Day 9 after Hurricane Charley
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Day 9 after Hurricane Charley
| Sat, 08-21-2004 - 11:00pm |
I am finally online b/c dh is tired of watching me climb the walls with boredom. He hooked the computer up to a generator for me tonight. Charley's eye passed near/over our house a week ago Friday night around 5 pm. Here we are over a week later w/o electricity. Lucky for us my employer released our paychecks a day early on the 12th. so I could get my diabetic strips, meds. refilled etc. But since I have had time to think, I wonder how many of you have made a disaster plan for your diabetic management? I have only been diabetic for a couple years, but have been dodging hurricanes for over 20 years and finally one hit the bullseye. Hurricanes are NOT the only kind of natural disasters- there are earthquakes, fires, snowstorms, ice storms, floods...etc. Our home is mostly okay, a little scarred up, but sound and dry. But it is very difficult to manage a diabetic diet right now. In the almost 100 degree heat, fruits and veggies rot quickly- but it was almost a week before they began to be available in our county. Our food in both fridges had to be tossed on day three, most was reaching a dangerous level and we refused to take any chances. I am lucky that my last Ha1c was about 5.2, and my bs had been about 115 the last three months or so, morning and night, no higher than 140. This hasn't always been the case in the past. Since Charley, I have had readings as high as 150 in the mornings- heat, lack of proper diet, not eating meals on a regular basis etc. is not helping either. I have been thinking though I could of benefited from having a plan and more of the right non-refridgerated foods on hand. We have a generator only b/c my dh's employer sent one in to us- so that is number 1 for us to prepare our next kit. We also needed to have more gas cans and coolers. Ice was hard to get for the first four days- what about those of you who have insulin to protect? Maybe it would be good if we can assemble a list of supplies that should be on hand for these unexpected events- my stomach knots up everytime they show an elderly person on tv who says they only have 2 or 3 important pills left- and their pharmacy and doctors offices were destroyed. Luckily for my family, my two dd's and I have been able to get out of town every other day since Sunday and have a hot meal and gather supplies. But next time we might not be so lucky. Michele

OMGOSH Michele!!!!
Oh Michelle it is so great to hear that
I can imagine it is hard knowing others have electicity.
Michelle,
You raise an interesting question. I live in earthquake country and we don't get much notice when one is going to hit. We have sick kits for diabetics but I don't think there is an organized "kit" for natural disasters. Insulin and for that matter glucometers need to be kept under 80 degrees and so it is quite a serious situation when you can't refrigerate things. I am going to do some research and see if I can find
It’s amazing that it takes something like this to wake us up for the “just in case”. I have never thought of putting together a diabetic pack for my husband but I should and this has really waked me up. We live in Southern California and as most people know we can have earthquake at any time and really any strength. If my husband could not get to his meds I would not know what to do. I’m going to go to the store and buy a small toiletry pack and im going to put together a 5 day just in case pack that I can leave in the car. His on insulin that has to be refrigerated right ? Im going to have to think about that one.
We have family that got hit there in FL.They are in Frostproof. Everyone is ok, houses seems to be ok also. Glad you are ok.
Lynn