Ok, this is not your annual "Run for cover - here come the Hurricanes!" terror-filled post. Instead, I urge you to take the following steps to make YOUR 2007 hurricane season less stressful.

As a 26 year resident of Pinellas County, I can honestly say that I can remember only 2 storms of notable strength which directly impacted our County, one of which wasn't even a Hurricane - Hurricane Elena (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Elena) and the No-Name Storm of '02/'03. Neither of them were particularly as damaging as Recent storms such as Charley, Katrina, or even Andrew. They were a mostly headache for area residents.

Here are a few things you can do as a homeowner to prepare for the 2007 hurricane season:

1. CLEAN YOUR GUTTERS! A free-flowing gutter system will ensure the enormous amounts of rain are conveyed off the structure in a rapid, expedient manner.
2. TRIM THE TREES! Ever seen the palm trees with only 2-4 fronds sticking out of the top? That's called a "Hurricane Cut" and actually allows the Palm tree to offer less wind resistance, thus increasing it's chance of weathering the storm.
3. CLEAR YARD DEBRIS! Make sure you have a spot in the house or garage for items such as lawn furniture, grills, tools, and even potted plants. They can become deadly missiles during a rough storm and may even impact your neighbors home.
4. REINFORCE YOUR GARAGE DOOR! Studies have shown that Garage Doors are the the weakest structural areas of any home and are also the entry point for the destructive winds that destroy homes. Consider reinforcing your garage door or simply replacing it.
5. FOOD AND WATER! When you are doing your weekly Grocery shopping, pick up a few extra gallons of water each trip and after a month or 2 you should have at least enough water to last you for a week. Consider having at least 2 gallons per day per person.
6. PAPERWORK! Take this time to make copies of valuable paperwork such as your homeowners policy, paperwork from your home's purchase, SS cards, and any valuable assets such as bank statements, securities, and credit card info. Having this info on hand in a safe place will make weathering any storm easier.
7. HAVE A PLAN! What would you do if a Category 3 storm were on a collision-course with Pinellas County? My wife and I have decided to ride out any storm that is a weak category 3 or less. Anything stronger and we will drive to her families house in SC. What would you do???

As the hurricane season approaches, a little forethought can save you time and money!