Hurricane Irene: NH

From WMUR 9:

"President Grants Request For NH Emergency Declaration"

President Barack Obama granted Gov. John Lynch's request for an emergency disaster declaration to help deal with Hurricane Irene. Federal resources will now be available during the storm. Officials said the National Guard is on state active duty and is ready to provide assistance as needed. All state parks, including beaches on the Seacoast, state forests and trails will close at 6 p.m. Saturday and reopen Tuesday.State police are asking motorists to restrict travel during the day Sunday and at night. The American Red Cross has opened four shelters: Keene Recreation Center at 312 Washington Street in Keene, Nashua High School North at 16 Chuck Druding Drive in Nashua, Bow High School at 32 White Rock Hill Road in Bow and Sanborn Regional High School at 17 Danville Road in Kingston.

The state is recommending residents take these precautions:

•The public should monitor weather information from the National Weather Service, radio and TV broadcasts and Internet sources for information regarding the severity of winds and rains produced by the storm.

•Loose objects in your yard, such as toys and lawn furniture, should be secured.

•As with all major natural events, ensure there is three days supply of water, non-perishable food and other supplies in your home.

•Prepare for power outages by ensuring working flashlights and fresh batteries, and a battery-powered radio. If you have a generator, ensure that it is professionally installed and can be operated without causing a health hazard. Please report outages to your electric utility.

•Prior to the storm's arrival, make sure all storm drains and culverts are clear of debris.

•Stay off the roads during the storm on Sunday.

•Follow the direction of your local emergency officials.

^ It seems we will get hit with either a Category 1 Hurricane or a very strong Tropical Storm. The eye of the storm is supposed to hit an hour southwest of where I live. My mom was supposed to start college classes this Monday, but they were cancelled because of the storm so she won't start for 3 weeks (because of Labor Day.) We are fully prepared here: with a 1,000 gallon propane tank, full-house generator, lots of food/water, full tank of gas in the car, cash and we brought everything in from outside. The only things I can't prepare for are if the Internet and/or TV Satellites go out. We could still watch DVDs, but would have no Internet. Also if the landline phone goes out we would be without a phone because my cell doesn't work within 20 miles of my house. I went to to only market in the next town and it was all boarded up (I have never seen that before.) There were a good amount of people inside, but I remember the guy next to us in line that had a cart full of beer, water and toilet paper and nothing else. Not really what you would call the essentials. We got a few things, but not because of the storm since we had already made our major trip to the market earlier in the week. At least we don't have to go anywhere from now until the storm ends. Since we live on a mountain we don't have to worry about flooding as all the water would go down the mountain - although it may flood the one and only road that leads to our house. It seems that I am home for the duration of the storm. ^

http://www.wmur.com/news/28998128/detail.html