While the weather decides if it will be late spring or mid-fall (minus the colorful trees), I thought I'd do a quick blog about planning for summer thunderstorms.

I live in the mid-Atlantic and we tend to get a few huge storms each summer. We've had a few moderate storms in the last week. I hate thunderstorms (I know that some people profess to love them), but a little planning can make them somewhat easier to bear.

• If you have a pet that is afraid of thunderstorms, check with your vet to learn comfort techniques. My Hershey seems to get by ok with her Thundershirt and extra snuggling.
• If there are trees in your yard, check to make sure that they are healthy and that the branches don't endanger the house or wiring.
• Have a plan to secure or remove any outdoor furniture or decoration that could become a projectile in high wind. For example, we created a little latticed pen for my garbage cans and recycling bins.

The possibility of a power loss requires its own planning:

• If storms are anticipated, make sure that your electronic devices (phones, tablets, laptops, etc.) are fully charged). If you lose power and it isn't likely to be back within a few hours, designate one laptop as an emergency charging station for your phone. Limit games and entertainment to one device.
• Have things to do that do not require power, even much light. Thinks like board games and simple crafts are great. I love to read, but I prefer not to do it by candlelight.
• Have candles and flashlights (with matches and extra batteries) in easily accessible places. NEVER go to sleep with candles still lit.
• Post the power company's phone number in an obvious place in large easy to read type. Call as soon as your power is out for more than 5 minutes.
• If the power does go out DO NOT open the freezer. If the door is kept closed, a full freezer will stay cold about 48 hours. If our freezer isn't full, use my trick. If storms are predicted, pull empty plastic bottles out of your recycling bin. (You can also use plastic freezer bags.) Fill partway with water and stuff them in any open spaces. They will both fill the freezer and help to keep things cold.
• The fridge is a different story. That food only lasts about 4 hours in a power outage. So try to limit your fridge contents in storm season. and, if the power is out for more than two hours, start eating! Remember, things refrigerated for taste but not safety (e.g., apples, unopened bottles of beer, baking soda) don't need to be discarded after 4 hours.
• In case the power stays out for a while, have foods on hand that require neither refrigeration nor cooking. And do invest in a manual can opener.
• If the power is out for a while (my record is 6 days), have plans in place for survival. If you have an electric hot water heater, you'll need to ration. Showering at the gym may be an idea. You can recharge electronic devices at the public library and at some restaurants. If you do, please be courteous. Buy food and drink. And bring a power strip so several people can recharge off a single outlet. If your workplace is open and your boss permits, you can recharge at work.

How do you get through a storm?