Hurricane Evacuation - What Would You Take?
Decorating By icantcook Updated 20 Aug 2007 , 3:23am by icantcook
I may have to evacuate from hurricane Dean once we see where he is going to land. It will be the first time I'm packing and evacuating since I have started my hobby. I'm reviewing the list of things I usually pack (for me, DH, 2 kids, 4 horses, 2 dogs). We usually look like the Clampets by the time we get everything loaded up to head inland. Really! My suburban is packed inside and on top, DH has 4X4 extended cab truck and long cattle trailer packed w/ our stuff and horses & dogs. At least we have some warning so we have a chance to get out of harm's way, as opposed to tornadoes or earthquakes.
I started looking around the house, and now I have all this cake stuff that I have invested quite a bit of $$ in. So many other necessities to take, now I am trying to decide what I should really try to squeeze in. Since I would rather procrastinate and surf CC than board up my house (I won't know for 72 hours what Dean is doing!) I'm asking:
If you had to evacuate and could only take 4 cake things in your vehicle, what would you take?
I'm thinking: 1) KA (if she comes in on Monday as promised) 2) wilton toolbox (filled as tight as possible w/tips, bags, colors) 3) Airbrush set 4) 12x16 pan, so I can cut down to other sizes if needed.
Confession: my original question was 3 items, but I can't narrow it down any more! Man, I hate hurricane season!
1st thing... my inventory book of everything purchased with receipts stored in it. I have 1 for home and 1 for business. I am insured for 100% recovery from a natural disaster in the home and if I get hit with a natural disaster 100% of what I loose will be replaced. What homeowners insurance doesn't cover my business insurance will.
2nd thing... my computer (tower, monitor, keyboard and mouse). I can hook it up anywhere and not loose anything on my hard drive where all my business stuff is stored.
3rd thing... my portfolio. That is priceless to me. I do have back up pics
on my computer but it would be a hefty expense to pay to have them all reprinted.
These 3 things will allow me to be back up and running my business asap if disaster hits.
Fortunately we are 150 miles from the coast. During Katrina we lost power for 2 weeks. I would my 10 inch round pan, you can use it for so many things. Next the CD's with all the pictures of things we own. We have full replacement on our household things and it would be simpler to email pictures of the mixers and other equiptment. Third, I don't know.
I'm in Houston. We stayed during Rita and I don't want to think about Dean. For Rita, we packed our Suburban to the max and not one item was cake stuff. Because of the hideous traffic, we ended up not leaving, and then Rita turned so we weren't in her direct path.
We have 3 blue & gold macaws, a sun conure, and a dozen lovebirds. Oh, and a husband and 3 kids. No room for cake stuff! 
Whereabouts are you, icantcook?
Well first...here's hoping it takes a turn and misses everyone!
As far as what to take, I don't live near hurricane territory, but I do live in tornado alley.
With tornado's you don't get much warning, sometimes just a matter of minutes. I've learned to only worry about what can't be replaced by insurance.
Since you have time, grab the things you can't get back...receipts, copies of pictures etc. While I'd cry over my KA, I can replace that much easier than many other things.
Good luck!
I'm in South Texas---RGV to be exact. It's suppose to hit us directly. I wouldn't even know where to evacuate to. My SIL called earlier asking where we were going to go. I hadn't even thought about it.
Anyway I would take:
1. My computer tower
2. My Pro 600 mixer
3. As much supplies as I can fit in one bag.
4. All my cookie cutters.
I think that's it. In an extreme emergency situation(no time) I would only take the first two.
Basic pans, tips&bags colors, airbrush & colors since that is something that is very expensive to replace. I would really look at the more expensive items like molds, mats, extra. Think that you really can buy a basic pan from Walmart for cheap so you can get by without them. Its the stuff that costs the most money is what you want to take since it would cost too much to replace them again.
You guys are silly! 
My Hubby, my Son, my Daughter, Pictures!!!!
If I had a chance to pack w/ some notice I would bring Pictures, and would then try to stuff every cake and scrapbbok item I own.
(I think I would need about 3 Suburbans to fit it all-w/ no passangers!)
I hope it bypasses you and you don't have to worry about a thing!! You guys are in my prayers!!!
I'm a NOLA girl, so I now will run from EVERY hurricane! I'm praying for all of you in it's path, but have to admit I'm praying harder it doesn't turn this way. I've been glued to the tv and weather websites for days now. And I just keep thinking, "D***, he's gonna be rough!" The thought of evac sends me into a panic. As far as what I'd take, really, I guess anything I could possibly fit into the cars! But I'd want my pictures, they're priceless, and even though I can replace my KA, it was a thoughtful gift from DH, so I'd take it. And the rest, I suppose I could replace with out much heartache. The most important are the living things, of which we have a plethora, 2 cats, a dog, a hamster, fishy, and a frog...and I'm attached to all of them, especially the fish that lives in my kitchen window. We talk...
Keep prayin' and maybe he'll just go away. Lili did that for us a few years ago, so it does happen...
Good luck to those of you in the area of the hurricane. What's important is to keep your families safe. I'll keep you in my prayers.
Material things can be replaced, but if I had to evacuate and had a little room to pack things, I think my computer and printer for edible images would be high on my list. Definitely my little dog Casey! Family photos, small battery operated tv. If I still had room I would take my KA, Cake Pans and organizer that I have alot of my colors, rollers, cutters etc. stored in!
Again good luck to everyone. I'll be watching and hoping you don't have to worry about packing anything!
Jean
Okay........now I feel bad for not including my family..........of course I would take them.............I just thought we were talking about cake stuff.
I see.........we're talking priorities here. Well.........I think we could take everything we need and still squeeze in my KA........besides my family it's the second love of my life. Plus it would help make me some money to replace some of the stuff I lost.
having been though, Gloria and Hugo, i have no desire to go though another one,
Take detailed photos of your home ( I say this to everyone) , and I mean even open closets and take pics. take the camera , computer, , Photos, bottled water , a bag of entertainments for the kids, clothing, photos and important documents , everything else can be replaced.
note: I would suggest everyone take detailed photos of all that is in your home, email it to your self or give a copy of the photos to a friend or family member. As an insurance agent, there is nothing worse then seeing someone after a loss and them having to sift though what is left of their home & belongings after a loss, there is no way to remember everything, , your stressed and at your braking point or on your way, one less stressful to to have to handle, with the photos you can hand them to the adjuster and go though the inventory on the film.
We live on Galveston Bay and had to evacuate when Rita came blowing through so we learned a lot then. Of course I would round up my family and pets which includes 3 four legged children and one Monkey.
First I would make sure my Bible was first thing loaded into the front seat where I would be sitting!
Secondly I would take all of our pictures. Since hurricane Rita I have all pics and important papers stored in stackable waterproof tubs so they are easy to pick up and stack in the Suburban. A few sentimental pics hanging on the walls.
Third would be my computer tower, digi cam, and camcorder. All these items stay together and would be loaded in literally 5 minutes or less! The camcorder would have a newly recorded video of our entire household inventory. We did this when Rita was coming so we could have proof of all we owned in the event we lost everything, or anything.
Fourth would be my cookbook collection which includes all of my cake books and magazines.
However, at this time my husband and I have decided we would not evacuate again. Let a cat 5 be coming straight at us and we would likely change our minds very quickly!
I am sorry i forgot to say, Our thoughts and prayers are with all that are in the path of this hurricane.
Thanks, LauraS! I am praying for everyone in its path as well. Right now the Jamaicans need our prayers in a big way!
We live on Galveston Bay and had to evacuate when Rita came blowing through so we learned a lot then. Of course I would round up my family and pets which includes 3 four legged children and one Monkey.
First I would make sure my Bible was first thing loaded into the front seat where I would be sitting!
That's so funny!!
...And my Bible is already in the front seat of my car, I have one there, one on my desk, on my night stand, and the bookshelf. I think that says it all!!!
Okay........now I feel bad for not including my family..........of course I would take them.............I just thought we were talking about cake stuff.
I see.........we're talking priorities here. Well.........I think we could take everything we need and still squeeze in my KA........besides my family it's the second love of my life. Plus it would help make me some money to replace some of the stuff I lost.
It's okay Cyndi! I think we all know the first thing to go is our family. When we evac'd last time, I had to leave behind 3 boxes of pictures (my children as babies) to make space for my in laws who didn't have a reliable source of transportation. Luckily, we weren't in an area that flooded. But I assumed also that we were talking cake things here. That being said, I'd loose every picture, Kitchen aid, all my pans, tips, cutters, rollers, colors, computers, all of it, to make space for any person that I could.
Right now, I'm praying for Jamaica! Poor guys they're gonna get it bad...my whole perspective on these storms has changed so much. But I think a lot of peoples has....
personally, as much as I have invested in this stuff, it IS all covered under homeowners insurance. Best bet is to have an inventory of your stuff and photos (just lay everyting out on a table and take photos). With the photos and a list, you will get it all replaced eventually as part of your insurance settlement. You just need to make sure you have it all well documented.
Oh man, my "watch for replies" wasn't marked on this one! Interesting answers!
Note: We all know that living things are 1st priority. I was playing the "what would you do if you were limited to 4 cake things" game. That's after you have all your documentation stuff and life necessities! So, no worries - don't feel guilty if you didn't list your family earlier. 
We know you love them!
Looks like I am dodging the bullet yet again - Dean is moving WNW rather than north! But I am not canceling any motel reservations until Tuesday, just to make sure. You never know what those suckers will do once they get into the warm water of the Gulf of Mexico. We have been so lucky for so long, and my heart just aches for those who do get hit. Our last major hit was Claudette in 03. Lost 2 barns and some trees and no electricity for 10 days, but only 1 shingle off my house roof. Nothing compared to Katrina and Rita victims. Good luck to those in Dean's direct path.
OT, but a tip we figured out when evacuating for Rita: DH & I will be using walkie talkies to communicate while traveling next time. All cell phone service circuits were busy. I needed to tell him the boys needed a bathroom break. He was 2 cars ahead of me, and I couldn't call him to tell him! Luckily he saw me turn and was able to pull the cattle trailer over safely. After Rita blew in, I had more success calling and texting my sister in west Texas than calling my mom in central Texas 45 minutes away from me. The hurricane knocked out a tower, and all the available circuits were busy. My sis is still living in west TX, so she will act as our communication HQ for our family.
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%