Ed - you probably have large storage tanks for gasoline, diesel, and propane, but for everyone else, today's a good time to top everything off. If you have an old jon boat that's not used regularly, consider parking it out in the rain with the drain plug in place--you can flush toilets without electricity, but not without a good supply of water. By the time the heavy winds arrive, there will be enough rain in it to keep it from blowing away.

Scrub out your best coolers, jugs, and other storage containers & fill now with nice clean drinking water. Officials recommend 2 gal. per person per day. If you have a "pour through" coffee maker & can boil water on a camp stove, gas grill, etc., be sure you have filters, coffee, and a thermos. This is no time to be without hot coffee!

Back up your desktop computer(s) now. If there are extended power outages, you may want what's on the desktop's hard drive. Isabel knocked out my power for 11 days. I had a laptop, but forgot to copy the files off the desktop.

Anyone who's surrounded by trees should consider moving your boat and vehicles to a nearby large tree-free parking lot until the wind subsides. If you need additional encouragement, I'll try to find my Isabel pictures of the 100-year-old oak tree that totaled my daughter's car. Yes, I urged her to move the car well in advance, but naturally she knew better than dad.

During the Isabel disaster:
- Rain beat in around north-facing doors and windows. Duct tape them (on the outside, preferably) before the horizontal rain begins.
- Stores had no power to ring cash registers and operate authorization systems. Cash, however, was welcome and merchants tried to open one way or another. Drop by the bank today & get several hundred dollars (small unmarked bills.)
- There were lots of free-lancers riding around looking for cleanup jobs. If you anticipate heavy tree damage and will need to engage one of these guys, add to your cash supply now.
- Neighborhood streets and some roads were impassable for days. If you need it, get it now.
- Power lines were down (and some were hot) wherever there was overhead service and trees.
- Good old-fashioned rotary dial telephones never stopped working!
- Dirty dishes and clothes were MUCH HARDER to clean when the power was out. Take care of these chores tonight. Now's the time to stock up on disposable plates, bowls, cups, and eating utensils. You'll use them for next year's picnics if Joaquin goes elsewhere.
- Listening to the radio 24/7 got old fast. It was a good time for jigsaw puzzles, board games, cards, and other non-electronic forms of entertainment.
- Food that didn't require refrigeration was very handy. In addition to canned items, pick up fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, and anything else that can be stored without taking up cooler space.

If you think there's any possibility you will be ordered or urged to evacuate, start preparing now. Pack light and look at it like a camping trip. You may need to live in your car for a short period. Plan to shut your home down and secure things as if you will be away for months. That includes shutting off gas, electricity, and water at the source of supply.