Lay in supplies of long lasting food such as tinned food and low acid foods (canned meat, poultry, tomato-free vegetable soups, pasta, potatoes, corn, carrots beans and peas).

Store drinking water in clean containers, purchase bottled water or, best of all, save bottles to fill with water in the event of a hurricane warning.

Eat anything in the fridge that is likely to spoil if power is lost -- and, in the event of a blackout, avoid opening it, to hold cold air inside for as long as possible.

Clean out the inside of a bathtub and fill it with water or, as well, and stick a square of plastic sheet or clear kitchen wrap over the plug hole, since most leak. Avoid drinking this water. If you draw drinking water from your tank, boil it first, or run the risk of swallowing bacteria and getting sick.

Have a good stock of lighting materials, such as candles, lanterns, battery-operated radio and spare batteries.

If you have a toolbox, keep it handy; you might be using it soon.

Secure your house. If you have shutters, close them tightly. If you don't improvise with plywood coverings. Windows are by far the most vulnerable parts of your house. Tape exposed glass to prevent shattering.

Make a safe room which should have the least amount of windows and as much protection as the house offers. Hallways and dry basements are good shelters.

Anything outside the house that looks capable of flight should be stored out of winds reach.

Before the hurricane strikes, unplug all appliances and leave one light on to indicate power restoration.

Do not call Belco in the height of a hurricane because the crew is limited.

They must first deal with emergencies and threatening situations. Belco's computer allow them to know when the power goes out around the Island. Call when electricity is restore to the immediate area but is still lost to you.

When power is restored, check to see if a light bulb is extremely bright or brighter than usual. If so turn off the power at the meter and call Belco.

There may be a fault on line.

Four more information on hurricane safety tips, see the hurricane supplement in this paper.

BERMUDA GETS PREPARED FOR HURRICANE FELIXPhotos by Tony Coreiro BOARDED UP -- Mr. Roy Trott and Mr. Tim Parks board up windows along Church Street ready for Hurricane Felix.WAVE WATCH -- Swimmers braved the breakers at Horseshoe Beach yesterday morning -- more than 24 hours before Hurricane Felix was due to hit Bermuda.ROYAL WAVE -- People at Spanish Point wave goodbye to the Queen Elizabeth 2 yesterday as she left three hours early to avoid Hurricane Felix.