As I write this post Hurricane Irene is about to barrel into New York and other parts of New England so as a former reporter who’s covered hurricanes and a father who’s been through six of these suckers here’s my top five most important hurricane survival tips for families:

1. Don’t make the common “rookie” mistake of treating hurricanes as fun events.  This is foolish and often leads to unnecessary injuries and even deaths from people who underestimate the power of storms.  If you’re tempted to sneak outside to see the storm for yourself, don’t!

2. If you own a power generator DO NOT use it inside your home or apartment.  Carbon monoxide poisoning is a silent killer (more…)