Hurricane Prep

If you live in a hurricane-prone zone, and can't afford (or find) a generator, here is the next best thing. Go to Sam's Club, Home Depot, or Lowe's and get an inverter.

Then get a deep cycle battery. You can get it at Sam's Club or at boating supply stores.Get at least the 105 AH model. The inverter attaches to the battery using the familiar red/black cord combinations, just like jumping a car battery. You can also get a mega-battery with 8 terminals, which will rung for a LONG time, but bring your own team of Clydesdales to haul it home, since it's quite heavy. You do have to charge the deep cycle if you haven't used it for awhile, using a battery charger like ones sold to recharge auto batteries. If it's completely dead, attach it to your car battery and run the car for about 15 minutes. Then attach it to the battery charger and let it charge overnight. That's what I had to do the beginning of this hurricane season.

Ok, so the inverter/battery combination won't run the refrigerator or the A/C. But it will power a light, TV, small fan, coffeemaker, cellphone charger, and laptop. It was a great asset during our record 4 hurricanes here in FL last year. When my stepbrother took me to pick out my VERY OWN inverter and battery, I wondered aloud why they weren't FLYING off the shelves.

Happy Hurricane Season, everyone.