We're about to enter the peak of the hurricane season. Any day now, you're going to turn on the TV and see a weather person pointing to some radar blob out in the Atlantic Ocean and making two basic meteorological points:
(1) There is no need to panic.
(2) We could all be killed.
Yes, hurricane season is an exciting time to be in Florida. If you're new to the area, you're probably wondering what you need to do to prepare for the possibility that we'll get hit by "the big one."
Based on our experiences, we recommend that you follow this simple three-step hurricane preparedness plan:
STEP 1. Buy enough food and bottled water to last your family for at least three days
STEP 2. Put these supplies into your car.
STEP 3. Drive to Nebraska and remain there until Halloween. Unfortunately,statistics show that most people will not follow this sensible plan. Most people will foolishly stay here in Florida. We'll start with one of the most important hurricane preparedness items:
HOMEOWNERS' INSURANCE:
If you own a home, you must have hurricane insurance. Fortunately, this insurance is cheap and easy to get, as long as your home meets two basic requirements:
(1) It is reasonably well-built, and
(2) It is located in Nebraska.
Unfortunately, if your home is located in Florida, or any other area that might actually be hit by a hurricane, most insurance companies would prefer not to sell you hurricane insurance, because then they might be required to pay YOU money, and that is certainly not why they got into the insurance business in the first place. So you'll have to scrounge around for an insurance company, which will charge you an annual premium roughly equal to the replacement value of your house. At any moment, this company can drop you like used dental floss.
Since Hurricane George, I have had an estimated 27 different home-insurance companies. This week, I'm covered by the Bob and Big Stan Insurance Company, under a policy which states that, in addition to my premium, Bob and Big Stan are entitled, on demand, to my kidneys.
SHUTTERS:
Your house should have hurricane shutters on all the windows, all the doors, and -- if it's a major hurricane -- all the toilets.
There are several types of shutters, with advantages and disadvantages:
Plywood shutters: The advantage is that, because you make them yourself, they're cheap.The disadvantage is that, because you make them yourself, they will fall off.
Sheet-metal shutters: The advantage is that these work well, once you get them all up. The disadvantage is that once you get them all up, your hands will be useless, bleeding stumps and it will be December.
Roll-down shutters: The advantages are that they're very easy to use, and will definitely protect your house. The disadvantage is that you will have to sell your house to pay for them.
Hurricane-proof windows: These are the newest wrinkle in hurricane protection:
They look like ordinary windows, but they can withstand hurricane winds! You can be sure of this, because the salesman says so. He lives in Nebraska.
Hurricane Proofing Your Property:
As the hurricane approaches, check your yard for movable objects like barbecue grills, planters, patio furniture, visiting relatives, etc.. You should, as a precaution, throw these items into your swimming pool (if you don't have a swimming pool, you should have one built immediately). Otherwise, the hurricane winds will turn these objects into deadly missiles.
EVACUATION ROUTE:
If you live in a low-lying area, you should have an evacuation route planned out. (To determine whether you live in a low-lying area, look at your driver's license; if it says "Florida," you live in a low-lying area).
The purpose of having an evacuation route is to avoid being trapped in your home when a major storm hits. Instead, you will be trapped in a gigantic traffic jam several miles from your home, along with two hundred thousand other evacuees. So, as a bonus, you will not be lonely.
HURRICANE SUPPLIES:
If you don't evacuate, you will need a mess of supplies. Do not buy them now!
Florida tradition requires that you wait until the last possible minute, then go to the supermarket and get into vicious fights with strangers over who gets the last can of SPAM.
In addition to food and water, you will need the following supplies:
23 flashlights At least $167 worth of batteries that turn out, when the power goes off, to be the wrong size for the flashlights.
Bleach. (No, I don't know what the bleach is for. NOBODY knows what the bleach is for, but it's traditional, so GET some!)
A 55-gallon drum of underarm deodorant.
A big knife that you can strap to your leg. (This will be useless in a hurricane, but it looks cool.)
A large quantity of raw chicken, to placate the alligators. (Ask anybody who went through Camille; after the hurricane, there WILL be irate alligators.)
$35,000 in cash or diamonds so that, after the hurricane passes, you can buy a generator from a man with no discernible teeth.
Of course these are just basic precautions. As the hurricane draws near, it is vitally important that you keep abreast of the situation by turning on your television and watching TV reporters in rain slickers stand right next to the ocean and tell you over and over how vitally important it is for everybody to stay away from the ocean.
Good luck, and remember: It's great living in Paradise.
Things Learned From A Hurricane
Things I have learned from these hurricanes, yes including the upcoming one.
1. An oak tree on the ground looks four times bigger than it did standing up.
2. When house hunting look for closets with lots of leg room.
3. Water from the shower is much colder than water from the kitchen sink -- and tastes just as bad.
4. AA, C and D are the only letters of the alphabet we need (batteries).
5. The four-way stop is still an ingenious reflection of civility.
6. Radio can be the best way to watch television.
7. Chain-saw wielding men are nothing to be afraid of.
8. Mini van's are the best makeshift tents on the market.
9. You can use your washing machine as a cooler.
10. It's your right to sit on your back porch and eat Chinese takeout by candlelight in your underwear.
11. We shouldn't complain about "useless" tools in the garage -- we actually DO need a generator
12. You can' t spell "priceless" without I-C-E.
13. Downed power lines make excellent security systems.
14. Development catch ponds can generate waves.
15. Gasoline is a value at any price
16. Cell phones: Breaking up isn't hard to do.
17. The life blood of any disaster recovery is Caffeine.
18. The need for your dog to go out and take care of business is inversely proportional to the severity of the storm.
19. Candlelight is better than Botox--- it takes years off your appearance
20. Air Conditioning and Electricty: BEST INVENTIONS EVER, PERIOD.
21. Water is a comfort food. But 3-day-old Cheetos are too.
22. Shadow animals on the wall is still fun.
23. No matter how hard the wind blows, roadside campaign signs will survive.
24. You should never admit to having power at your house in the presence of co-workers or neighbors, who do not.
25. There's a plus to having NOTHING in the refrigerator.
26. Getting through the day should be an Olympic event.
27. The movie theater can be a most pleasant place, even if the feature is Alien vs. Predator
28. Somebody's got it worse.
29. Somebody's got it better. Obviously, they're getting preferential treatment.
