Email from my son...

Looks like it will be a TS by Sun when it reaches you, but that's still winds up to 73 MPH. Are you doing anything to prepare for the power going out for a few days? This is from a friend in NO who goes through them a LOT...BJ

Bottled water. Food. Fuel for your camp stove. Fill the bathtub so that you can flush the toilet if the water goes out. Good radio with batteries. Know the channel for your local emergency management station. Have a couple of cheap 8x10 or 9x12 tarps on hand to cover roof damage, if any. A good chainsaw is handy for downed trees and zombies. Buy ammo now, because you won't be able to buy it later.

Most important: While things are down, don't take it as a hardship. Take it as an opportunity. It's also an opportunity to get to know your neighbors and to see if any old people need some help clearing their yard or with any other essential activity if you have spare time. Educate your family about downed power lines. Even if you know that something is not a power line, still don't touch it. Lines can become cross-energized. Review safety and first aid instructions. Fill your gas tanks, and as many gas cans as you can. Two 5 gallon cans should be good. Not so much because you'll need it, but because when things get short you won't have to sit in gas lines. People get crazy when gas gets short. I just waited everyone else out and I filled my tanks again last weekend after the rush was over.

Do not use candles or other flame based lighting. Do not run a generator indoors, or near an open window, or near any airconditioning unit. Have charcoal or gas on hand for your grill. If anyone comes around looking for trouble, murder them. If you have trees close to your house, look at a map, look at the storm, and figure out which way the trees are going to fall. Don't be in that part ofthe house during the storm. Same goes for telephone poles. Disconnect all non-essential electronics BEFORE the power goes out. Secure loose objects in the yard, and take down your hammocks BEFORE the wind blows. If you lose a window during high winds, immediately open ALL the doors andwindows in the house and let the wind go through it. If you try to stop it,your roof will come right off. I've seen that, and it is kind of a strange sight.Pack clean underwear. Don't worry too much.--

When the zombies are eating your brain, you'll wish you had invested insome extra firepower!