I shouldn't be up at 3 am. Just a little nervous. I did sleep for four hours though, then got up. The reason I'm nervous is because we were told we might have to evacuate Hope Lodge (where the cancer patients and their caregivers stay) suddenly. Maybe even tonight in the middle of the night. See, the ice storm is causing people to lose electricity, heat, water, everything. The water company us called tonight. They said please try use as little water as possible. They are down to their emergency supply.
We were told by the manager on duty that she was being phoned in by others, and was being told that power lines were down, and that electricity was turned off allover the place. That also meant no heat. The manager of the Lodge, at her house, has no electricity, heat, water, or anything at all. She phoned in and told us. She lives very close by. So we need to be prepared to evacuate if necessary.
When I heard this, I immediately went to John's and my room and prepared. First thing I did was get out one of our suitcases (well we really have dufflebags), and threw in all of our medications. That is most immediate b/c without John's transplant meds he would die. I also need my diabetes meds, etc.
I put in my purse, our wallets, cell phones, cell phone chargers, vital things like that. Our car keys. That's about all that would fit. except a few clothing items for John and his toilet articles. I zipped it up.
Then I filled another bag. I took our box of, what is it, I think it is Ginger Ale. I think it is cans of Ginger Ale. Now I am imagining you can drink Ginger Ale if you are real thirsty. It doesn't have caffeine and it should quench your thirst, right? Provided there is no water where we are going and the water is out, Ginger Ale may be a good choice. We will need something to drink, right? Can't be that bad. I then stuff two bottles of water into the bag. The last two bottles of bottled water we have. Then I remembered we had one container left of distilled water that we had brought for my CPAP machine. Well a half a bottle of water. So I put that in the bag also. At least we will be able to drink something if we are stuck somewhere. If nobody mugs us to get the water! Oh, and I put a shirt on top of the water when I was done. This will serve two purposes. A change of clothing, and to hide our stash.
Okay, I didn't tell you that we would probably be evacuated to the hospital. Possibly to the lobby, but who cares. They have generators there, and as long as I am not cold, it is okay. I don't know if they would run out of food or not, or water to wash dishes, so I got to thinking, I better pack some food, LOL. So I got together to plastic grocery bags of food. Nothing ridiculous, something sensible. I put items in there you didn't need a can opener for, because I didn't have one. I had some food with pop top lids anyway. I noticed I had quite a bit of food that I could bring for John and me. If anything happens we are not going to starve to death.
I also found plastic silverware, small paper plates, plastic cups, and some napkins. Then in the hall closet I found a bunch of rolls of toilet paper, and thought, uhm, yes. If they pack people in the hospital, they could just perhaps run low, LOL. So I stuffed that in the grocery bag.
I got strange stares from my packing spree. I was told by some there that they were just going to go to a shelter such as a Red Cross one, which would be well stocked, and why was I preparing? I said we wanted to be at the hospital. And how would you know what they had? Isn't it always good to be prepared? Perhaps I am silly.
At any rate, it is good to have your medications. Most went to bed without packing them. How are they going to find them if they have to evacuate quickly in the middle of the night? If they are told to get out, they will be stumbling around in the dark looking for them. For some of them, it will be a life threatening situation. I hope all of the transplant patients have their medications packed up. They will die without their meds, possibly.
I'm just glad I did what I did. We have it planned. We already have the food in the car, waiting for us. In our bedroom we have the black dufflebag with our medicines, etc,. in it. If the lights go out, John will grab that one, because it is too heavy for me. I will grab the other bag by the door. It has our water and drinks in it. We will also grab our coats and go. My coat is laying on top of my bag I am going to grab. You see, I am a planner, LOL.
Poor John is in bed fully dressed, LOL. He wasn't feeling too well today. When he is not feeling well he gets what looks like black eyes, especially on his upper eye lids. They turn black and red. We have never figured out what causes him to have what looks like black eyes yet. He doesn't have a fever, so we don't know what's wrong. A super compromised immune system? An infection?
Maybe we will get a clue tomorrow. He will be having tests in the morning and an appointment in the afternoon with Dr. Claxton. Provided the cancer clinic at the hospital continues to operate. I think the hospital is a good place to be stranded if you have to be stranded somewhere.
Yes, this has been one ice crazy storm. I took some photos. If they came out I will share them when I get back home.
If you don't hear from me for awhile, then you will know that I maybe got evacuated and couldn't get to a computer. There is one at the hospital, but they may cut off it's usage if power is limited. I don't have a laptop.
I'll let you know soon if everything is fine.
Thanks for letting me ramble, Krissy :)
Aren't these cute?
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