This is National Hurricane Preparedness Week 2012, and NOAA's National Hurricane Center is thoughtfully reminding many of us that we're complete dumbasses when it comes to being prepared.

Even though we don't have to face the typical level of storms that Florida or the Carolinas do, we can still obviously feel the effects of a storm that makes its way up the coast.

Last year, Hurricane Irene (although downgraded to a tropical storm by the time she reached Jersey) wreaked havoc in places usually unaffected (besides Jersey, she also kicked ass further north in New York, New England and even into Canada).

Irene caused power surges in my home last year, resulting in equipment and structural damage that cost thousands of dollars to repair/replace.

I thought I was prepared.  Hey, I had a flashlight and a manual can opener!

That was one time I was glad I kept up those home insurance payments and I haven't muttered one curse while writing out my monthly premium checks this year.  Yet.

Seriously, I really felt for those who had to deal with more devastation than I did and for the people who lost loved ones in the storm.

Do you have a plan in place?  If so, what is it?  Comment below!

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