What's on your hurricane prep. list?

[Mofi]

Although I lived in playa and have been around for Tropical Storms, I've never been there for a Hurricane. Well most of these things seem legitimate, I am wondering what the bleach is for?

[Libby]

Originally Posted by Mofi

Although I lived in playa and have been around for Tropical Storms, I've never been there for a Hurricane. Well most of these things seem legitimate, I am wondering what the bleach is for?

If you run out of purified water and have no gas to boil water, you can use bleach to make tap water mostly safe. Apparently, the other use is just for disinfecting. I guess floodwater that comes into your house could be contaminated.

[Mofi]

Originally Posted by Libby

If you run out of purified water and have no gas to boil water, you can use bleach to make tap water mostly safe. Apparently, the other use is just for disinfecting. I guess floodwater that comes into your house could be contaminated.

Something about putting bleach in water to purify it, I don't think I could do. With my luck I would probably end up poisoning myself or something, and you just gave me a visual of floodwater. In 2004 when I was there for the tropical storm all the back hallways at the hotel fililed with about a foot of water, and it was gross, green I think.

[Libby]

Originally Posted by Mofi

Something about putting bleach in water to purify it, I don't think I could do. With my luck I would probably end up poisoning myself or something, and you just gave me a visual of floodwater. In 2004 when I was there for the tropical storm all the back hallways at the hotel fililed with about a foot of water, and it was gross, green I think.

I know what you mean, but chlorine (essentially bleach) is used to treat the tap water in the states and Canada. Also found out that bleach is used to clean or prevent mold after the floodwater comes in.

[Aussieplaya]

Originally Posted by Libby

I know what you mean, but chlorine (essentially bleach) is used to treat the tap water in the states and Canada. Also found out that bleach is used to clean or prevent mold after the floodwater comes in.

Disinfecting with household bleach kills some, but not all, types of disease-causing organisms. The bleach must contain chlorine in order to work. Do not use scented bleaches, color-safe bleaches, or bleaches with added cleaners. Most household chlorine bleaches have 4-6% available chlorine, in which case you should add 1/8 teaspoon (8 drops) of regular, unscented, liquid household bleach for each gallon of water (2 drops per Liter), stir it well and let it stand for 30 minutes before you use it. Check the label; if the percentage of available chlorine is around 1%, or you don't know what the percentage is, use 40 drops per gallon or 10 drops per Liter; if the percentage is 7-10%, use 4 drops per gallon or 1 drop per Liter. Double the amount of chlorine if the water is cloudy, murky, or colored, or if the water is extremely cold. If after sitting covered for 30 minutes the water doesn't have a slight chlorine odor, repeat the dosage and let sit for another 15 minutes.[4]

Hope this helps. How to Purify Water - wikiHow

[surfnmom]

If you don't live on the same grid as a hospital, make friends with someone who does. They usually try to get these grids up and runnning first.

We moved here last Aug just as Dean was making its way toward Mexico so we got a crash course in "get ready" from my husbands parents. We stayed with them until we knew it was okay. Boarded up windows, lots of non-perishables, huge trashcans full of tap water for bathing and flushing, bought a few extra garrafones of drinkable water too. Many of the other suggestions were things that we did also. We even moved the cars away from the house to areas with less trees & possible flying objects.