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 are 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 Georges, 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!