Ok, I have been through a hurricane before in South Florida. Please take this advice.
Right now, at this very moment, do yourselves a world of pre planning and do the following. I know it's not hard to believe but it is relly the insurance companies job to NOT pay you for losses.
1) Take photos of everything of value that you may want to claim in the event of your shit being owned by this hurricane. Upload those photos to a server, do not leave it on your harddrive. Harddrives and water dont mix.
2) Take all receipts and important paperwork to a safe deposit box at your bank.
(this would include. Receipts and documentation for all those things you are taking pictures of). Don't think for a minute that the insurance company is going to give you 2500 bucks for a tv that you said you paid 2500 dollars for from an ad in the newspaper.
3) Get Beer. Lots of it. Trust me you will drink it warm. I will. On the real, get water too.
4) A) If you evacuate, Cover electonics with mattress pad covers. They are very thick and can take a beating. A big screen wrapped in one of these can survive unless something falls on it.
If leaving: B) Unplug everything except the refrigerator. Surges in power will fuck up your shit.
If leaving: C) Tell someone you are going so your neighbors can loot your house. No seriously, let them know so they can keep an eye out if you trust them. Otherwise, post a big ass sign on your front door saying " Paranoid Schitzophrenic with loaded shotgun inside this dwelling, and hungry!"
5) At the very least, invest in one of those fire safes that are waterproof and fireproof and put your most important documents in them.
Please feel free to add to this list.
I am sure the webmasters in N.O. and Texas will tell you not to underestimate this thing. It is taking the same path that Charly did and is much stronger. This is a stronger Hurricane than Katrina was and Bigger than Rita. I hope this bitch stays away from us.
