Here comes Hurricane Sandy…staying safe (and boredom free) in your apartment

By now we have all heard the news – Sandy is coming, and she isn’t going to be pretty. This is no Irene folks.  As the Eastern Seaboard experiences torrential rains and winds today, the No. 1 priority for all of us should be staying indoors and out of harm’s way.  This is expected to be one of the biggest storms to hit the U.S., ever (Take a second to digest that. Gulp. Deep breath.), so these levels of concern are in no way being blown out of proportion.

Chances are you, you aren’t at work today. You are probably waiting things out in your apartment, anxiously watching the Weather Channel and CNN, searching the Internet for the latest projections of Sandy’s arrival, and trying to figure out what else to do with your time. The hurricane is supposed to hit the coast of New Jersey tonight, so that means just a couple of hours to get ready before the real action begins.

Here’s your Last Minute Pre-Sandy To Do List

1. If you are in a flood zone, an area prone to flooding, or a building with a bad leak in the roof, get out. Go to the evacuation shelter nearest you (Not sure where that is? Call your local emergency hotline or check local news reports) and stay warm and dry there for the duration of the storm.
2. Chances are, your building could lose power and electricity. Get emergency supplies! Have batteries, flashlights, a battery powered radio, blankets, candles, matches, bottled water, food, warm clothes, medical supplies and any other goods you may need go up to 24 hours or more without utilities.
3. Charge cell phones and laptops now so you can still use them on battery life after the power goes out.
4. Contact friends and relatives and designate alternate methods of communication or contact in case your cell phone dies (smoke signals). Do you have a neighbor with an old-school but so convenient in an emergency landline phone? Go talk to them. They are your new best friend.
5. Cancel your flights and tomorrow’s meetings. (The airlines have canceled them for you, probably.) To quote Bob Dylan: “Pack up your money, pull up your tent, McGuinn You ain’t a goin’ nowhere.”
6. Find a book to read, some board games to play, and some food you can eat that won’t have to be heated up or delivered by the takeout guy.  Watch your Netflix movies before the utilities shut down.
7. Organize your closet. This is a great way to kill time and doesn’t require much light (or any technological connectivity).
8. Keep a careful eye on your pets! Check out our past feature to make sure your dog, cat or ferret survive with their wits in tact!
9. Stay calm. Pay attention to local news reports via TV and radio in case your area is called to evacuate. But more than likely, just stay warm, dry, and inside and out of Sandy’s wrath.