Scientists have predicted a “superstorm†in California’s future that could dump as much as 10 feet of water on the state and last for up to 40 days. In sunny LA, where local meteorologists call any atmospheric conditions outside of 69 degrees and sunny “bad weather,†this unwelcome news has many denizens storing up for the big wet one.
If the predictions for the perfect SoCal storm do come true, here’s a short list of the gear and supplies you’ll need along with a Plan B of activities for you and your family to weather the weather.
Lighten Up
Be ready if the power goes out. Every self-respecting Angeleno has an emergency preparedness kit stashed away at home, with a basic flashlight, batteries, duct tape, bandages, yadda, yadda, yadda; but you can do y
ours one better with the compact Verilux ReadyLight LED Lantern. It illuminates 70 lumens of bright natural spectrum light, and its long-life battery can be recharged via USB or with an optional wall socket charger. Operates with a touch brightness control. Availale at verilux.com and at retail locations nationwide.
Baby its Cold Outside
Nothing’s worse on rainy days than being cooped up inside, except being cooped up inside with a stir-crazy baby. Grab your poncho and get outdoors for a breather with the Maclaren Quest Sport Stroller ($230). They don’t call it an umbrella stroller for nothin’. It features a water resistant hood and a rain cover with a viewing window so tiny tikes stay happy and dry inside. Keep them super cozy with an optional Footmuff ($59). Go to facebook.
com/maclarenbaby or maclarenbaby.com for more information or to locate a retailer near you.
Winter Cleaning
Why wait for spring to spruce up? Give those hard floors a shine to brighten up a gray day, but save your knees, and give the Hoover FloorMate a spin. It’s a vacuum, it’s a mop, it’s a super machine! This dandy three-in-one cleaner picks up loose dirt, washes and scrubs the floor and then dries it. Perfect for quick clean ups when the kids track in mud for the fourth time in a day. $149. Retailers nationwide or hoover.com.
Hot Spot
Southern California homes just weren’t built for cold, wet weather, but you don’t have to blast the heat throughout the house to keep cozy. Fire up the Bionaire Tower Ceramic Heather, a sleek compact portable heater that quickly warms a room with a powerful oscillating fan. And you can adjust the temperature while you stay cuddled on the couch with the remote control. $69.99. Home Depot.
Brave Indoors
When the streets are wet in LA, it’s comparable to a blizzard in New York. People stay home, which can be a good thing, since many Angelenos panic behind the wheel on slick pavement, but it’s also a great chance to visit some exciting indoor venues you might never otherwise explore.
Take advantage of being in the entertainment capital of the nation. Go to a live taping of a show at one of the studios around Hollywood; catch a play at one of the countless hidden treasure black-box theatres around town, like the Complex on Santa Monica Boulevard or the LGBT community CelebrationTheatre on Santa Monica Boulevard in Hollywood; or make a day of movie watching at the ArcLight Cinemas in Hollywood where you can get a bite and take in a flick under the same roof.
If you’ve been sitting around the house all day and can’t bear it any longer, get off your behind and get to one of the many indoor active play places in LA. Bowl a few games at one of the many classic bowling alleys around LA, like the AMF Bay Shore Lanes in Santa Monica, where you feel like you just time warped into the 50s; or get a rainy day pass to the LA Athletic Club in downtown Los Angeles, where you can work out, shoot some hoops, swim laps or check out daily classes including kickboxing, dance aerobics and rock climb; or check out one of the many local indoor kid hot spots, like Under the Sea in Beverly Hills and Culver City, or Adventure Plex in Manhattan Beach, or there’s always the freebie mall play area at Westside Pavilion where kids can romp on a giant hotdog and spilled shake overlooking the food court.
Don’t let the damp weather put a damper on your days. In the city where’s there’s always something to do, places to go and someone to see, you can still do it all in LA, in a rain slicker.
K. Pearson Brown is a writer and mommy blogger living in Los Angeles. Follow her at www.outwithmommy.com.
