Hurricane Ivan, if you haven’t heard, is hitting the Gulf Coast tonight and tomorrow. Almost everything up to central Alabama (including Birmingham) has been put on hold — school and work. And, as predicted, even those people who already have four gallons of milk, three loaves of bread, and enough water to turn the Sahara Desert into a small ocean are clogging up the grocery stores in order to double their inventory.
It’s a hurricane, people. Not a nuclear warhead.
Before I go on — I can honestly understand why central Alabama is shutting down. Flooding and hurricane-force winds are a real possibility, if not inevitable. Authorities and employers are protecting people, and I’m happy about it.
If you’re on the Gulf Coast, you don’t need anything. Drive north. When you feel that you’ve driven far enough, drive another 100 miles and you should be good. You might need enough supplies for a day or two, but that’s all.
If you’re in Lower Alabama (Montgomery and lower) and you plan on staying where you are, then get enough supplies for a couple of days. If something serious happens and you can’t get anything from the grocery stores when this is over, then call your local American Red Cross. They’ll hook you up. I know this. I work for them as a Lifeguard Instructor. If they don’t personally give you supplies, they’ll tell you who to go to.
If you’re north of Montgomery, then protect your house as best as possible against wind damage (i.e. cut down dead trees close to your house, etc.) and sit tight. If by some tragedy something does happen to where you are (no power, no house, etc.) then after it’s over walk to your local emergency center or shelter. You will survive the walk. There’s no radioactive fallout — I promise.
And last, but not least, if your cable tv goes out — please do not call 911, 311 (the non-emergency-but-important-information-number), or your local cable company. They are doing the best they can. They’ll get it on when possible. They’re not going to leave you disconnected. They want their money, and they know they have to satisfy your need to watch the Home Shopping Network at 3 in the morning.
That’s all I have to say — for now — since I plan on enjoying my two free days off.
