If you've recently moved to the Pine Belt from some foreign country like, say, New Jersey or Illinois, you may be experiencing your first ever hurricane. In the interest of helping you feel right at home, here are some of my favorite preparedness tips. Others may wish to offer their own.

Remember, in the 'burg we may get some wind damage, but the thing to prepare for is loss of power. That means no water or sewage service for however long. So fill up your washing machine and bathtubs for a source of clean (not drinkable) water for flushing and sponge baths.

Have a radio that uses batteries. Likewise flashlights.

Plenty of ice. We fill up empty water jugs, Tupperware, and even ziplock freezer bags with water and put them in the freezer. A full freezer will hold longer. We also make up bags of ice cubes in advance. (If you have water stored from last year, check on it. I found two jugs, that had been leaking for some time and were nearly empty.) You need a gallon of drinking water per person per day, and count on three days.

Plenty of snacks. What a good excuse to buy stuff that's bad for you! "Hey, it's non-refrigerated, so I need it for the hurricane!" Works for us, as we throw another bag of Doritos into the cart.

First aid supplies.

Charcoal. Keep it dry. Don't try to use the grill indoors. Same for a generator. Last year a whole family here died because of running their generator indoors (tho that was in cold weather I think??)

No candles if you have natural gas at your place. It can go "BOOM."

If the streets fill up with water, please remember we have snakes, rats, and other nasty stuff. Don't wade, swim, or let your kids play in it, please.

We'll be okay. Don't freak out. We go through this every year. You get used to it.