Hoping for the best, preparing for the rest

A lot of people I know around here are pretty jumpy about hurricane season this year, in large part because of the free pass we got last year which no one dares assume we'll get two years in a row. I don't think that people are necessarily bracing themselves for another Big One, but most people I know are making more detailed evacuation plans than they ever have in the past.

At my workplace, this means lots of Hurricane Preparation meetings, which go something like this:

VP of Strategic Something-or-Other: So, the emergency phone line is set up, correct?
Staffer: Yep, yes sir, that's been set up alright.
VP: Excellent. Great. Thank you. So the outgoing message leaves instructions for our staff in the event of en emergency?
S: Right, yes. That's the idea, anyway. But there's a small issue, see ... Patty set up that voicemail last summer, and, well, when she found out her insurance wasn't going to cover the damage to her house from Katrina, she left New Orleans somewhat abruptly, and, well, no one thought to ask her about the password to the voicemail, and anyway now we can't seem to find out what it is...
VP: So what does the message say now?
S: That we're in a state of emergency and have activated our disaster plan. Oh, and that we're closed for business...

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My favorite Hurricane Preparedness tip, from the staff newsletter:

"If you must evacuate: Pack enough clothes for five days. Don't forget underwear."

Thanks, Mom.