So the first day of hurricane season came and went without too much drama. Unless you happen to work for the Media. In which case your day was quite busy indeed hyping things like Katrina rebuilding efforts; Rita: the forgotten hurricane (which it was, by the way); hurricane preparation/kits/tips. Do you have copies of all your important paperwork in Ziploc bags in your glove compartment? In *every one* of your vehicles?? But of course, you reply. Right next to the salt tablets and the canned tuna.

I don't mean to downplay hurricanes. They are serious business and they cause tremendous damage in coastal areas. People who live in those areas need to be prepared. Or prepared to evacuate.

Don't know what we'll do this year if the big one makes a bee line for Houston. I'm concerned that, in light of what happened last year with the evacuation nightmares, far too few people will try to evacuate the Houston area this year. Many people would rather be home than on the road, as long as they're prepared and semi-comfortable. Our family has already begun stockpiling non-perishibles and water, and I'm considering buying a chainsaw and (maybe) a backup generator. And batteries for all the flashlights we bought last year.