Hi Mike,   
    > Sounds like you're as well situated as can be.  Just in   
    > case, I'd fill extra containers with drinking water in case   
    > something takes out your water distribution system.  YOu can always use   
      
   MR> This is a good point. I was trying to figure out how to get enough   
   MR> water andsuch. The local wegmans supermarkets are out of bottled   
   MR> water. I did see someat home depot today. But I went Your route and   
   MR> I put water in plastic bags andstuffed them in the freezer. That is   
   MR> a good idea. It fits in there snug and Youhave water and keep things   
   MR> cold for a bit of an extended period. I had onemishap. Filled 3   
   MR> bags, went to open the freezer to put in the fourth and theall fell   
   MR> out and of course they had to bust  At the time It was   
   MR> notfunny. heheheheh. So I cleaned the mess up and next time put all   
   MR> the bags in tofreeze at one time. Won't open that sucker till they   
   MR> are frozen, and then Iwill be sure to be waring steel toed boots   
   MR> .   
      
   That's what we do, those and milk jugs.  USually the bags   
   are for ice, and we get them from the icemaker in the   
   regular refrigerator's freezer, bag 'em, tie the bags, put   
   'em in the chest freezer.   
      
   sOunds like your fireplace/stove combo will work for   
   cooking, mightn't be pretty but it can work.   
      
   ON the sump pump and its pit and other gear ... a good idea   
   to check that every once in awhile.  One place I lived with   
   one, I used to fill the sump pit every now and then from   
   jugs just to make the pump run and make sure it *was*   
   working correctly.   
      
   But then, they call me MR. paranoid .   
      
   Latest word I see is that they're calling for hurricane   
   force wind warnings clear up to Massachusets.  THis might   
   not be pretty folks.   
      
      
   Regards,   
              Richard   
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