The FANGRRL Guide To Hurricane PreparednessPrepare for the worst but hope for the best.
This applies to many situations in life, but is especially applicable to Florida during hurricane season. You take the time, trouble and expense to prepare for a potential hurricane coming your way, all the while keeping your fingers crossed that it won’t. As most Florida residents have learned, hurricanes can cause problems even if they make landfall elsewhere (e.g., high winds, excessive rain, tornadoes, flooding, power outages).
It goes without saying – but I’m saying it anyway – that the health and safety of people and pets are more important than any material possessions. That being said, what about your stuff? I’m not talking about stereo equipment, clothes, furniture or things like that. Those things are easily replaceable, for the most part.
I’m talking about your important stuff. Fan stuff. Your collection, if you have enough items to use that word without your spouse rolling his or her eyes. Your collectible Star Trek Christmas ornaments that you never, ever hang on the Christmas tree. That first edition of your favorite book that your spouse gave you for your birthday back when you were dating. The Dr. Paul Bearer photograph that you got autographed in person when you were 12. The classic horror film lobby card that you found at a flea market. Your anime comics that you bought when you were stationed in Japan in the late 80s. Your autographed celebrity photos. Your Beatles albums.
If your collection – your fan stuff -- is important enough for you to spend years of your life researching, pricing, planning, shopping, arguing over, packing carefully, displaying proudly, dusting faithfully, staring at, talking about and obsessing over, then it’s important enough to be protected as much as possible during hurricane season. Here are some helpful hints:
**If the value of your fan stuff translates into actual dollars (and not merely serious sentimental crazed fan value), you might be able to add the items to your homeowners' or renters' insurance policy. Make sure to read the fine print and talk to your insurance agent to find out (a) exactly what items your current policy already covers, (b) what additional items can be covered and how much extra that would cost, (c) what proof of ownership would be required should the unthinkable happen, (d) how is reimbursement determined – is it what you originally paid (depreciated cash value, I think it’s called) or what it would cost you now to purchase (replacement coverage)? If the latter, as determined by whom? and (e) which acts of nature are covered and which ones aren’t. (Water damage usually isn’t covered. Separate flood insurance might be required, depending on where you live, what you own and individual circumstances.)
[I’m not an insurance agent, just a regular Jane Doe who was forced to read every single word of my renters’ insurance policy paperwork – more than once – when my insurance company accidentally added an extra zero to my coverage six months ago and created a small administrative nightmare for me.]
**Document the items in your collections by making a list, including detailed and important information and taking photographs or making a videographic record. Keep a copy of your list at home, but don’t forget to keep a copy in your safe deposit box at the bank, your fireproof/waterproof safe or wherever you keep other Very Important Papers. Your documentation/proof of ownership list won’t be much help to you, should you need it, if your sole copy is dripping wet and illegible.
I suppose there’s no need to do this if it’s not needed for insurance purposes, but it can be kind of fun. A great deal of fun, actually, depending on one’s level of collector mania and spare time.
**Move your stuff to a safer spot in your home before bad weather hits. Does your neighborhood frequently flood? Move your box of beloved items out of the garage. Is your Precious proudly displayed on a table in front of a big bay window? Stow it away in a cabinet, even if you’ve boarded up the window. Just in case.
**Don’t leave stuff on your screened-in porch, on your deck or in your car. I don’t know why in the world anyone would expose their prized possessions to the extreme heat inside a car or the anti-hermetically sealed, dangerous, toxic “fresh air” floating around outside in the first place, but that’s another column. My husband is obsessed with carrying at least one of his beloved “toys” with him at all time (it’s like Linus and his blanket, if the blanket were pocket-sized and had been scooped up at the last second for a good price in a vicious Ebay battle). Unfortunately, my husband, bless his heart, is also extremely forgetful. That’s not a good combination in Florida weather.
**Make sure the safer spot you’ve just moved Precious to for protection is far removed from any candles and away from high-traffic walking zones in the house, in case the power goes out for any length of time. Candles drip wax everywhere and boxes are crushed easily when you accidentally step on them in the dark.
**Speaking of extended power outages: Should you find yourself without electricity for an extended period, with no generator-owning friends or relatives nearby, hot, hungry, tired, grumpy, bored and getting a headache from trying to read by lantern light, resist the urge to entertain yourself by dragging out your fan stuff and looking at it. Resist that urge! Your hands will be sweaty and dirty and sticky, and there’s a drop of sweat on your chin waiting eagerly to drop on a delicate collectible from 30 years ago. Don’t ask me how I know this; just trust me on this one.
Is all of this a lot of trouble? Sure, just like the rest of hurricane preparations we all make (or should make). But if the one time that the worst actually happens is the one time you didn’t prepare for it, you’ll spend the rest of your life kicking yourself and wishing that you had. Prepare for the worst but hope for the best. It’s all we can do.
Here’s wishing you and your collectible fan stuff many sunny, worry-free days together.
What did I leave off the list? Do you have any tips to share on how you protect your collection? I’d love to hear your helpful hints, ideas and strategies.
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My column will be on a brief hiatus because I’ll be busy playing Radioactive Grrl, kicking cancer’s ass and possibly developing awesome superpowers. I’ll be on the message board when I can and then hopefully back to my nonsensical blathering here in two weeks. See you then.
"FANGRRL" is ©2008 by Lisa Ciurro. All graphics, except where otherwise noted, are creations of Nolan B. Canova. All contents of Nolan's Pop Culture Review are ©2008 by Nolan B. Canova.
