How to Prepare for a Hurricane...

Okay, I'm no expert, but most of the lists included the following basics:

• Buy batteries for flashlights and radios
• Stock up on bottled water and nonperishable, but nutritious, food items
• Fill your tub with water (or a few buckets if, like me, your bathroom is tubless and tiny)
• Make sure storm drains are clear
• Move important items off floor level
• Secure your home, e.g., outdoor items, etc.
• Evacuate if told (duh)
• Do not surf, kayak, hang out on the beach, or stand in front of large windows (also, duh)

If not evacuating, then you might also conisder:

• Drinking several bottles of vodka (or other liquor) with friends
• Baking and eating dozens of chocolate chip cookies with your honey or roommate
• Making cocktails with random ingredients in your fridge, such as iced green tea, raspberries, cantaloupe juice, and vodka
• Whipping up a feast with all the perishable food items you have and freezing ziploc bags of water to put in the fridge later if you lose power

These are a few of the activities my friends, neighbors and I participated in last night as we waited for Hurricane Irene to ravage Brooklyn.

There is nothing like pending disaster to drive one to excess. Mrs. O, who had to evacuate the lower lands of Brooklyn, came over with bags of food (and a little travel disaster kit with a flash light, toilet paper, candles, matches, and chocolate.)

Hyperlocal Hurricane Crisp

We made a flat bread pizza, pasta salad, and guacamole which we added to a spread of munchies like hummus, chutney, cheese, chips, and crackers. For dessert, we baked a crisp with peaches and raspberries. Being from the M.E.'s backyard, the peaches were hyperlocal and organic!

Mrs. O and I ate a lot, napped, awoke and ate a lot more. And, we waited. For Irene and her ravaging.

That Irene... she had a temper tantrum sure--tossing a few branches, uprooting a tree or two, and dumping quite a bit of water--but that was about it in Park Slope.

Mrs. O awoke this morning and declared "This hurricane's a bust!" Her cat Sassy agreed, but looked highly reluctant about getting back into her kitty carrier.

Unfortunately, it wasn't a bust for everyone. There are lots of folks who lost power or had their homes flooded. And the rivers continue to rise.

So, we were lucky. As Mrs. Craven put it, "The most damage was the amount of chocolate chip cookies I ate last night." We are safe, dry, and a little hungover from our various indulgences.

The winds are still fierce, though, and the rain has started again. It's a good day to stay inside, pour a drink and keep eating.

'Til next time, my friends. And, in the meantime, I would love to hear about your disaster-induced indulgences. Post a comment to share!