mAKE READY for a storm

How do you prepare for a storm when you live on the water? Where are you vulnerable when you live off the grid? How best can you survive a storm?

Storms can be very destructive - sheer winds can fall trees toppling on your cabin or destroy your docks and boathouse - and if you are off the grid, solar panels may get destroyed. There are many more scenarios when you are homesteading.

Be Prepared
Sounds like a pretty big statement - it is! Being prepared is thinking the worst of things can happen, and if they don't, that's good too! So the first thing is to stay alert about weather patterns. If you have a marine radio, you likely can get a daily update of impending storms and it is critical in telling you wind direction and strength. If you are connected to the internet, you can likely get a forecast from a weather channel but it may not be specific enough for your location. Once you start documenting pressure changes on a barometer on a daily basis, you may find just the pattern you are looking for to tell you when a storm is going to happen. If you watch nature, you will see subtle but obvious signs. Being prepared is knowing that you have a storm coming your way.

Signs in Nature
All animals forage for food heavily before a storm - squirrels, mice, or deer or any mammal gets very active in eating. They plan on 'hunkering' it down when the storm does come, and they want a full belly.

There is truth to the saying, pink sky at night, sailors delight - like the barometer. A high pressure is happening, and so it is a good indicator in the northern hemisphere that all is well.

Weather lore would say that the leaves of deciduous trees turning upside down, especially those with soft stems are a sign that rain is coming. I have seen this to be true. The stems are apparently reacting to the change in humidity in the air and flip over easily in the wind.

Knowing the seasonal changes and where the predominant weather disturbances come from in your area can be very revealing. Scouting the horizon is always a good idea.

What are some of the ways you prepare for the storm?


Chapter 1 - THE STORM The storm outside was deafening. Thunder growled loudly and giant spruce trees groaned. Lightning darted this way and that in rhythm with our fears. Read More