I think the biggest danger (unless your home is poorly protected from wind) will be water. Two issues to consider – up to 10 inches of rain is being forecast – 7 inches is, perhaps, more likely in most areas). There’s been so much rain on the east coast this year that the ground is sodden; it won’t absorb much, so flooding is expected. And trees and utility poles will be easier to bring down – damage to property and danger to life.

The other big issue is storm surge, of course. The forecast height of storm surge is lower than before but 6 to 8 feet is still more than enough to destroy everything close to waterways. As they say – hide from wind, run from water.

In future posts I’ll be covering how to recover and how to deal with the immediate aftermath of flooding.

I bumped into a customer today who says she can’t be at the book signing but will send her father to buy some more copies as she wants to give them to her own customers as thank you gifts (“Tony I loved it, loved it, loved it”). So I said “Don’t send in your Dad, tell me how many you want and I’ll get them to you. And then we talked about how she will use them in her own business.

She just wanted to tell her customers “thank you – here’s something to make you laugh and something that might just save your life (and if it does you’ll be able to buy more stuff from me – everyone’s a comedian heh heh heh). So I suggested she has more options than just saying thank you. What about old customers who haven’t bought product for a while and you want to remind them? What about prospective customers who haven’t bought, yet, and you want to make sure you’re front and center in their thinking? What about using the book to get people you’ve never had any contact with to get in touch? What about . . . And she said,
“Hold on” How can I use Getting on the Upside of Hurricanes to do all that?”
“Simple”, I replied, “Sales and marketing is my background (there aren’t 20,000 plus copies of the book out there because 20,000 people all felt threatened by a particular hurricane or because they wanted to lose weight and decided they could read it while on the treadmill). I sold boxes of the book to business people just like you. Business people who whose client base is pet owners, boat owners, parents, home owners, shade tree fix-it guys, business people who sell business-to business producrs and services. The list goes on.

So we’re going to spend an hour together and I’m going to show her how to really use the book to help her grow her business.

So here’s the deal – if you want to grow your business, email me – send a quick text (941 457 7977) and I’ll call you. We can discuss ideas and we’ll agree a great price, so you can help America’s economy and your own business and we’ll have a win-win-win-win (You, your customers, America and me). Thanks for reading – looking forward to hearing form you, soon.

At the moment hurricane force winds spread out 50 miles from the center of circulation and tropical storm force winds about 205 miles. (There’s a 20% chance of tropical storm force winds affecting my book signing on Friday)
Now to storm surge – they separated wind strength and surge height this year. Previously wind force category and storm surge height were pretty much assumed to be linked very directly but then things started to happen – or, at least, get noticed. Hurricane Charley (the story line in the book) was a Cat 4 but brought with it a “Cat 2″ storm surge – still enough to flood downtown Punta Gorda – and Hurricane Ike made landfall as a Cat 2 but delivered a “Cat 5″ surge. Studies showed that it’s not just wind strength but time spent over water at different wind strengths and the overall speed at which the storm is travelling that also have an effect. So now wind and water are forecast separately. Today’s forecast for Irene as a Cat 2/3 storm is for S.E. and Central Bahamas to suffer a 9 to 13 foot surge above normal tides and the whole of the Dominican Republic is forecast to see a 2 to 4 feet above normal tides. Hide from wind, run from water.

May 22 begins Hurricane Preparedness Week.  They are expecting a higher than average year for storms again.  I know no hurricane hit the United States last year but let me put it this way – if you didn’t get hit by a truck last week will you not bother to stop and look before you step off the kerb this week?

A lot of people in the Mississippi Valley didn’t get hit by a hurricane but they sure got drowned out by floods just recently.  And the book has 66  very specific things to do to prepare for and recover from floods – plus the 17 actions to keep you and your family emotionally and spiritually strong before, during and after a disaster like that – plus the 14 simple stress-busters – plus the 21 things to know and do to protect your pets – plus the 27 points to make sure you evacuate safely and successfully (if you have to) – plus all the other strategies, tips, ideas and actions to make sure if you do suffer a flood, a hurricane or other natural disaster that you know you did EVERYTHING you could FOR YOUR HOME AND FAMILY.

So if you picked up a free guide remember that, as I discovered too late (after Hurricane Charley hit) - they just don’t cover enough. Free guides are free. I think they are OK, I think think they are better than nothing, I think they are a good start but as sure as God made little green apples I know they aren’t all you need in time of disaster.

So spend this week planning to do REAL things, IMPORTANT things, things for YOUR FAMILY and THEIR HOME. And keep doing the things you find in the book.  Become the hurricane hero, the “X-Man” or the “Wonder Woman”of storm and flood EVEN IF YOU GET TO NOVEMBER 30th unharmed, unstirred, unshaken.  Get to November 30th and tell yourself that your home is in the best shape it’s been because of what you did, that your children, your spouse, your parents and you went to sleep each night safe in the knowledge that you really looked out for them.

When I said this book can save your life, save you heartache and save you money I meant it.

But if all you want is a good read and a great laugh get the book for that reason alone – treat the rest a free bonus.  Give it away as a gift to people you love – or give it to your customers.  Use it as a way to keep people safe, happy and laughing. How many trips or parties have you been to and heard someone say “We had a great time, thanks”. Or maybe you even said it yourself.  Well, now you’ll hear it a lot if you give your friends and customers a copy of the book.

And to celebrate Hurricane Prep Week - I will send you TWO COPIES for $12.95 (that’s $6 each plus 95 cents towards postage).  Buy it through PayPalfor full security.  That’s right – anyone who buys before the end of May will get TWO books for the price of one. My gift to you.

It’s on the Charlotte County Emergency Management site

http://www.kidsgetaplan.com/

Go to it, show it to your children. They will learn so much, they will have a great time and they will be the best they can be when it comes to getting it right

I know I wrote the book after living through a Cat 4 (with Cat 5 gusts) and then Hurricane Frances, Hurricane Ivan and Hurricane Jeanne and I know I spent a lot of time putting together the “358 Ways to Handle Storm and Flood”.  And I know some of it is common sense (and some not so common) but to hear a government official telling residents to “tape your windows” really got to me.

But the storm is gone and the aftermath is here!  The need to be successful now and in the days and weeks to follow is paramount. (And it will be weeks – minimum)

Please, if you’ve not seen my work – check it out.  At very least read the first blog (if you’ve got power and internet) and read tomorrow’s – Staying strong, keeping your family strong are paramount.  Avoiding stupid mistakes is NUMBER 1.

Historically more people die and are injured after a storm than during it.  It’s because two things happen – didn’t expect something (like a snake or a live electrical wire) and sheer exhaustion makes you do really stupid things – dangerous things.

After Hurricane Charley when we’d been without electricity for two weeks and after working on my and my neighbours’ homes for two weeks I was so tired  it didn’t even occur to me to turn off the generator and let it cool down before I refilled it with gasoline.  Now that’s stupid!  And I’m not a stupid guy.  I was just worn out, bone-weary dumb.  And I did that.  I did something so stupid I could have killed myself and burned down my home.

So, everyone in Queensland – where you were flooded out and then got a cyclone, and Victoria – where you’ve just had six months rain in a day, and Perth – where you’ve got “hell on earth” as a resident said. Be Careful, stay strong, stay sensible!

And for my readers who aren’t as familiar with Cyclone Yasi or Australia as you are with America and Europe here’s something to look at. The BBC compared Hurricane Katrina with Cyclone Yasi – and super-imposed them onto maps.

Take a look http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12347702

I will read excerpts from ’Getting on the Upside of Hurricanes’ - especially the “laugh-out-loud funny” and the ”I laughed and cried sometimes at the same time” parts. I will sign copies and add any personal comment you’d like – if you want to buy copies as gifts.

Event details are:-
Sandman Book Co
16500 Burnt Store Rd (Turtle Crossing Plaza by Burnt Store Marina)
Punta Gorda Fl 33955

2.30 pm and 3.30pm for readings and chat.
Coffee and cookies

Find out more at www.sandmanbooks.com or email heidi@sandmanbooks.com

Please come and join us and help make it a great afternoon

We will be having a great time – discounted prices, book signings, I’ll be reading samples from the book – laugh along as you enjoy a coffee and see what else Sandman has to offer.

As part of its service Sandman offers quality used books, has a great discount shelf (some books just $1), an on-line buy and delivery service and there’s always a friendly welcome and lots of help to make sure you find exactly the right book for you.

Watch this space to see when the events will be – looking forward to seeing you there.

Sandman Book Company
16500 Burnt Store Rd
Punta Gorda FL 33955

On my honor I promise to do my best to:-

• Protect our family
• Preserve our home
• Secure our possessions

In case we are struck by a hurricane, flood, wild fire, oil spill or other disaster.

How many Dads, Moms, Aunts, Uncles and kids can honestly say they have made that promise and are living up to it?

And how many want to, but aren’t sure how?

Here are 11 ideas to help you keep your FIRST promise – just by planning ahead.

The first 3 things you must do are these:-

1. Decide how confident you are that your children feel OK about Hurricane Season, Tornado Season or other threat
2. Make sure that they understand as much as they need to about what to do and how to respond
3. Make sure that you, your children and all your family members know how to stay strong if you do have to recover from a natural disaster.

There have already been 15 named storms in the Atlantic (23 are forecast). Flood disasters struck much of the USA’s Eastern Seaboard. The USA and Australia have seen devastating wildfires. Toxic sludge in Hungary threatens the Danube. Pakistan is suffering from one of the most serious floods in living memory. The list goes on and your promise to your family becomes more urgent.

Many children are afraid that disasters can creep up on them while they sleep or are eating dinner. Children need your help to understand how likely or unlikely a disaster is to occur. They need your help to prepare emotionally and to feel the strength of their family around them.

Be responsible for helping your family to feel strong. Meet your promise to them.

Here are 8 more ideas for you to help you keep your promise.

1. Have a family meeting and share just what you and your children do think or do worry about. Just sharing can help children to feel more secure
2. Remind everyone how strong your home actually is
3. If you have a disaster preparation checklist, change its name to one suggested by a family member (that makes it “personal”, important, valuable)
4. Each family member can read a part of it – as looking out for our pets, the emergency food list, choosing an out-of-area person to be our point of contact, etc.
5. One family member can be in charge of one part of your preparation guide – pets, food, out-of-area contact, etc. This helps everyone feel part of the “strong family team”, feel important, feel they are helping the rest of family and helps them to feel more in control. When people feel more in control, they feel less afraid
6. Ask for a volunteer to be in charge of each task or job. This way everyone chooses what is important to them, feels they belong and by contributing to the whole family everyone can feel stronger
7. Ask each child to write their own “emergency pack” list – what they want to have with them, to keep safe, to feel safe, themselves, and to have ready in case you do have to evacuate.
8. Make a Family Treasure Chest of Strength. This could be just a decorated shoe box if you want. But what’s inside is Family Gold.

“Protecting our family” includes each person’s emotional and spiritual health just as much as it means physical protection like having hurricane shutters or sandbags. After a disaster the recovery, clean-up, repairs, living without water or electricity take a real toll on individuals – husbands, wives, children. Your Family Treasure Chest of Strength will help everyone be stronger

Tell everyone “We can make ourselves stronger if a hurricane, flood or fire does come our way. We are going to have our own, personal treasure chest – one we will go to every single day to find a little piece of family gold”.

And then suggest you all contribute by putting in the chest a “Thought for the Day”, a “Prayer for the Day”, and a “Word for the Day”.

Now the treasure chest can be filled and ready. Everyone one from youngest to oldest will be able to help, everyone can feel stronger. And you will have begun to keep your first promise.