[Dialogue] Be Prepared For The Big One

[Jayandem2@aol.com]

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 Gulf of Mexico 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 South 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 Andrew, 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 five 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 out, 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 Andrew; 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!!


Judith, Mike and Meg