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 Big
Ticket
Items
If you can afford to buy some big-ticket items, they would be extremely handy during or after a hurricane. Some are useful anytime.
Big ticket items, while not a necessity, can certainly make the aftermath of a destructive storm much more comfortable.
- Generators: Prices range from $200 for a 750-watt model that will run a
few light bulbs, to $2,000 for an 8,000-watt model that will run
everything in your house. About 4,000 watts are needed to run a small air
conditioner, refrigerator and a couple of lights. Be sure you have plenty
of heavy-duty extension cords to connect the generator to appliances. A
generator with a fuel tank larger than 5 gallons is preferable. You'll
need about 5 gallons of gas to run a generator all night.
- Gas grills: Single-burner models start at $99. Because you'll probably
use the grill at other times of the year, consider spending an additional
$50 for a model with two burners. It allows you to cook more things at
once. You'll need propane gas to run a gas grill, so an extra tank (about
$25) could be handy. Refilling the tank with propane costs $10 to $20. One
tank cooks a dozen or more meals. Mini-grills, commonly used at the beach,
cost about $10, with single-meal gas tanks costing $2 each.
- Camping stove: The stoves, which cost about $60, run on small propane
tanks and are sufficient for short-term use. A tank of fuel will cook
several meals. The stoves fit easily on a shelf.
- Gasoline-powered chain saws:
Small ones start at $100. Get one with a
12-to-14-inch chain. It will give two to three days of steady cutting
before the chain has to be replaced. If you anticipate more cutting, buy
an extra chain for about $8.
- Tents: One-person models start at $30; 10-person tents start at $300.
Tents can be sweaty little enclosures even in the evening, but they can
provide basic housing in a jam. The more people in a tent, the less
comfortable they become. Consider buying more than one large tent so you
can use one for simple storage and the other for sleeping.
- Portable toilets: Regular camping toilets are $60 to $150. The $60 models
have a seat and a tank that holds waste. More expensive models run on
batteries and flush.
- Tarpaulins: Tarps or plastic sheeting such as Visquene can be handy for
covering a hole in the roof or draping over valuables exposed by a storm.
A 30-by-60-foot tarp costs about $80. Heavy-gauge plastic, 6 mills thick,
costs $10 for a 250-square-foot roll.
- Self-adhesive roofing paper:
A roll of tar paper with a self-adhesive
strip can be used for temporary roof repairs. It costs about $50 for 100
square feet and can last for months. But it can be difficult for novices
to use.
- Battery-operated TV sets:
A small battery-powered television can keep you
informed after the power goes out. Black-and-white models with 4-inch
screens cost as little as $60. But note: Battery consumption is high.
- A couple of bicycles are not only healthy, but may prove to the best or
safest mode of travel, after the storms have passed. With a bicycle you
can go around obstacles in the road that would be impassible with a car,
or completely off the road if necessary
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Last Revised: October 14, 2006 01:06 PM. |
