Como dizer "preparar-se para a rebordosa" em inglês

Inglês: to batten the hatches, to expect the worst, to prepare for the worst.
Português: preparar-se para a rebordosa, preparar-se para o pior.

Exemplo 1: "It was all over Facebook about this storm, the town was empty, the schools shut, I rang my dad and he told me to batten down the hatches, and all for a bit of a breeze? So I just took my phone out and recorded the video." Ref. m.belfasttelegraph.co

Exemplo 2: Obama, Miliband and Bill Cosby: expect the worst from those who offer to be the best. Ref. independent.co

Exemplo 3: There were several times when Ezra was in the Intensive Care Unit that we were told to prepare for the worst, as he may not survive. Ref. rmhc.org