It took me three-and-a-half hours to make my one-hour subway commute into work today, thanks to a rip-roaring thunderstorm at dawn that dumped three inches of rain in New York City (flooding many subway stations) and generating winds strong enough to blow down trees (one across my regular train track) while damaging homes, cars and businesses. Such storms are nothing unusual for many disaster-plagued areas of the country, but it made me wonder how in the world NYC would manage if anything close to a real natural disaster struck.

We talk tough here in New York, and we think of ourselves as thick-skinned individuals who can adapt to any situation. But just rain or snow or blow a little bit on us, and we come apart at the seams in no time!

A press release put out by the Insurance Information Institute in response to the chaos that took place today echoed my worst fears.

If you think that the mess New Yorkers experienced today is bad, imagine what would happen when a hurricane or severe storm should strike the area, said Jeanne M. Salvatore, senior vice president and consumer spokesperson for the Institute. Hopefully, this event will provide a wake-up call that everyone needs to prepare for a hurricane or another disaster.

She's right, but New Yorkers just don't take stuff like this seriously. Hurricanes are something that happens to Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi, not here. But as today's collapse of the subway system shows, we New Yorkers are woefully unprepared for a real natural catastrophe.

Gov. Eliot Spitzer has ordered the Metropolitan Transit Authority to review why the subway system was paralyzed for the third time in seven months by a sudden downpour. But if the governnor thinks the subways are unreliable in a crisis, take a look at our roads, bridges and tunnels. Good luck trying to drive out of New York in a pinch. Even on a good day, traffic is nightmarish more often than not.

What do you folks think would happen if a hurricane–even a relatively “mild” Category 1 job–hit New York City and Long Island? Would anyone be able to evacuate in time, given the inevitable traffic jams and mass transit tie-ups?

FYI, the Insurance Information Institute in its release had some excellent suggestions for personal risk management agents should all pass onto their clients:

–Create an evacuation plan in case you need to leave your home. This should include having an evacuation kit ready to go with prescription medication, important papers, water, cash and other essentials; a mechanism to reach loved ones; and a clear idea of where you plan to go in the event of a storm.

–Consider purchasing flood insurance. As the city just witnessed, flooding can, and does, occur in the New York metro area. Flooding is not covered under standard home and renters insurance policies, but is available from the National Flood Insurance Program. There is a 30-day waiting period for the coverage to take effect so dont delay! Additional information on flood insurancewhether you need it and where to buy itcan be found at FloodSmart.gov.

–Make a home inventory. This is a detailed list of all of your personal possession and their estimated value. A home inventory is very important if you have to file an insurance claimit can expedite the process, as well as help you confirm you have purchased the correct amount of insurance. The Institute offers free, downloadable software to help you create a home inventory at KnowYourStuff.org.

–Update your insurance. Everyone should make sure that they have enough insurance to rebuild their home and replace their personal belongings in the event a hurricane or storm destroys their home. Also, find out from your agent or company how much coverage you have for additional living expenses in the event your home is destroyed and you incur additional expenses by having to live elsewhere. Lastly, if you are renter without insurance, make sure that you get this important financial protection.

Excellent advice! But will most apathetic New Yorkers take it? I doubt it.

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