Here's something else to worry, another result of the current economic ills we face--the danger from foreclosed/abandoned homes during a hurricane. Of course, in normal times, foreclosed homes can be havens for criminal activity, vandalism, squatting, breed mosquitos in unmaintained pools, etc. But in a hurricane, items from an unsecured home can become flying missles and damage your home, and if the home is damaged, it just drags down the home values in the surrounding neighborhood. Afterwards, a damaged home could be dangerous and even a health hazard to the neighbors.

I have seen various TV segments about foreclosures in places like Florida since last year and it's scary how many homes in some of these neighborhoods are foreclosed/abandoned. I'd hate to see what happens to the neighborhood after a strong hurricane tears through and none of these homes were prepped beforehand.

Here's an article about it: "Foreclosures add to hurricane hazards".