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NOAA's current estimate is that there's a 57% chance of hurricane Earl (currently a Cat2) creating tropical storm conditions in the greater Boston area as the main storm passes by just outside of Cape Cod. We also have a flash flood watch going until tomorrow (9/4) at 06:00. I love rough weather and am feeling excited about it - and a little disappointed that it's passing through during Shabbat, so I won't be able to take pictures.
I have a healthy respect for natural events, of course, and have made a few pessimistic assumptions about what I should be prepared for.. and then found the household to be in decent shape.
Going down the life-systems checklist:
* Food - The household has 3 days of food for five to seven adults with no additional energy input (by day three of seven people, we'd be eating things that a nontrivial portion of the house doesn't actually like, but it's survivable). That goes up to about a week (possibly more) if we're cooking.
* Water - The only source is the municipal water system. Single points of failure irritate me. I've put aside a few liters of tap water, for the low but nonzero probability of a "boil water" order during Shabbat (when all cooking is forbidden). The alternative of the Jewish part of the household being left feeling thirsty and cranky is worth 5min of my time to prevent.
* Shelter - The house is sturdy and decently well-maintained. The previous owner's decision to layer new roofing shingles on top of the old ones may provide some redundancy if we lose a few to high winds. (The ceramic tile roof belonging to the neighbor across the street is of a style known to turn into projectiles in hurricane-force winds, but NOAA gives it a "very small" chance that we'll see that kind of windspeed.)
* Energy - We can cook with natural gas, propane, or electricity. Lighting is electric, but we have plenty of candles and battery-powered lights. Also battery-powered radios. So far as I know, I own the only human-powered flashlight and radio in the house.
* Communications - Radio for public announcements, cellphones for personal contact. If we lose power, the cablemodem/VOIP box should get by on its built-in UPS for a few hours.
* Transportation - This is mostly a human-powered household, and none of the residents currently has mobility impairments. There's a bike for every person, and only one of us has a car.
Yesterday, I sifted through the garden and pulled 11 small-to-midsize potatoes from plants that didn't survive the move. I think I've made back my investment in potato. Still to bring in are the green beans and an ear or two of corn.
The rest of today will be spent preparing for Shabbat, with a scattering of removing smaller potted plants into the house, where they won't get blown over.
I have a healthy respect for natural events, of course, and have made a few pessimistic assumptions about what I should be prepared for.. and then found the household to be in decent shape.
Going down the life-systems checklist:
* Food - The household has 3 days of food for five to seven adults with no additional energy input (by day three of seven people, we'd be eating things that a nontrivial portion of the house doesn't actually like, but it's survivable). That goes up to about a week (possibly more) if we're cooking.
* Water - The only source is the municipal water system. Single points of failure irritate me. I've put aside a few liters of tap water, for the low but nonzero probability of a "boil water" order during Shabbat (when all cooking is forbidden). The alternative of the Jewish part of the household being left feeling thirsty and cranky is worth 5min of my time to prevent.
* Shelter - The house is sturdy and decently well-maintained. The previous owner's decision to layer new roofing shingles on top of the old ones may provide some redundancy if we lose a few to high winds. (The ceramic tile roof belonging to the neighbor across the street is of a style known to turn into projectiles in hurricane-force winds, but NOAA gives it a "very small" chance that we'll see that kind of windspeed.)
* Energy - We can cook with natural gas, propane, or electricity. Lighting is electric, but we have plenty of candles and battery-powered lights. Also battery-powered radios. So far as I know, I own the only human-powered flashlight and radio in the house.
* Communications - Radio for public announcements, cellphones for personal contact. If we lose power, the cablemodem/VOIP box should get by on its built-in UPS for a few hours.
* Transportation - This is mostly a human-powered household, and none of the residents currently has mobility impairments. There's a bike for every person, and only one of us has a car.
Yesterday, I sifted through the garden and pulled 11 small-to-midsize potatoes from plants that didn't survive the move. I think I've made back my investment in potato. Still to bring in are the green beans and an ear or two of corn.
The rest of today will be spent preparing for Shabbat, with a scattering of removing smaller potted plants into the house, where they won't get blown over.
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