Pay attention to the weather

Gulf storms can be a surprise

Never underestimate Mother Nature

Buy flood insurance, especially if you are near a waterway or in a first floor apartment

Have a disaster plan

Disaster plans need to be reviewed and updated periodically

Keep food on hand

Keep water on hand

Keep a flashlight and batteries on hand

Keep cash on hand

Keep an emergency kit at the office and in the car

Have more than one way to purchase items – cash, check, and charge

Having more than 1 kind of credit card is good

Don’t store unprotected valuables in a basement

Hospitals are not immune from disaster

Back up computer files periodically and keep them separate from the computer

Cell phones don’t always work when land lines don’t

Be creative in finding alternate communication methods

Use stairs instead of elevators during storms

Don’t drive into flooded roadways

Even 18-wheelers can float

Water and electricity don’t mix

Don’t walk along a flooded waterway

Be creative in finding solutions to problems

An inch can make a difference

A positive attitude makes all the difference

A disaster can be turned into an adventure

Work together

There are many ways to help

People are basically good

Sometimes, everything you can do is not enough.

It isn’t over when it stops raining

It isn’t over when the water recedes

Don’t wait to prepare