Well, our buddy Earl is still at it. He is back up to Cat. 4 @ 135 mph. He's spewing hurricane force winds for 90 miles and tropical storm force for 200 miles. They've done a full evacuation of Ocracoke Island, NC (rumored to be where Blackbeard hid much of his treasure - maybe some will wash up!) and removed all non-residents from Hatteras Island. Most of the NC coast is under a Hurricane Warning, most of the coast from Va. up to Delaware under Hurricane Watch. The rest of the East Coast clear up to Maine is under Tropical Storm Warning or Watch, and Cape Cod, Mass. is under Hurricane Watch.
It looks like the Outer Banks will get a heavy, but glancing blow, and Virginia will get some as well. The rest of the coast is still any one's guess. Where I work, in Newport News, will probably get heavy rain, 45 mph winds, and storm surge combined with high tide at 4:30 a.m. to go up to 4 feet above normal.
Today I wrapped up my last minute preps. I bungee corded my one remaining trash can to the fence (the others are empty and in the shed). I got 10 more gallons of gas treated with Star Tron (32 total, about 3 days of judicious use in the generator). I adjusted my 72 hour kit in my GHB (Get Home Bag) in case I get stranded at work. I added some clothes, rotated the food, added a poncho, and my hardhat & safety glasses.
I'm pretty confident that we are ready. Living the preparedness lifestyle keeps us ready for most things, with a few acute last minute adjustments. Are you ready for Earl, or whatever else life throws at you?
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