Near Boston, Preparing (on Panicking) for the Storm

Yahoo! News is gathering brief first-person accounts, photos and video from the severe winter weather in the northeastern United States. Here's one resident's story.

FIRST PERSON | Not all nor'easters are winter storms, but those that are often leave a lasting set of memories in native New Englanders. The current storm promises to be one, too. Two large storm systems combined to form what newscasters in the area are calling a "superstorm" -- and some are saying that amounts close to three feet of snow are possible, if not probable.

Some take it in stride; they'll ensure they've got necessities enough to ride out a few days of possible immobility and power loss. Others take it in a state of semi-panic; they'll wait until the last minute, then line up for gasoline or raid local supermarkets and convenience stores for anything they think they'll need. Milk, bread and water go first. Simple foodstuffs that don't require cooking generally follow -- breads, in particular.

And anything from rock salt to windshield washer fluid, fire starters to shovels, boots and gloves to flashlights and batteries.

My wife and I are more in the former than the latter category, so only had a few small errands to do. This morning, before the snow began, we re-topped a gas tank and tossed a tow rope, shovel, some cat litter and chemical lightsticks into the Jeep, and went out to get some food at a local pizzeria (Unchained Pizza, on Adams St. in Quincy). There's already more than an inch of wet snow on the ground.

We've walked the dog, and are now hunkering down to watch the storm roll in from our quiet corner of Milton, Mass.

If we need to go out, we know that there's a 7-Eleven up the street (Adams Street in Quincy, run by Dennis Lane) that will probably be open and accessible.

Regardless of the type of storm routine, nearly everyone will be off the roads at 4 p.m. -- governor's orders.

Stay safe, everyone.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/near-boston-preparing-panicking-storm-233700530.html

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