T-Minus 15 Days and Counting...

...until the start of the Atlantic hurricane season on June 1.

Oh yes, you'll hear a lot about that from me if the season is active. (Or a lot of celebrating if it's not.) 

Not just because I'm in Florida and got to stare down Hurricane Charley's throat as he made landfall in 2004, either. It's time for everyone who might be in the path of a hurricane to take precautions, go through their emergency supplies, and make sure they have an evacuation plan in place. And even if you're not in hurricane country, you need to make sure you're prepared for whatever particular natural disaters are...well, natural for your area.

It's a lot easier to prepare now than wait until a storm or other threat is barreling down on you.  Make sure you have copies of important paperwork in a secure, separate location (like a safe deposit box). Contact numbers, a written evacuation plan, etc. If you cannot drive, make sure you have secured transportation through friends, family, or have registered with your local municipality's office of emergency management (or whatever they call it) for assistance evacuating. (The only drawback is you must go when they come get you or you don't go at all.)

Remember Katrina, remember Charley and Ivan and Andrew and all the other unwelcomed visitors that came calling the past few years. Not to mention things like the wacky mid-west weather spawning an unprecedented number of tornadoes and the horrible wildfires going on in many areas of the country.

Take time to prepare NOW, when it's not necessary, when you have time to think and get ready.