Environment, Family, Lifestyle, Weather

Storms and Power Outages: Are You Prepared?

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Severe storms often cause the power to go out, as happened in Maui the first week of December 2007. With a major noreaster set to hit New England this weekend, more power outages are likely. Here is a checklist of items you will need to see you and family through safely:

  • 7-day supply of food that will not spoil, including pet food
  • 1-gallon of drinking water per person and animal per day
  • Emergency supply of medications
  • Battery backup system, especially if you or anyone in your family uses a medical device
  • Cell phone
  • Flashlight with extra batteries for each person (headlamps keep both hands free)
  • Battery-powered radio with extra batteries
  • Telephone that doesn’t require power to operate
  • Water purification tablets
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Gas grill for cooking with extra propane
  • Extra blankets to stay warm if you have electric heat
  • A full tank of gas in your car
  • Books, magazines, and games to pass the time without TV

In addition to having these survival items on hand, there are a few other safety tips you should know. Because gas grills produce the deadly gas carbon monoxide, only use them outdoors away from windows. This goes for gas lanterns and generators, too. Turn off and unplug all electrical items to prevent damage from surges when the power is restored. Keep the refrigerator door closed as much as possible and throw away any food that has reached 40-degrees or more.

Make sure you have a hand-crank can opener, a stovetop tea kettle and liquid dish soap. These will make meal prep and cleanup easier.

Remember that if you live in the Northeast or other areas where the temperatures are below 32 F, you can put your food into a plastic bin, cover it and set it outside to keep cool.

Culture, Environment, Weather

Maui Beach Weddings

Maui is officially known as the “valley isle” or the “magic isle”, but locals have another moniker: the wedding isle. As many as 500,000 couples per year in the U.S. opt to combine their wedding and honeymoon, saving both time and money. For many, Maui is their wedding destination of choice. In recent years, nearly as many non-residents married in Maui as residents.

Beaches in West and South Maui are the most popular island wedding locations. Since all beaches in Hawaii are public it’s first come, first married. Local wedding planners shuttle couples to the most desired spots, where there is often a 30- to 60-minute wait. Saying “I Do” in time for snapping sunset pictures can be a race.

However, couples should be aware that major storms passing through the islands rain out the beach. During a storm week, power outages caused by strong winds can impose blackout conditions, and many couples have no choice but to cancel their wedding. For some, it was possible to reschedule at the end of their “honeymoon”. Others return home unmarried.

Hiring a local wedding coordinator can help engaged couples work around unexpected weather, explains Lisa Villarimo of Enchanted Weddings of Maui, who has helped hundreds of couples make alternate arrangements on the fly.

Environment, Travel, Weather

Maui Storm Passes

 

Blue skies and a gentle breeze greeted me this morning after a week of torrential downpour in Maui. Sitting on my front porch sipping a cup of tea, I watched nature dry out.

Four green-bellied finches fluttered from flower to tree, slurping back sweet nectar brought by all the rain–their light chirping audible again now that the thunderous clouds are gone. A caravan of snails with mottled, twisting shells on their backs were making the long trek from under the porch to the bush by the front steps. I accidentally crushed one when I lept off the porch to retrieve the morning paper.

The forecast for the immediate future is clear skies and light tradewinds. In other words, business as usual. Just in time for all of the holiday-makers, who descend on Maui this time of year, to recover their overworked spirits at the beach.

Official updates from Maui County are available at www.mauicounty.gov .