STORM Info – re Wet things, Photos, and more.

2020, winter early 2021

This page originated in response to SANDY, in the Fall of 2012, and its effects in the North East. Since then, the ease of finding information online has increased greatly, as has also the ability to connect with friends and relatives through social media – if the phones work, and can be charged. The events of Sandy led to improvements in some areas, though there is more to be done.

Power failures are still an issue – as we saw with ISAIAS, in July 2020, when the power took longer than expected to restore, especially in Connecticut, due to the large amount of downed trees – and in Texas,  which is just now getting over the effects of the winter storm and arctic blast, which brought down the power grid, and froze pipes in many homes.

The fires in California were even more tragic, in 2020, and devastating, a year ago,  in Australia, especially for the Koalas and other wildlife as well as people. It was traumatic for the rescuers also- trying to save them. Many people offered their help, rescuing or sheltering animals, and many knitted mittens, pouches, and other useful items.

The coming of COVID-19 has been a different kind of disaster. It seemed distant at first, when news came first from Wuhan in December 2019. Since then it has spread world wide, devastating Italy early on in Europe, reaching the West Coast of the US first, and then, with travel from Europe,  New York City – a year ago today, March 1 2020. Shortly it was found in New Jersey also. So many people live and work, crossing the Hudson daily as part of the New York Metro area. This includes the nearby parts of Connecticut also, and the Governors of these and other North Eastern states worked together to flatten the curve, with some respite in the summer. Still the spread continued, worsening later in 2020, in areas that had not been reached. The deaths reached a sad toll of 400,000 by January 19, and 500,000 by February 22, 8 days ago, even as the vaccines, and a slowing of the spread, bring new hope.

I hope that you, your family, and your friends and co-workers have been able to stay safe, in these difficult times, and get up-to date, trustworthy information that you need, as well as access to financial resources, safe ways to work, and other resources. I am glad that there is encouraging news about the reduction of new cases, and I hope that distancing, masks, and more and more people being vaccinated, will limit the spread (especially with the increasing risk from the new variants). I also hear news now that the supply of vaccines may be improving.

I will be posting some links I have found helpful.

Many good wishes to you all, for health and safety.

Nancy

Fall 2017

I have been following the news closely, as HARVEY, IRMA, and MARIA, have come and devastated so much of Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Barbuda, Dominica, and more of the Caribbean, and as earthquakes have hit in Mexico. There have also been the deadly fires in the West, especially in Montana, Oregon, and now California.

There has been so much heroism, in the efforts to save lives, and there is continuing outpouring of people coming to help.

Social media, was also a factor – and may have helped save lives – or spread news. Even with despite lost power (and the frightening lack of connectivity where cell towers were down), it still may have helped spread awareness and helped families, friends, and others mobilize support.

Much of the useful information I found by searching online in 2012, is now more quickly available to people now through social media. However, some of the links on this page may still be useful, and others need to be updated. I will be posting some more new ones, too.

One of the best I have run across is this global map of weather, on which you can see the position of hurricanes or other major wind events, in real time, earth.nullschool.net:

https://earth.nullschool.net/#current/wind/surface/level/orthographic=-11.58,43.52,231

I hope you all stay safe through tropical storm NATE, and the rest of this too eventful storm season!

Nancy

Thank you for following my page!

In New Jersey, we have been lucky so far, this fall and December, but there are more extreme weather events all over the world, as well as water damage from other causes.

I am keeping this page up in case the information is useful – See the links also, which are in the side menu under Storm Preparedness and Preservation Information (you may need to switch to the full site, if you are viewing this on your phone).

I hope that 2017 is kind to us all.

Nancy Zamboni

_____________________________________________________

I hope you all fared well in the snowstorm of January 2016!

Since difficult weather keeps coming, (especially if we’ve had a break), I am keeping the information on this page up for reference.

Also, friends of mine just finished rebuilding, and many others are still in progress.

Best wishes to you all, and lets hope that we’ve had enough snow for one winter!

______________________________________________________

As of 2013, Recovery from Sandy was still ongoing, for many, and even now it will be for some time to come.

Some of the email I sent may still be interesting or have useful info, so it is still here, in chronological order, for now…

I have posted some of the more useful links (listed under Storm Preparedness and Preservation, which is to the right, on the full version of the site.) I have also just added another link that was sent to me, which has more tips for drying water damaged books and paper collections: http://cascaderestorationservices.com/drying-damaged-paper-collections
I have also updated the link to the Library of Congress site: http://www.loc.gov/preservation/emergprep/recovery.html
Best wishes to you all, and lets hope for relatively few storms this winter.

Nancy Zamboni

November, 2012:

In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, I have been sending email with a variety of information about local conditions, and storm related and salvage tips.

I am posting copies of the email (slightly edited) here, in case anyone needs to find some of the information again.

They are in mostly chronological order, starting with a spell checked version of two of the earlier ones.

I am hoping they will be searchable by topic.

Main previous emails, (11/3 and 11/4)  with storm related information, now spell checked and slightly revised, after being sent Sun Nov 4.

Update More re Gas and other info, some re Wet things

Sun, Nov 4, 2012 1:14 pm

Note:  As always, with any products (such as Nature’s Miracle) read the directions and follow precautions accordingly
(Such as letting it dry out, or covering it, before pets walk through it. )

From Sunday morning, November 4, 2012

I hope you are all ok!

If you don’t have power yet (and especially heat) I hope you have found a friend or relative who does, to stay with!

The weather report is for continuing cold nights for the next few days (Trenton area currently 39, 50 today, 30 tonight, and 28 for tomorrow night.)Here is some more information, to update what I sent earlier (in the forward section below)

I hope some of this may be useful to you or someone you know.  You can pass it on if it would be helpful.
I am sending the email bcc to preserve everyone’s email privacy.

Hotels (such as on Rt. 1, Princeton area)
I happen to know something about hotels third hand:
Tuesday there was no room, lots of people looking.
Friday it was possible to find room – hopefully that’s st.ill true.

Gas
When I was out Saturday, I saw that the gas station at Klockner and 535 was closed – but since the car wash was closed too,  that may just. be because it was late in the day on a weekend.The gas stations in the area I mentioned on Rt. 33 in Mercerville seemed normal (lights on, no lines or cones)
The Citgo across from Bank of America seemed fine (but note that he is closed on Sundays and after 7:30 pm).  There is a (24 hr?) Hess next door.
I asked the Citgo owner about the alternate gas rationing (I had seen a sign on Rt. 295 – 95)
He said that that’s further north, not in Mercer county.
(as of Saturday).

Pennington area:
I had a reason to go to Pennington, so I looked around as I was driving.The gas station and Pennington Market shopping center appeared fairly normal.
(Other than downed trees in the area there also).
At the Pennington Circle, 1 (or 2?) gas stations looked closed, and the third had a line, but not an extreme one.
The Pennington Shop Rite was open – (I asked the cashier how things had gone and he said they had lost. power for 1 day.)More re Phone Charging, warm Places:
Libraries
There was a sign in Pennington for the library there, saying that they are open, and have courtesy phone charging, also coffee, (and more that I didn’t read before the traffic light turned green).
Other libraries that are open may have this too, and be a good place to go and get warm, do paperwork, read books, go to the children’s section, etc..Other:
Wet Things
If you have wet things:
If they are kept cold they will get moldy less quickly, before you can put them through the wash, or deal with them.
(You could try putting them on a porch in this weather, or in your house if you don’t have heat!)

Many things can be saved by washing or cleaning with bleach, (even if mold has already started).
If bleach is too strong you could try Nature’s Miracle (or possibly Lysol).

Nature’s Miracle is an amazing product usually used for pet clean-up problems.
It has enzymes that digest organic stuff.
It is not advertised for this, but I have had good success with it for preventing moldyness (such as when rain wetness has gotten into the basement, where there is indoor outdoor carpet in 1 of the rooms).
I have found that if I pour it into a wet area is spreads into the wetness (like watercolor paint does into wet areas).
It is less harsh than bleach (which is good when mold is already happening).

Nature’s Miracle can also be used on objects like some artwork (depending on what it is) , unwashable stuffed animals, etc., that could be damaged by bleach based cleaners. They do recommend pre-testing on an inconspicuous area.
It can also be used on laundry.

Note: as always, read directions on products and follow the relevant precautions, (even by flashlight).

For Nature’s Miracle this includes letting it dry before pets walk through it. (I think an earlier version also recommended covering it.)

Also: If you have to wash a lot at once you can do it more quickly at a laundromat, since you can do several loads at once. – check ahead about power and lines. (This is also good if you are without power).

Wet Photos:
You can Freeze them (until you have time to deal with them carefully.)
This was recommended to me by Gary Saretsky, who teaches history of photography at MCCC and is a professional archivist..

I am also guessing that If you can’t freeze them, it would help retard mold if you can keep them cold, until you can freeze them (which might help kill mold).  When you have a chance you can defrost them and carefully separate them, and clean them off and dry them.
Since photos are developed  in water baths, wetness is not a death sentence for photos, unless they dry stuck together or get moldy.

Note, 11/8: you can also see this website for more information on salvaging photos:

www.operationphotorescue.org/2012/11/saving-photos-after-hurricane-sandy/

I am thinking of writing more about this (and other conservation and storm tips, maybe on the website. (nczstudios.com)

Last, (unfortunately from experience yesterday!):
Be careful doing yard clean-up, not to overdo – Maybe some of it can wait (and your back will be in better shape for more of it later!)

Take care and I hope all goes well with you all!

Nancy

—–Original Message—–From: Zamboninc <zamboninc@aol.com>

To: zamboninc <zamboninc@aol.com>; nczstudios <nczstudios@aol.com>
Sent: Sat, Nov 3, 2012 2:41 pm
Subject: More info re phones and Gas

I hope you all are ok and gradually recovering or finding help!

Here is a little more info if you are still without power:

I saw in the paper that people have been going to Barnes and Noble at Market Fair, and using and charging laptops and phones etc, as well as enjoying being in a more comfortable place (and patronizing the cafe a lot!)

I received an email from AT&T that their customers can charge phones at their stores – If you are an AT&T customer you probably received the same email, but if your power is down you may not have gotten it (or this email either).
If you know others in that situation it is useful information though, and other providers may be doing something similar.

Gas:
Now that power has come back to many locations in Hamilton many gas stations are functioning again.
The lines may be shorter than in the Princeton area.

On Wednesday, I was able to get gas at the Citgo at Klockner and Rt. 535 (E State St. extension), near the Hamilton train station.
They only have 1 pump because of recent work being done, but the line was not bad – I will check today and let you know if it is not open.
I will check other stations in the Mercerville area also – The Valero near where Hamilton and Nottingham way split looked ok yesterday.
Although power was out  for a few days in the area near the Mercerville post. office, there are a number of gas stations in that area (such as the Citgo and Hess across from Bank of America) – I am assuming they are open now and would not have run out of gas, since they couldn’t open right away.

I hope some of this is useful.
I am sending everything bcc (except an occasional lapse if I press the wrong button), to help maintain your email privacy.
As always, let me know if you do not want to receive  more email!

Many Best. Wishes,

Nancy Zamboni

Some More info, thoughts, fridge tip, and update re previous info

Sent Tue, Nov 6, 2012 1:28 pm

November 6
I hope you all are doing alright and staying warm, and are getting your electricity and heat back.
In Hamilton things are coming more back to normal. Hughes drive, by the college, has reopened.
– In Pennington there were trick-or-treaters and Utility trucks still working. Bad traffic though or Rt 206 and Province line rd, piles of cut up branches, Fackler Rd is still closed.
I haven’t been to Princeton yet but I’m guessing that’s still typical. At night I saw an army of utility trucks parked by the mall, where they are sleeping at night.
Shop Rite is open there – (still no D batteries though!, and you can tell people have been restocking.)
I heard that the Hamilton Shop Rite and Acme (on Rt 33) are ok, but I haven’t been there.

The more I am hearing about the effects of Sandy, the more massive and complicated it is becoming.

Meanwhile, life in this area of New Jersey is returning to more normalcy.
A somewhat random check of community College websites in NJ (which I was looking at for other reasons) showed that most were reopening Monday Nov 5 (yesterday).  Mercer reopened on Friday the 2nd.  Bergen county’s campus at Hackensack remains closed, but their other campuses are reopening.
As other commitments start up again, there is less time to write these emails – Yesterday I revised the previous ones (previously unproofread,) and wrote more, but did not finish before I had to go out. I will send some of it, and will post some of it on the website. Most of you that I email to are in the Hamilton – Princeton – Montgomery area, where power outages have been the main problem, along with blocked roads and downed trees. (We had more flooding trouble last year with Irene, than this year, here.)
However, I also have friends in the Toms River and Tuckerton. Some places, on high ground, are fine, but on Barnegat Bay there was significant flooding.  I also know people who are connected with the shore rescue efforts.
In addition, I know people in New York, where there was significant flooding in lower Manhattan and Chelsea.

I am hoping that some of the information can be helpful to others you may be in contact with, even if you are not directly affected. The worst I am hearing about, though, through the news, is the massive numbers of people still without heat or power in Queens, Staten Island, and more of NY, where basement boilers were flooded and will not work even once power is restored (20,000 – 40,000 people.), with the cold weather…

More about this, the shore, and relief in a separate email!
I will find out more info about a collection for people evacuated at the shore.

Remember to vote today!

With many best wishes for health, saftey, and recovery,

Nancy Zamboni

As of Monday November 5, a lot of power has been restored, but I know its not complete, especially in outlying places and in the hard hit areas.

I hope you all are doing ok, and have found a place to stay, if you do not have power and heat back yet! If you are still at home without power, I hope you have daytime places to go and have access to warm clothes.

With the power out during and after the storm, its been harder to follow what’s been happpening and to comprehend the magnitude of the losses for so many people.

I will send some information about relief in a separate email.

In the paper (Trenton Times, Thursday 11/1) I saw that PSE&G recomends layered clothes and sleeping bags rather than using the gas stove (or candles!?) for warmth.

Besides the continued cold weather, the Weather Channel is forcasting the possibility of another windy, rainy storm Wednesday and Thursday.  This brings a risk of more weakened branches falling, more beach erosion, and possible losses of newly restored power.

I was planning to write a list of power outage tips (for the distant future, I hoped)
Unfortunately, this is the 3rd long term power outage event in the Princeton area since August of 2011, and there are often smaller outages.
I am still working on the list, but here are a couple of suggestions for now, in case power goes out for you again.

The Fridge: 
This worked out well:
About a day before, I partly filled some liter soda bottles and some water bottles with tap water, and put them in the freezer.
I also moved some perishables like hot dogs to the freezer.
When the power actually  went out, I moved one of the frozen bottles to the fridge door.

2 friends tell me they used a cooler or ice chest to keep frequently used items cold.
Frozen water bottles could be used for ice packs for this too.
(Note that it is best not to fill them all the way, so they don’t burst and leak!)

Other suggestion to do ahead:
Doing as much of your laundry as you can.

It is important to have at least one Carbon Monoxide Detector.
(Rental Certificate of occupancy requirements specify one within 10 feet of each sleeping area).
If you are shopping for one, some detectors also include Gas, which could be very important also!

November 6

I have revised and spell checked the info I already sent out, and will resend it, along with the following info:

I have also done more research about Freezing  (to preserve wet things), and Nature’s Miracle.

There are different recommendations about freezing.
In some it is not recommeded for photos, unless you check with a conservator.
Historical Photos are particularly delicate.

However, Freezing is recommended as a first aid solution to retard the growth of mold, although it will not kill the spores, which will become active again in the right conditions.

Strangely, the dangerously cold weather may at least be buying time and reducing some of the mold dangers.

Note: Some types of mold are very toxic. 
(It takes lab testing to determine what you are dealing with.  There are mold test kits at Home Depot – They are relatively inexpensive, and include the materials to collect a sample and an evelope to send it to a lab,  I am guessing the labs will be very busy.)

Nature’s Miracle:
With a quick google search I found a couple of other anecdotal instances of people who found that it worked.
A question and answer forum for the product included one about mildew (It can remove mildew stains).
In an answer to a different question, they said that it does not disinfect.

(Note, 11/8:You would need to use a different product for that.  Usually, (for its main uses) they recommend using the Nature’s Miracle first, as it may be more effective when not preceded by other chemicals such as stain removers).

Note: My suggestions about Wet Things are opinions or experiential, and if you have something very valuable or historic, you should contact a curator.
As to the freezing, I have had first had experience with some photos which accidentally got wet and frozen, and came out fine
However, for many people, some first aid may help save some special familiar things.
As to the freezing, I have had first hand experience with some photos which accidentally got wet and frozen, and came out fine  (though they were not old ones.)
I am hoping that these suggestions may be helpful and give hope to you, or someone you know about salvaging some things that you might otherwise think you have to throw out.

Web addresses (you may have to cut and paste to use them):

Conservation: (from the Artworks email, but I had to search for the link to reach it):
Library of Congress re Emergency Drying Procedures for Water Damaged Collections: http://www.loc.gov/preservation/emergprep/recovery.html

Mold help site:
Mold and libraries, “Managing a Mold Invasion”
www.mold-help.org/content/view/163/0/

Hurricane Sandy Clean-up Guide, posted 11/5/12
www.mold-help.org/content/view/680/
Fairly comprehensive, listed as opinion, also includes some info re electronics.
(Note re electronics: Items with fans should be discarded.
Some other  electronics may be salvageable.)

Wet laptop first aid:
http://www.wikihow.com/Save-a-Laptop-from-Liquid-Damage
plus googling how to fix a wet laptop yields many pages.

Nature’s Miracle forum

(link to cut and paste)
answers.naturemakesitwork.com/answers/0541/category/Q1/questions.htm?expandquestion=516547

More Re Wet Photos, Gas station list, Relief opportunity

Sent Wed, Nov 7, 2012 10:38 am

Dear Friends,

Here is some more useful information – If I have not already emailed to you, I will send more later.
I apologize if there is duplication of emails!

I am trying to get this out quickly, before going to the studio.

I know from seeing people at the college that many areas still are without power, inluding businesses, banks, etc.
If you can get to this area you can refuel the car, do banking, and get groceries now, in most places.

A friend sent me this link for an open gas station list (from Monday).
(Note it didn’t open on my older computer, but I was able to check it on a newer device).

Gas Station List:

(link to cut and paste)

CT-NJ-NY-PA_Open_Gas_Stations_-_11-05.pdf

Wet Photos:
A friend sent me the link to this organization, Operation Photo Rescue, which helps save people’s photos after disasters.This link sums up the information:
(you may have to cut and paste the link.)

www.operationphotorescue.org/2012/11/saving-photos-after-hurricane-sandy/

I am hoping that knowing you can save some things may help.

I will also be resending or posting the earlier info I’ve sent (possibly this evening).

Relief Opportunity:

Locally, one of the collections going on is at Grace St Paul’s Church Mercerville.

Amy Cornell, the priest in charge, has been in contact with other churches in the shore area.
There are many people who were evacuated with only the clothes they were wearing.
There is a collection for clean clothes, sneakers, NEW underwear, toiletries, diapers, flashlights and batteries,
and other items listed at http://www.gracestpaul.org/cpt_news/lets-help-hurricane-sandy-victims/

These will distributed through a contact she has at one of the shore churches.
If you have things to donate and are coming to the studio or one of my classes, I can take them to the collection.

More in another email!

Take care

Nancy Zamboni

Winter Storm Athena, More about Relief opportunities, Storm Preparation links, plus draft of power outage tips

Thu, Nov 8, 2012 3:39 am

Greetings!

I saw on the Weather channel earlier tonight that Jim Cantore (storm tracker) was in Trenton .
(Cantore was on the Battery for superstorm Sandy.)

I am hoping that  might have been because its safer here for his crew, not because its going to snow a lot more than expected here!

Also, for the first time, the Weather channel has named a winter storm: this northeaster snowing on us is Athena.

Many are still without power or heat, in NJ and in NY, and the storm is slowing recovery.  In addition there is the risk of more power outages, where it may already have been restored.

There are new evacuations to warming centers, from what I hear.

As of around 10 pm, the forecast for this area was about the same as this morning.
However, there is a lot of sticky, heavy snow.

Over 6″ is reported for Freehold NJ,
aThere is high snowfall in parts of Connecticut, along the sound.
(The highest was 10″ in Wallingford, but it could be more by now.)

A PSE&G representative said, however, that they are still trying to get most power back on by Friday or possibly saturday.
(Figures: about 180,000 still without power in NJ, + 60,000newly affected.)

I do not know the current figures in NY, but on Monday the estimate was 140,000 without power, and that 20,00 to 40,000 were in need of a place because of the lack of power and heat.
Even when power is coming back on, sometimes the boiler an electrical sytems (in basements of apartment buildings) do not work because of the flooding.

In New Jersey, there are power outages where its already been restord.
I have heard that it is bad in the central part of the state, (where it is still bad), as well as risk to the shore form wind and another surge, much lower, but hitting weakened areas.  They have been bulldozing  sand that was washed into the streets to make  higher (but less wide) dunes to try to block the water.

If you are still without power or heat,  I hope you have found a  place to stay, or have enough warm clothing and blankets or sleeping bags.
The good news is that there is warmer weather forecast for the weekend!

More Relief information:

Local: The Shore

Here is more info about the collection through Grace St Pauls Mercerville, which I mentioned in this morning’s email:
It is being brought to St Mark’s in Keansburg, where goods are being distributed to Episcopal Churches along the shore.

Amy Cornell, the priest in charge, has been in contact with other churches in the shore area.
There are many people who were evacuated with only the clothes they were wearing.
There is a collection of clean clothes, sneakers, NEW underwear, toiletries, diapers, flashlights and batteries,
and other items listed at http://www.gracestpaul.org/cpt_news/lets-help-hurricane-sandy-victims/

If you have things to donate and are coming to the studio or one of my classes, I can take them to the collection.

The Red Cross:

The director of the Red Cross was untervied on the weather channel – she said that this disaster has the largest footprint of any on her watch. They are working to aid victims from Puesrto Rico to (I think?) Massachusetts.

At this site, donations by viewres of the weather channel will be matched by the Weather Company and its Principal Investors:
www.redcross.org/sandy ; (cut and paste to access the site).  You can also text (ads with the info are on the Weather Channel)

You can also donate to the Red Cross.at Wells Fargo or Chase ATM’s

New York City: Blankets and more

Also – I don’t usually read the Daily News, but I was looking at their Monday paper, and  they have an appeal to help Hurricane Sandy victimes, especially in hard hit areas of NY, such as the Rockaways and Staten Island, where even when the power comes on, it will take a long time to repair basement level boilers and electrical systems.
Checks can be made out to Daily News Charities, with the memo to Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund.
and can be mailed to  New York Daily News, 4 New York Plaza, New York, NY 10004, attn Daily News Charities.
They also accept donations by Pay pal, through their website.

There are many other relief opportunities, and many are helping neighbors and relatives.

Here are a couple of sites or articles with more information about preparation:

I think that the first is an earlier version of an article that I found on my phone, and was not able to acess again (possibly due to changes in the website?)

It is good to print out, and includes advice for before, during, and after a hurricane
Packing a bag, including filled prescriptions
Keeping important papers in a waterproof container.

(Also mentioned in a similar list: Have medical and insurance papers where you can get them.)

www.weather.com/weather/hurricanecentral/article/when-a-hurricane-threatens_2011-08-22

The article I can no longer find also included this link, which has
Important Preparedness advice for pets and livestock:
It includes preparing pet carriers, (food, leashes) plus papers and photos to document ownership.

http://www.americanhumane.org/animals/programs/emergency-services/community-preparedness

There is a lot I have not touched on:
and a lot of preparation I haven’t done, that I am sure will be an ongoing process.

As terrible as the effects of superstorm Sandy have been, it could have been much worse.
I am thankful that so many were gotten out in time,
and I hope that conditions will improve as fast as possible, for everyone still without power or heat.

With best wishes to you all,

Nancy Zamboni

Power outage info draft
There are a couple of additional storm preparation links at the end, including one about pets.

I was planning to write a list of power outage tips (for the distant future, I hoped)
Unfortunately, this is the 3rd long term power outage event in the Princeton area since August of 2011, and there are often smaller outages.

If you  just recovered and the risk seems there, some of these might be helpful.
Note that I haven’t researched these
Its mainly things that worked for me or other people that I heard of.

The fridge:
These things worked well for a 2 day outage:
I partly filled and froze some soda and water bottles, in the freezer.
Also, I moved some things like hot dogs to the freezer ahead of time.

Once I knew the power was out I moved one of the large ice bottles to the fridge door.
This helped reduce loss of coldness from occasionally opening the door.

I put some milk in a pitcher, and moved the main container to the freezer (where it wouldn’t freeze, but would stay cold.)
I also did this with some of the butter and cheese.
(I already keep most meat in the freezer until I’m actually going to use it).

As mentioned many places, open the fridge and freezer as infrequently as possible.

But its good to eat the main perishable things first, while they’re still good.

Other good fridge ideas (not tried)
Organize the fridge for quick access of main items by flashlight.
A friend put the most used items in a cooler with ice packs, to minimize time with the door open.
A thermometer would be useful (stuff in the fridge is fine if its at 40 or below)

Note: Without heat, the fridge might be fine longer than usual, especially if you have some ice in it. (There are digital thermometers that also measure humidity, and that work pretty quickly.)

Heat
Preheat the house to an uncomfortable level.
(I did some of this but could have done more,)
Also: closing storm windows, blocking drafty spots.
I turned off power to the furnace once the power went out, in case it might help with gas from the pilot.)

Hot water:
Some gas hot water heaters work without electricity, but not all.
I thought mine would run out of hot water, but I heard it making little noises a day or so into things.
It would be good to know which you have (and which you’re getting if you’re replacing one).

Water
If you might lose water, cleaning the tub and filling it with water, and also any available buckets is a good idea.
(You can bail water into the toilet as needed.)
Caution: This is only good if there is not a risk of children or pets falling into the tub.

Fill pitchers and bottles with tap water or filtered water (such as from a Brita pitcher).

Cooking – Gas stove – have matches – lighting with a lit candle is easier,
(but beware of possible gas leaks or extra gas from turning it on without lighting it)
A friend with an electric stove used the barbecue. Another used her fondue pot, but is thinking some kind of camping stove would be good to have.

Other preparation:
Doing laundry ahead, and taking a shower.
Making coffee ahead  (If your stove works you can reheat coffee in a pan).

Staying warm:

Find winter clothes, sleeping bags, hats, gloves, socks, extra blankets (wherever they’ve been stowed away), while lights are still on, if possible, and wash if needed.
(Don’t try to wash anything important if the power might be about to go out.)
If your power is still out and the storm is over, you may be able to find a laudromat that is not affected.

In the paper (Trenton Times, Thursday 11/1) I saw that PSE&G recomends layered clothes and sleeping bags rather than using the gas stove (or candles!?) for warmth.

Major caution:
I don’t have a generator – It sounds dangerous, but I know many have them.
Its better to have it ahead of time.

Its important to read and follow the directions carefully.
(Especially if the power is already off and you are cold, in the dark etc!)

One of the deaths in the Mercer County area was from Carbon Monoxide exposure
(In a house where the levels went up to 3 times the danger level).

Important:  CO (Carbon Monoxide) detectors.  They have battery back-up which keeps them going without power.
Some also detect gas.

New, 11/8: Other Cautions:

During a major storm, when there is risk from high winds or flooding:

Other Useful things

More flashlights.
I noticed at Shop Rite that AA batteries sell out less quickly.  More flashlights that take AA batteries would be good to have.

(On the weather channel, I’ve been seeing a light advertised that runs on batteries and is good for closets etc.  It will probably turn up on in stores that carry “As seen on TV”  items.)

Phones: Cable phones will not work when the power is out.  A land line will, if the line is not damaged, and if your phone is not the kind that requires electricity. (It is worth keeping or getting one older type phone.)
Cell phones will work if not too many towrs are damaged, if your phone is charged, and if not too many people are trying to call at once.  They can be recharged if you have a car charger, or, once you can travel, by going someplace where you can charge it. (Libraries, churches, Barnes and Noble etc…)

I hope that some of this information is helpful to you or someone you know.

Feel free to pass some of this along

I am thinking of putting some of the information on the studio website, (nczstudios.com).

Please note that much of the information is anecdotal – although I try to be accurate, it is written quickly and without time to research so many topics well.