Maybe it is too soon to prepare for the next hurricane but I wanted to share this information while it is still fresh in our minds. The Federal Government maintains a website which gives warnings on impending hurricanes. Here is the address: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

You can sign up for e-mail alerts (there are many - so don't be surprised). On Thursday, the first predictions of a direct hit began. As a result, we were able to get the word out to our residents on Friday to prepare. I got a few laughs at first, including from my wife: but not any more. Buying food on Saturday was bad enough – the pictures on Sunday looked real bad and the shelved already looked empty.

As a result, the staff was able to prepare our property too. While we live in a protected area between two hills, we only suffered one broken branch and one broken flower pot. We also shut down the elevators, just in case of a power failure, so that no one would have been trapped under the thought that our first responders would have too much to do already.

Whether you believe as I do that God passed my co-op over, or luck, or location, being prepared in advance is much better then reacting at the last minute or afterwards.

Do we know of any co-ops still needing assistance at all?