Hurricane Irene

[Fr. Frank]

Just thinking of how many hurricanes (not counting mere Tropical Storms) I've lived through in my life. It was more than I thought, but then, I was born and raised in South Florida.
I've lived through 28 total hurricanes, (and the last one in '05 because my tow vehicle broke down and I couldn't evacuate my camper and SeaCraft out of the Keys, and decided to ride it out. That was stupid.)

• 1959 - Judith
• 1962 - Alma
• 1964 - Cleo
• 1965 - Betsy
• 1966 - Inez, Alma
• 1968 - Abby, Brenda, Dolly
• 1971 - Beth
• 1972 - Dawn
• 1976 - Belle (rode that one out at sea in a square-rigger)
• 1979 - David
• 1981 - Dennis
• 1983 - Barry
• 1985 - Bob, Gloria
• 1987 - Floyd
• 1989 - Hugo (in the Bahamas)
• 1994 - Gordon
• 1995 - Erin
• 1996 - Bertha (in the Bahamas)
• 2000 - Gordon
• 2001 - Gabrielle (actually only TS winds hit us)
• 2004 - Charlie, Frances, Ivan, Jeanne (lived off my 15kw diesel generator for 8 days after Frances, I powered my house and two neighbors, including central AC)
• 2005 - Dennis (in a 23' travel trailer in the Keys, pulled between two buildings with no clearance to the buildings)

Hurricane "Experts" say you need supplies to be self-sufficient for 72 hours during and after a hurricane.
They're wrong!

Be prepared to be on your own for 7-10 days, including food, water, power, medicines, batteries, and fuel. Have extra of everything so as to help your neighbors.