STOCK MARKET WATCH - Monday, 20 February 2012

[AnneD]

54. When Houston was hit by Hurricane Ike.....

It was a great dry run and many valuable lessons were learned.

1. You can never have too much ice. If you have a freezer, freeze jugs of water too.

2. You can never have too many batteries. Rechargable and solar rechargers are worth their weight in gold.

3. Get to know your neighbors beforehand. Having someone that has a gun is good. just the sight of someone on the porch keeping watch with a gun close by keeps the trouble makers away.

4. Have block parties and cookout. This makes your food and fuel go farther. I never ate so good. Food from fridges went first, the food from freezers that had no generator back up then freezers. We grilled like crazy.

5. Forget all electric. Those that had gas ovens, generally had hot water. Have a shower at someones house had a whole new meaning.

6. Share share share. Those with generators or got power early graciously helped recharge. It was a common site to see heavy duty extension cords running across neighborhood streets. I recharged many a friend's phone and brought ice to a family with young children. Eateries would direct you to outlets or help you out if you needed a charge. Fuel was pooled and shared with people with generators and they inturn sharedtheir power.

7. Candles, lamps, and flashlights. Never pass candles for sale after a holiday. You burn through them at an incrediable rate. Have a variety of light sources.

8. Games, board games, books, and toys that don't require batteries save your sanity.

We are communal or pack animals by our nature. This is what has helped us survive and thrive. This is what will help us in the future. Get active in a network, clan, neighborhood, or family. We are not meant to go it alone.