A social media post recently shared: “Watching a hurricane approach is like being stalked by a giant turtle.”

Before the storm, you can prepare. You can put up the hurricane shutters, bring in lawn furniture, stock up on nonperishable food,  etc.

When the winds are too strong to safely be on the road, it’s time to hunker down.

Floridians know about hunkering down.  

The word “hunker” is found in Scottish texts in 1720. Some linguists say it came from the Old Norse word “huka” which means “to crawl.” It was in used in print in the United States in 1902. In that reference it meant to provide stiff opposition to something, or “to dig in.”

So what to do while hunkering down and have some time at home? Some ideas from those who have lived through multiple hurricanes.

• Catch up the laundry: You might lose power during the storm. If your clothes, sheets and towels are all clean, that’s one less thing to worry about later.
• Bake something: Turn perishable foods (milk, eggs, butter, etc.) into non-perishable foods (cookies, muffins etc.) No matter what happens with the storm, it’s nice to have fresh baked goods on hand. You can also share baked goods with neighbors, first responders and the nice people who restore your power.
• Instead of depressing yourself by watching nonstop coverage of the hurricane, spend some time with the family playing games or watching a movie.
• Catch up on sleep. If your home is damaged by the storm, you’re in for some busy days ahead. If your home is spared, you will return to work refreshed.
• Call family members in other states to catch up and let them know you’re safe.
• Tackle a household job you’ve been putting off, like cleaning out a closet.
• Read a book. If the power goes out, use a flashlight.