Preparing for a Nor’easter. Since the second one in a less than a week is coming my way I thought I would talk about how you should get ready for one and no, that does not mean go out to buy bread and milk.

First is your own personal safety and that of your loved ones. Plan out a route from where you live to the nearest high ground that can be safely reached by everyone in your home. Next you should have a place that everyone knows to go to if they get separated from you.

Next is some common sense precautions. Always keep your car gassed up with a full tank and make sure that your battery is in good shape so that it will start. Remember that keeping your car in good running condition is part of a good safety plan, you do not want it to breakdown just when you need it the most. Put two bags together with the following items- A first aid kit, blankets to keep you warm, flares, a flashlight with fresh batteries, freeze dried food, some candles, matches (waterproof are the best ones to have), a newspaper (to help start a fire), enough water to last a day at least and a portable radio. Put one bag in a place where you will not forget it if you need it and the other put in your vehicle.

I will assume that you have a cell phone and that you should keep charged up, but do not count on it in an emergency. It might not work because the cell towers in your area are down for one reason or another. What would be better is an old fashioned landline phone, you know the one that your parents or grandparents had.

OK now you are ready right? Well you are not! That plan I told you to figure out, a route to high ground and a place to meet if someone gets separated, needs to be gone over so that everyone understands where to go and what to do. If you do not know what to do by heart all the work will be for naught.

Remember to always monitor the coming storm via both the radio and the internet. And if the authorities ask you to evacuate do so without hesitation as your life is worth more than anything you might own. Also do not forget your pets. Please try not to leave them behind as for the most part they can not fend for themselves.

That is my opinion- Jumpin Jersey Mike