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Your e-mails: Preparing for hurricane seasonCNN.com readers learn lessons from big storms
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YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS(CNN) -- As the 2006 hurricane season gets under way, people in coastal states are planning everything from stocking their pantries to moving cross-country. CNN.com asked readers how they are preparing for the season. Here is a sampling of responses, some of which have been edited: We live in a prosperous area in the northwestern section of Miami. Although our home seemed strong and weatherproof, we were rudely awakened from this misconception during last year's hurricane season ... At the end of the hurricane we went outside to assess the damage: Preparations for the 2006 hurricane season: Lourdes Arenas, Hialeah, Florida We keep our pantry stocked with nonperishable items, have well water, and plenty of flashlights and batteries. We feel pretty safe and don't plan on leaving if a hurricane is predicted to hit us. (We are not in a coastal area, and our elevation makes flooding extremely unlikely). I don't live in Hurricane Alley, and I don't know how these folks are coping. I have done something to deal with the fierce storms of the North, however: I have been taking down large oak and maple trees that present a threat to our house or surround the house. Twelve more trees have been removed in less than one month. Another 11 last year. I prefer not to clean up the mess after the storms and pay more. There are still blue tarps on roofs and a lot less trees around. So, what am I doing to prepare for another hurricane? I'm stockpiling food and water. If a hurricane doesn't get us, then streets flooded from heavy rain, or the bird flu, might. We are saving vacation time so we can leave earlier this year (I hope). We bought a bigger car so the pictures and suitcases don't fall on the dog this time (I hope). Also, I have never unpacked the pictures and important papers I took with me last year. I'm going over all the checklists twice and hoping for the best. I don't wish a hurricane on anyone, but I hope the ones this year decide to go somewhere else. Houston couldn't get 4 million people out of town. What's going to happen to New York and the rest of the Northeast? After putting up with the hurricane threat for 20 years in Venice, Florida, paying ridiculous amounts of money for "windstorm" homeowners insurance (a separate policy from standard homeowners insurance), I finally said enough; I moved to Oregon! They can keep "Hurricane Alley!" Living in Florida you have to stay very alert, being prepared is only the half of it, you have to be ready to pack and leave at a moment's notice. Most people don't realize how a storm can turn just slightly and be headed toward your area. We are always stocking a closet that we call our "hurricane closet." We keep water, canned goods and things people don't always think of, such as charcoal (because even with no power you still need to cook), bleach (you can make drinkable water if you boil a gallon of water and let it cool, then add eight drops of bleach into it), a bottle of brown Lysol for disinfecting, sturdy shoes, and heavy-duty work gloves for moving downed items from your area. If a storm were heading our way we would leave, getting in our already gassed-up RV and making sure we stopped for cash on our way out of town. Good luck, Florida, in 2006. I am preparing for the upcoming hurricane season by purchasing a generator for my house to be sure that I do not lose power. I am also stocking up on food and making sure that I have enough plywood to board up my house. 
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