(no subject)

[rynne]

My first week in DC, I get an earthquake and a hurricane.

I have never been through a hurricane before. We might get power outages lasting 3-5 days, and I have no idea how to handle that. I'm going to stock up on non-perishable food tomorrow, but my microwave, stove, and oven are all electric, so I doubt I'll be able to cook anything.

I've been reading tips like filling the bathtub with water for cleaning and flushing the toilet, but it's like...I have never flushed a toilet without running water. I'm not even sure how that works.

And school still starts on Monday. (So far, at least.) This means that I still have to actually read and try to brief cases for my first classes, in the middle of a hurricane when I might not have any power and I don't know if the storm will let us have much natural light. At least I do have a flashlight, but still, I doubt this is gonna be much fun.

Gah. Hurricanes.

Comments

[rae1013.livejournal.com]

That is just crazy. I can't even comprehend the weather anymore. Stock up on non-perishables. Fill some Ziplock bags half full of water and pack your freezer with them. If the power goes out you can put some in the fridge and keep food for longer.

To flush a toilet without water: fill a bucket with water and poor directly into the toilet bowl quickly and it will flush. Alternatively, you could flush normally but just refill the tank after each flush.

You'll want to stock up on candles, batteries for your flashlight and possible head to a hardware store and get a lantern (battery or oil) for extra lighting.

Keep everything that has a battery fully charged until the power goes out, then your cell, laptop, whatever might last until the power comes back on.

I feel for you, sweetie. And I'm thinking about you. Hope it doesn't get too rough for you. *hugs*

[rynne.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for all of the advice! What seems to be amazing, though, is that I actually still have power. I was expecting to lose it hours ago, but not yet, apparently. So now I'm just on my computer, watching the rain outside my window. I might lose power later, but the worst of the storm should pass us by soon.

[geeks-and-nerds.livejournal.com]

:( Oh no! DC is not giving you the warmest welcome, is it? I did my undergrad at American and only lived through one hurricane - if you're in the dorms try to use this a chance to meet people! Hurricane party?

Seriously, I loved living in DC and am so jealous that you're there now. The weather can be odd and unpredictable, but it also gives you lots of fun opportunities (just wait for snowball fights!). It's usually not like this - the east coast gets earthquakes and hurricanes of this magnitude about once every hundred years and it just happened to occur at the same time now! Please keep telling yourself that DC and Georgetown are awesome because they totally are!

Stay safe!

[rynne.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm not that fazed. The earthquake wasn't bad, and the hurricane doesn't seem to be either, at least where I am. It's actually pretty exciting to be watching a hurricane outside my window!

[ansley15.livejournal.com]

Geez, that sounds really miserable! I hope you're okay! Your first power shortage is always frustrating and scary the first time round, but keep calm and carry on and I promise you shall endure<3

Studying brief cases by flashlight is not the most pleasant way to enter into being a law school student, but that doesn't sound too unusual from what I know about law school students/grad students/other crazily busy people. Good luck!

[rynne.livejournal.com]

Well, it's not that bad -- I actually still have power. For now, at least. Hopefully it'll last, but if it doesn't, I can still study by flashlight/candlelight. :p