Hurricane Arthur's Here To Remind Us To Be Prepared And Safe

It's Thursday July 3, 2014 and instead of getting ready for an Independence Day celebration, we're preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Arthur, the first of the season. I'm writing today from the North Carolina coast where we are expecting to receive the brunt of Arthur's winds and rain. Unlike most of the country, the east coast is no stranger to the tropical cyclones we often endure.

There is a lot of information available about hurricane preparedness at websites like Ready.gov. The advancements in weather forecasting have given us the chance to make informed decisions about the preparations needed.

The list of items needed to endure the wind, rain, possible power outages, and flooding, include food, water, flashlights, raingear, and battery-powered communications.

As the tourist continue to swarm the beach and pools, the locals are preparing for a stormy night. Hopefully Arthur turns east and Friday's cleanup will go quickly with minimal damage.

We're looking forward to the 4th's fireworks; the store-bought kind.

Updated: Friday July 4, 2014. After a night of strong, howling category 2 (100 mph) winds, and sideways rain, we seem to have fared well. Damage is minimal. There is a strong breeze this morning and a bright sun to go along with our sigh of relief. The power was off for about 7 hours. The utility workers are great at getting the power restored quickly so we can get back to "normal". Now there's time to cool the drinks, lite the grill, and enjoy the 4th. It's going to be a good day.