This post is mostly for other transplants since preparing for a hurricane is pretty similar to preparing for a blizzard. But a lot of my non-New England friends in Boston seem to have no idea what to do about Sandy, so I thought r/Boston might also appreciate some advice. I grew up in south Louisiana, lived through Andrew and Katrina unharmed, and am quite used to the "will it hit or won't it?" dilemma. The best advice is to be prepared for strong winds and a week without power just in case. Below are some tips for how and what to prepare:

1. Water: Often during bad storms the main water sources will be compromised and a boil water order issued. But if your tap water is clean there is no reason to go out and buy water to prepare. Instead, get a big box of gallon sized ziplocs (spring for ones with a good seal.) This will kill two birds with one stone and be a hell of a lot cheaper. Fill the ziplocs with water from your tap and put them in your freezer and fridge. Bags of water are easy to squish into even a packed refrigerator and take up less room than bottles. Plus, if your power goes out your refrigerator will stay cold longer with more things in it. And the water bags in your freezer will be handy ice packs, which may be important if the weather turns warm.

2. Canned Goods: Make sure you have enough canned goods for about a week without power. Even if your power is out longer than a week, usually by then the roads are cleared and you can leave for more supplies. Some good options are: peanut butter, chili, tuna fish, canned chicken, and instant sides like rice or potatoes. If you have a gas stove you will probably still be able to use it if the power goes out (you'll just have to light it yourself), so dry goods will work then too.

3. Lights: Obviously without power you'll need another kind of light. Flashlights are great, but usually have a narrow beam and take a lot of batteries to run hours on end. They are best for short use. I prefer candles, camping lanterns, or oil lamps for just keeping the room lit. For candles, I like to go to the "Mexican" aisle in the grocery store and stock up on the basic white candles in glass (they are with the Saints candles - sometimes called 7 day candles). They are usually about $1 each and are meant to last for days. Oil lamps are also super easy to make. You can find a tutorial here though to be honest you can just punch that hole in the top of a glass olive oil bottle.

4. Bring it Inside: A rookie mistake is to forget about the things you have outside. If the storm has high winds your grill, chairs, and plants can all become flying projectiles. If you can't bring them in try to tie them down. And tell your neighbors to do the same. Their outdoor decorations can go through your windows just as easily as they can go through theirs.

5. Activities: When the power goes out and you're stuck in your house or apartment for a week it gets really boring. Like really, really boring. So think about what you can do without power. Get some board games, cards, and stuff like that. Alcohol works too.

6. Weather: Is it going to be cold or hot when the power goes out? How will you deal with that if you don't have power? Most likely for us it will be cold so make sure you have plenty of blankets. I like to keep some hot hands around as well - throw one under your blankets before bed and it will keep you toasty.

7. Hurricane Parties: Hurricane parties are a time honored tradition in Louisiana for a reason. First, if you've gotta be stuck inside why not have fun? But second, it allows you to merge resources and pick a spot that will be safe and good to ride it out. So here is how to prepare and pick a place:

• A good spot is a house or apartment second floor or higher (no basements!) with a gas stove, multiple bathrooms, and space for guests to sleep.

• Coordinate with guests to get food, water, games, sleeping bags, and alcohol. You all might be stuck there for days so make sure everyone brings enough for the group. Remember that while beer is great, it kind of sucks when warm. Hard liquor and red wine, on the other hand, are much more drinkable when warm.

• Have someone bring a grill and charcoal so you can cook outside. Make sure you also have some pans and utensils for cooking canned goods on the grill. Be prepared for neighbors to beg some.

• In Louisiana we love to invite musicians because an acoustic jam session is great entertainment when the power is out. Maybe that's why half of New Orleans can play an instrument.

• Remember that guests at a Hurricane Party are there for friendship, entertainment, pooled resources, and safety. But this sense of community is also important for rebuilding and helping one another afterwards. You'll all get to know one another real quick and these things can form life long friendships if you have a good group. Don't invite assholes, really annoying people, and selfish jerks. You're going to be stuck with them for a long time

Edit: Forgot to add that if you have a car you should try to park it away from trees. Branches and whole trees can fall if the winds get high.

Edit 2: Have some cash on hand in case power is out for a number of days and you need to go restock on supplies. Also fill up your car with gas if you don't live within walking distance to basic necessities. You can fill up your tub with water so you can use it to flush your toilet if needed. Battery powered radios are useful so you can hear if there are any boil water orders or safety concerns. And, if the eye of the storm is predicted to go over your place remember that there will be a period of calm then. But the eye only marks half the storm - stay inside until it is all completely over Also edited for grammar/clarity