Well, now that it's over, it's going to be easier to buy a generator. Two places up here had a steady supply: One was the Honda dealer and the other was a Kipor dealer. Both brands are very expensive, Honda more so. But some guy loaded up on economy gens from someplace in the mid-west in a semi, and was selling $600 generators for $1500, so there was some of that. Home Depot was getting them as fast as possible but selling out immediatedly. Today, while some stations are closed, I was able to fill my truck and my last empty cans. I've been adding Sta-Bil and an Ethanol neutralizer in them so they can safely sit for 2 years.

But to have 7" just after Sandy? The Governor said: "What's next? Locusts and Pestilence???"

Still, after Hurricane Irene, and last Halloween's blizzard, you'd think people would prepare for Sandy. I did. I filled my cars, my gas cans, my generators, got my drop cords and construction-grade cube taps, tied down my outside furniture, got all the cash I could out of the ATM for several days, even got a new Stihl chain saw to replace the troubled 20 year old McCulloch. Checked flashlights, food, batteries and drinking water. Charged all the cell phones and laptops full. We even started our gas fireplace in advance of a blackout to get it heating up.

Yet I met folks who did NONE of that and got caught short with no power, no heat, no gas, no cell phone charge, no food, and no cash. Wow!