An earthquake and a hurricane in the same week? Not even the venerable Farmers’ Almanac could have seen that coming, although it did forecast “gales” this week for New England.

If the weather service is correct, it should be pouring rain at your place this morning and the winds should be picking up.

You’ve probably filled the gas tank in the car. Stashed a couple bottles of water. Put fresh batteries in the old transistor radio and crammed the lawn chairs into the shed.

It should be a great day to stay inside, watch the rain lash the windows and feel grateful for having a dry roof overhead and a good dog at your feet.

It’s also a good time to review the basics: Don’t drive through standing water. Don’t touch downed power lines (yes, we’re talking to you, Al Gore). And use extreme caution when cutting any trees still under stress after falling.

Generators are a blessing, but they must be run in a well-ventilated area and a household must be disconnected from CMP’s system before using.

Earthquake veterans on the Left Coast snickered last week when Eastern Seaboard office workers fled buildings during a quake that measured 5.8 on the Richter Scale. Even high-rise office workers in Portland ran for their lives.

It was only later that experts justified that fear. The geology of the East Coast is different, they said, and quakes here are likely to be more destructive, particularly given the larger number of very old buildings.

Still, the fleeing people did exactly the wrong thing, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The government says it’s best to stay inside a building, get under a desk or doorway and away from glass windows.

The worst place to be, according to FEMA, is where most people tend to go — out the front door, where masonry is most likely to fall from the top of a building and breaking windows shower them with glass.

So, stay home today and tonight. Stay snug. Batten the hatches and appreciate Mother Nature’s fury.

Finally, send us any storm photos you take, or share any news about your area, by e-mailing us at [email protected].

We will make it part of our storm coverage at sunjournal.com, and may even use it in the newspaper.

And a tempest in

Augusta’s teapot

It’s always entertaining to see politicians in high dudgeon. They have a remarkable capacity to summon righteous indignation for political gain.

That talent was on full display during the recent meetings to redraw congressional districts. First Democrats were outraged. Then Republicans. Then there were accusations that Republicans had a secret plan. Then Ds and Rs got together and agreed on … a secret plan.

Perhaps the weirdest moment came when Maine Democratic Party Secretary Susan Cook of Bath accused the Senate president of routinely recording “constituents’ phone calls without their consent and indeed without even announcing as insurance companies do.”

No, not as insurance companies do!

Wait a minute, do insurance companies to that?

Oh, never mind.

Kevin Raye categorically denied the accusation, and Cook has so far failed to produce evidence supporting her charge.

Cook should provide that proof or apologize.

The award for irony goes to Republican Party Chairman Charlie Webster who, last month, accused college students of voting twice in Maine elections.

Secretary of State Charlie Summers is investigating the charge.

Again, people, make the charge AFTER gathering the evidence. Evidence, then accusation.

Comically, Webster called upon Cook to resign over her gaffe.

OK, if that’s the standard, you first, Charlie Webster. You first.

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