My dad is putting plywood over the windows as we speak. We're north of Houston and aren't expected to get whacked so much by Rita herself as by her edges (the "tornado zone", which isn't much of an improvement over the hurricane itself).

People have short memories. We have horrible storms here every couple of decades--with bad, but less catastrophic ones in between--and everyone talks about how bad they were but then seems shocked when another one comes through. Granted, I don't know that we've managed two Category 5's in one summer lately, but we should certainly know by now that it can happen and surely will at some point. "Some point" being this weekend, I guess.

On the one hand, I do believe in global warming, but I'm not sure I think we can blame this on it. I think it was just our year to get nailed.