Dear Wigleaf,

I'm preparing for hurricane season. A podcast I listen to on my darkest days dispenses advice for surviving nuclear fallout, as though I'd want to, and enduring martial law, which might be more to the point. Mostly I prepare for the power outages and flooding we get here, even an hour from the coast. Last year, Hurricane Helene spared this city the worst but left my house without hot water or lights for eleven days. I store two weeks of food and water for each person and dog. I take inventory: manual can opener, batteries, flashlights, candles, matches. I dig out the solar radio that carries the NOAA station, wondering if it still broadcasts, if NOAA still exists.

When there's a hurricane worth tracking, we'll eat down the freezer so there will be less to lose if the electricity goes. I feel a small thrill knowing the vegetables cost less when we bought them than they would now. Prepping as an inflation hedge is something the podcast guys talk about, and I worry about how much food will cost next year, whether I should stock up on even more canned goods now.

I'm lucky to have a pantry. I'm lucky to live on a hill that keeps the house from flooding, at least so far. But I know, because I've seen it, that a tree can come down on anyone's house.

I hope this finds you safe and dry.

Love,

Elise