Please share with your Gulf Coast friends – Friday morning, October 9 is when preparations need to be completed. Time is a resource. Use today wisely. As someone who has been thorough and covered lots of hurricanes, here are my tips beyond the obvious. It’s true that Isaias will be a lower-end hurricane when it makes landfall. We’ve been through WAY worse, but it’s been a little bit, so let’s have a reminder together of what to do. 1.) Do laundry. When you go through a hurricane, you underestimate how grounding a clean set of clothes can be. Once the power is out, you won't be able to dry anything until the power comes back on or the weather fully clears. That will be a couple days at a minimum, and likely 4 or 5 days in more rural areas. 2.) Stock up on paper towels and plastic bags. In a tropical storm or hurricane, EVERYTHING seems to get wet. Believe me, you cannot possibly have too many paper towels. 3.) Put important things in plastic bags – and back up your important documents to the cloud. ALSO have copies on your phone. Passport, license and proof of residence! That might even mean a utility bill or piece of mail. 4.) Stock up on water bottles and snacks. Believe me – if you're stuck for a couple days without the ability to procure groceries, you'll want plenty of snacks. 5.) Make sure your loved ones (especially elderly, vulnerable, etc.) have everything they need medication-wise. If this means insulin, prescriptions, etc., fill those TODAY. 6.) Charge your devices, but – most importantly – charge your POWER BRICKS. If you have power banks, those will be enormously helpful post-storm. 7.) DECIDE NOW if you need to relocate. Moving ahead of time is MUCH easier than realizing you're in a tricky position mid-storm. Your greatest risk would come from driving during the storm. Even though this is only going to be a Category 1 (or maybe borderline Category 2) landfall, the gentle slope of the continental shelf south of the Florida Panhandle will make it easier for Isaias to push water ashore. A storm surge of 4 to 7 feet is possible just east of the center. 8.) Do a “walk-through” with your phone camera. Document what you have in your house (and your vehicles too) for insurance purposes. Having “proof” of whatever you need to beforehand can help if a dispute arises. 9.) UNDERSTAND your hazards. Are you within 5-7 feet of the water? Storm surge might be an issue. Lots of us will face wind. Could an old tree topple onto your home? Is there anything in the yard that can blow around? Do you live in a place susceptible to freshwater flooding? 10.) Have a way to be notified of possible tornado warnings. Isaias may be better at spawning tornadoes (east of the center) than many other hurricanes. As such, there’s a chance you’ll find yourself under a tornado warning. If that happens, do what you’d normally do – shelter on the lowest level of your home away from windows. 11.) Figure out sources of entertainment. Download books or movies to pass the time. 12.) Talk to your kids. Don't leave them in the dark. Explain to them what a hurricane is, how it works, and what they might see and hear. Don't sugarcoat – be truthful and transparent while explaining, to the best of your ability, the science. Talking through and verbalizing a plan ahead of time will help them be in the mindset of knowing what to expect. 13.) Eat whatever is in your refrigerator ahead of time. You don't want food spoiling once the power goes out. 14.) CLEAN YOUR GUTTERS! They can’t make the rain go away if they’re clogged with leaves. 15.) Remove loose items from the yard. You don't want them going airborne. Likewise, pester your neighbors if need be. Did Jimmy next door leave lawn ornaments out? You don't want them flying at your home in 75+ mph gusts. Secure lawn furniture or, better yet, bring it inside. 16.) Manually lay your basketball hoop down BEFORE the storm so it doesn't fall down or break. 17.) CLEAR STORM DRAINS! If you clear the drains ahead of time, you'll get one step ahead of flooding. I don’t think this will be a big flood event, but still… clear the drains. 18.) Plan for your pets! 19.) If you’re planning to use a generator, identify a location outside your home before the storm. Make sure that it’s not positioned in a location that could allow exhaust gases to poison you or your loved ones. 20.) This may sound silly, but we recommend not drinking alcohol during the hurricane. Yes, you’ll be a bit bored as the hours tick by. And yes, theoretically it may relax you and make the experience less annoying. BUT, in the event that you need to relocate, help a neighbor/relative, move a vehicle, further secure property, etc., you want to be at 100 percent. You will be tired… but believe us — during a hurricane, you want to be operating at your best. 21.) Lastly – please talk to your neighbors and loved ones. Make them tell you THEIR plan. Keep each other accountable. If someone isn't taking this seriously, stress the importance of preparation to them. Group thought is a big thing during hurricanes; the more we can all collectively get in the right mindset, the better.