Hatches? Battened!

Bad news: Tropical Storm Fay may be setting her sights on Orlando. Here’s the latest map.

Good news: Our hatches have been sufficiently battened.

[The phrase] has a nautical origin and ‘battening down’ was done on ships when bad weather was expected.

The earliest known citation is from John Badcock, in Domestic Amusements, 1823 (referring to a sea voyage):

“The severity of the climate having compelled them to batten down and caulk their abiding place.”

A batten is a strip of wood. Caulking is the filling of gaps with oakum of similar, to prevent leaking.

We’re expecting Faye to roll on in Tuesday and clear out by late Wednesday.

I will be posting updates online here, whether we have power or not.