub with water so that, if necessary, I can refill the toilet tank.

I removed my trash can from the alley behind my house and put it beside my house. I have new batteries for my flashlights and an electric lantern. I have a battery-powered radio. I have a full gas tank in my Jeep in case I need to drive out of the area. I have cash in case I need to buy something essential and the credit/debit card readers aren’t working. My cell phone battery is charged up.

The central heat won’t run without electricity, and Monday’s high temperature is forecast to be 53°F – on Tuesday only 48°F. So I’ve got my kerosene heater fueled and ready to fire up if necessary. The heater gets pretty hot; I can probably heat soup on top of it.

If my house rides out the storm without damage, the worst part of having no electricity will be no television and no Internet. Even after the power comes back on, cable TV and Internet are usually off for a few more days. It’s surprising to me how much I depend on TV and Internet. It’s more than entertainment. It’s more than convenience. It’s a feeling I don’t get from books: a feeling of being connected to the world.

I’ve prepared. Now I wait.