What You Should Be Doing To Prepare Your Home For Hurricane Joaquin
LARCHMONT, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- The timing of Hurricane Joaquin means we have a full weekend to prepare before it even approaches the area.
CBS2's Lou Young spent Thursday in Westchester and Fairfield counties to find out how you can spend that time wisely.
Homeowners are already doing the simple stuff. At Foley Hardware in Larchmont, there has been a definite pattern to sales as the name Joaquin becomes more common in conversation.
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"They're worried about power outages," said John Merrell, the store's owner. "And we had people in this morning looking for sandbags, if there's a rise in the tide."
It's time to check those emergency lights that have been sitting around since last storm season.
More: Tips On Preparing For The Storm
At The Home Depot in Port Chester, Paul Kiwala was taking home a water-activated barrier to keep out floods -- a new type of sandbag substitute.
"It has some kind of super absorbent inside of the gels, so it makes like a barrier," said Kiwala, of Norwalk, Connecticut.
But they only had one left.
There were also a variety of tarps on display. It's what you'll need if water starts leaking from above.
Experts also recommend cleaning the gunk out of your rain gutters while you still have time.
Robert Draker, of Harrison, said he has one priority: "I get gas for my generator. That's it."
It is expected that sales of sump pumps and generators will increase as the storm becomes more of a certainty.
So your weekend mission, if you choose to accept it, is to secure things that might blow around, protect things that might get wet, watch the storm and prepare to lose electricity.