I live in the UK and have preps for 3 months. I’m being offered a job in Miami which would mean that I would quite literally have two homes. One in Miami and my family home in the UK. My husband would stay behind in the UK while I and the kids live most of the time in Miami and we would both travel often to see each other. Kids would be home schooled in order to have the flexibility of schlepping them all over the world including my frequent trips to South America.
This, my friends, has opened an entire new slant on PREPPING! I need to prep in Miami, but now that I’m thinking about it, the hot, muggy weather makes storage a nightmare! In the UK, I have a loft full of preps but in Miami, anything that goes into the loft gets intense heat and humidity. How are you storing your preps, you hot weather friends? Also, up until now I have taken for granted the fact that in the UK, anything you put in a shed outside is, in a BIG fridge because it’s so cold. In hot weather, the fridge goes and so does your butter, eggs, milk etc. It’s not easy.
Also, the company will either provide an apartment or a house of my choice. So, would an apartment next to the cooler ocean be better or a house in the mosquito infected Everglades? I could also go for something in the Gables but from a security point of view in the event of a pandemic, I’m not sure. An apartment with 24 hour security would be safer, I think…..
Then there is the, what if I’m in a third world country when this thing hits? I guess I should get back to my closest base asap and take N95 masks with me on my travels.
Being away from my husband in the event of a pandemic would be the hardest thing for me. Also, knowing how stubborn he is and that he may not properly SIP if I’m not around is another problem.
Do you think I should just plan to fly back to the UK at the first sign of trouble?
Please, any thoughts on this would be very helpful
Wow. Big changes for you! Just off the top of my head, I’d say try to get a suburban house vs an apartment. A house would be better for your kids in general (yard to play in, more kids to meet, etc.) plus give you some distance between you and your neighbors. Miami itself is not very kid friendly. Having a house would enable you to have a generator to keep your fridge running. Houses there don’t have lots of storage (no basements) so lots of stuff gets stored in the garage which invites mildew, etc. so yes you need to be careful with what you store and where. I’d only do canned goods outside - bugs are also a HUGE problem there! - and anything in cardboard boxes, like cereal, should be inside inside plastic storage containers.
As far as traveling goes, you and your dh should work out a few plans - your first ideal plan might not work because of travel restrictions.
Best wishes!
Thanks LauraB, I forgot about the bugs, Palmeto Bugs are roaches the size of a car! I’ve just found out that the company has offices in the downtown area and I hate commuting so I would have to go for either something in the Gables, the Grove or Key Biscayne. I would be a CEO so I wonder if I can get the company to prep for the employees and rent one of these air conditioned storage units. Anyone storing food in one of these?
You’re right, no basements, and summer in Miami is Brutal!!!!!!!!I’m lucky that I have a strong family base in Miami so I don’t care if it’s child friendly or not. My sisters will take care of my kids having all the love they need, other than Daddy’s of course, nothing or no one could ever replace their Daddy! A father’s love is owsome and unique, it will be very difficult on everyone to be apart but my husband, you can’t fault him as a father, he’s the best Daddy on earth.
I took a decision to not have a generator in the UK. I think I may need to re think that! My house here was built in the late 1900 and had no electricity so we have things like fireplaces in all the rooms, bedrooms and kitchen included. Miami is a very different deal, everything is new, SO electricity dependant!
Upon writting this, I think my gut instinct is going to be to get back to the UK to my husband but prepare in case I can’t. I need to prep for 10 people in Miami, where will I store everything!!!!!!!!! I hate canned food!!!!!!! In the UK I have enough Spanish ham and Chorizo to last the family months, these things would just not keep in the heat!
Wow, I never realized the implications of the weather in prepping.
Don’t forget you would also need to prep for hurricanes in Miami.
We live in a hot and humid tropical climate, which makes prepping more of a challenge indeed. A lot of preps do not need refrigeration (rice, flour, sugar, canned stuff), just the 3 days deepfreezer bugkiller treatment and then safe packaging. We have three fridges and a big chest deepfreezer. If the electricity goes, life will quickly become unbearable and lots of preps will be spoiled in 48–72 hours. In that case, we plan to bugout to the countryside.
Hi CAL in the Village. I live in South Florida and have been prepping for almost a year. I will tell you the good and bad about this area and hopefully it will be of some help to you.
The Good: Yes, you will have to prep for hurricanes but they are the exact same preps as for avian flu. This has been said before. And because of the hurricanes the last few years, people down here have more preps and supplies than the average American. That’s good for all of us. Also, Florida is considered a “Green State” which means TPTB here may be more on the ball than some other states (There was a big discussion on green states - it has to do with the ability to move necessary meds to civilians.) Additionally, there is absolutely no chance of freezing to death here. And, there is water everywhere. We have canals and lots of rainfall. Make sure you have several water treatment options and water collection containers in your preps. We could be substantially better off than other states when it comes to water. And finally, if the worst of a pandemic flu hit during the months of October through May, we would all be completely comfortable in terms of weather. It is gorgeous and temperate here during that time. Additionally, it is our dry period, which works in our favor. The H5N1 virus survives much longer in cold, wet climates (ie. winter up north with snow) versus warm dry climates.
The Bad: The heat and humidity in the summer and even early fall (we will be 90 degrees today). Yes, you are already aware of this. I have prepped 5 battery operated fans and tons of D batteries. When those run out I have spray bottles and handerchiefs to wet and wear on pulse points. I also plan to flip our days and nights like animals do here. Sleep during the heat of the day and awake and get tasks done at night. And with time your body does start to acclimate. Many American Indians lived in this area for generations. The bugs are bad, but not that bad indoors. Mosquitos are the worst nuisance. If you are indoors, they won’t be a big threat. Just remember to stock mosquito spray for personal use and for trading. It could be very valuable! And yes, storage is a problem here. I have ALL of my preps in my house in the air conditioning. Every closet is stuffed and for a neat freak like me it is annoying. I would love a basement, but you will find not a single one. We hit water here within six feet of underground digging. If we do lose power during the summer, I plan to move my most important preps (meds, important food items like protein) to the area where I have the battery operated fans running. It’s the best I can do.
And on a final note, I have a very close American friend living in a flat in London with her husband and young children. I worry greatly about her as she is not prepping. I would not trade my situation for hers. So, I hope this helps and gives you some faith that while you may give up some things you will gain others.
Thank you Lurker Mom for putting some perspective about South Florida. Having lived in South Florida for nearly 30 years, my immediate reaction to Crazy American Lady in the Village – at 06:03 is get a grip! If you feel Miami is so awful, I recommend not taking the CEO job and reamin living in the UK. Though you have family here, it seems from your tone that you will not be happy and don’t like the area. We have preps, probably more than you because we’ve been dealing with hurricanes; we live in a very favorible climate (doesn’t sun kill viruses???) and I wouldn’t trade the humidity for damp dreary weather any day. Bottom line — people have different opinions about the places they live, which is why they live there. If it’s too much of a stress for you, live in the UK with your family and be happy.
Thanks Dusty and I believe we are pretty close to each other, based on what I read in the Florida thread.
I think what I am hearing from CAL in the Village is concern over a totally different environment than what she is used to. And I guess my point is that we just don’t know which environment and which situation is going to be better. But she is doing the right thing by researching what she will need here and being honest about the situation (possiblity of needy family members).
Crazy American Lady in the Village – at 07:09
Actually chorizo as it is packaged here in Florida will keep for an extended period of time. There is also the bonus that a lot of the grocers in your area will keep it as a basic ingredient because of the ethnic cooking in the area.
They have various sizes available. I prefer the smaller packages even though it runs about $1.70 (US) each.
Yes, security will probably be a much bigger issue for you than in the UK. As will commuting. Sounds like you know the area though.
Welcome to S. Florida.
Prepping should be easier with a house versus an apartment, plus it would be nicer for the kids I would think. If you have the choice, try and find something with an extra bedroom or an airconditioned garage (you could even put a small A/C window unit into the garage to keep it below 80 and the humidity down if you needed. My father turned his last two freestanding garages into offices and ran a small window unit to keep them cool. He said they really use little power.
I’m a ways north of Miami on the east coast so I can’t recommend where to live but you might talk to Dusty who lives down that way.
I’d be careful of storing food preps in storage units for the previously dicussed reasons: bugs, against the rules, theft.
Dusty….Are you kidding????????????? I LOVE MIAMI!!!!!!!!!! I adore it!!!!!!!!!! enough to contemplate leaving my husband behind for it! I lived there a LONG time and went to UM, I met my husband in Miami and have always resented him for taking me away! I’m an ocean baby, I fish, dive etc. Believe me, if there is one place I don’t like it’s London, I will have tears of joy when I go back! The thing is that I have always prepped in the UK and like Lurker Mum points out, I’m stressing because just when I thought I had the whole prepping thing figured out….the super prepper me, possibly the only prepper in the UK (well, nearly) I get thrown a curb ball and a whole new set of variables get thrown into. I was even in the eye of hurracaine Andrew and I always tell people here that I would gladly take another if I could just live back in Miami LOL! The hot humid weather makes all of my alergies disappear, and let’s not talk about the cold weather here and what that does to me. I just don’t go out in the winter, period! Quality of life as a whole is much better is SF.
Thanks Lurker Mum for your words. I was thinking, mosquito nets (over the beds) are also a good idea to help one sleep. I remember that in South East Asia everyone had them and they are now very “in” as decoration so it would not be a bad idea to get some. I remember that mosquitos could get really bad in the summer (been here 10 years now.
No Power, and Kathy in FL, thanks for the input. I remember there being chorizos in Miami but not a huge selection. That’s good to know. Also, I think it’s a good idea to get a place with an extra room just for preps. Also, a lot of homes have these huge walk in closets (we have bedrooms here the same size, no, not kidding) and many come with a his and hers, well I don’t have that many clothes so one could go for preps.
Lurker Mum, no one here is prepping….it’s not just your friends and if you try to say something, they will put it down to your American crazy things. I don’t know a single person outside of this forum that is prepping here. It’s very sad, because when the time comes, people are going to die, and not from the flu but from starvation. There is no cooperation here either, I don’t see neighbours helping out each other.
I ordered a parafin cooker from ebay just now, in case I can’t get a house with gas. I remember after Andrew electricity was gone for WEEKS but gas was still on, we were very lucky to have hot showers.
I had not thought about people being better prepared because of disasters but it’s true, there are a lot more people per capita preppin in SF than in most places.
The health system is something else I need to look into. We need health insurance although the best health insurance is having medical preps and our Nanny who is also a registered nurse. She would know best how to hydrate us should we be infected.
Thank you for your suggestions and please keep them comming
Ok CAL in the Village, sounds like you know what you are doing. I wish you luck, it’s a big decision. But we welcome a prepper like you down here! And sad to hear that about no preppers in London. It seems to be the case in all of the UK.
Whew Crazy American Lady in the Village — glad to hear it. Welcome back! I think you’ll do just fine prepping in Miami. Instead of trying to keep warm (as you’d have to in the UK), just think keeping cool — battery powered fans, generator if possible, etc you know the drill from Andrew and then just double it. If you could get a house that would get you the most room for prepping, maybe a pool for water storage, and a bit of a distance from others, and if you are too close to the ocean, you’d have to worry about evacuating if there is a hurricane. Please keep in touch with us in the Florida thread — I wish you the best of luck on your move. Just take one day at a time and before you know it, you’ll be Miami prepped! :)
Thanks everyone. Dusty, I had not though about being evacuated in case of a hurricane. The think is that with Andrew, all our preps literally went with the wind, we were in the outer north wall (does Country Walk ring a bell?) and we were flatened out. We still didnt go without because other states began sending relief straight away. Also, I was encharged of preparedness at the bank I worked for and we had tons of supplies which were handed out to staff. The thing is Boys and Girls that with BF, there will be no calvary comming to help. The entire world will be in the SAME boat!!!!!!!!! No one is going to send help because everyone will need help.
I really don’t know about living away from the Ocean though. Every since I moved away from home I lived very close to the Ocean and worked with an ocean view so it would seem like a huge waste to not be a 2 minute walk from the closest marina. It’s a security thing, my friends have boats and I would, and will, get picked up from the closest marina to go fishing. You have no idea how much I miss it, I have not been on a boat since I’ve come to the Uk, I bet if I go on one now I will get sea sick…..(eyes rolling) Still, I think Miami Beach and Key Biscayne are out, they are the first to be evacuated.
Some thoughts I had last night. Turn a room into a prep room. Buy a vacuum sealing machine and seal things like rice, wheat, flour, pasta etc before storing. Make sure all of the windows have screens.
I’m having HUGE issues about a swimming pool, I know, great H2O source, but my baby is 2 and I’m so scared of my kids drowing in the pool. My dive master’s daughter drowned in their swimming pool and the experience has left me very uneasy. When we go on holiday I practically sew floating devices into the kid’s skin. What do other parents think about this?
Thanks for all of your help, I feel a LOT better about things today. Yesterday I was really panicking because I thought, Oh NO, just when I had everything figured out!!!!! But the fact is that both sides will have their ups and downs and I know from experience that keeping cool is a lot easier than keeping warm.
Thanks again everyone
Crazy American Lady in the Village, I know what you mean about being scared of kids drowning in your pool. My granddaughter drowned (not in a swimming pool), and it can be nerve-wracking having my now 6 year old grandson over, worrying about him getting into the pool.
1. Get an alarm system that will sound if someone opens a door that allows access to the pool. And get locks that small kids can’t operate put on those doors.
2. Get an alarm that will sound if a child falls into the pool.
3. Teach your children that they absolutely, under no circumstances, may EVER go into the pool area without you or another responsible adult being there. EXPLAIN to your kids the reasons why.
4. Teach your kids to swim.
5. Know the Heimlich Manuever and CPR, and teach them to anyone old enough to comprehend.
That’s about all that you can do. BTW, did you know that your child can drown even if you’re standing right there, keeping an eagle eye on them? All it takes is one little gulp of water to make your child quit breathing. You can be standing right next to them watching or someplace far away, doesn’t matter. One lady I know was taking a bath, and had her toddler in the room with her. The toddler leaned over the tub and fell in head first. She immediately pulled the child from the water, but it was too late, the child had already stopped breathing. (The child was ok, she, performed the Heimlich and got the child breathing again, but it can happen just that fast). If you cannot get them breathing again in very short order, then their heart stops. So first perform the Heimlich Maneuver on them, then CPR if necessary. And even if you get them breathing again and they seem fine, be SURE to have them seen by a physician because they may have aspirated some water into their lungs which could cause pneumonia.
WOW KIM, thanks for sharing. I’m so sorry about your loss. This has always been a huge fear of mine. Really, I can never disconnect if there is a pool around. Here in the UK, where pools are not so common, kids often drown in ponds….very sad…I think most people just don’t understand how dangerous water is. I love water, i love to swim but if it can happen to my dive master, it can happen to anyone. I shall take your advice and get alarms both in the pool and door.
Thank you
Crazy - With three of my own I totaly understand your concerns about a pool. My parents in FL have one of those fences that are mesh with metal rods that are drilled into the pavement around the pool. They are impossible for a child to open - they’re hard enough for an adult. alarms and other devices are great too. It may be hard to find a house that DOESN’T have a pool in FL. And it is a great water source - plus lots of un for your family on those miserably hot FL days.
PS Count me as another parent who was right there when her toddler slipped into the pool while I was standing right next to her. It can happen that fast, even when you are there. But she had the smarts to grab the side as she fell - scrapped herself up really well but nothing worse. There are lots of good swimming safety classes for kids.
Hang in there - it’s a stressful situation even without having to worry about prepping!
Here are some types of pool, gate, window and door alarms, and a Turtle alarm which attaches to your child. I think that simple battery-operated door alarms can also be found at electronics stores, Radio Shack, etc. I’m not endorsing this particular company or it’s products, this page just happens to show a good sampling of the types available.
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