Hope for the Best, Prepare for the Worst

As the mother of three kids under five, I have no choice but to be prepared at all times. That means drinks, snacks, a change of clothes, diapers, First-Aid Kit and doctors' phone numbers travel with us always.

But while I'm completely prepared for whatever happens on the playground, if a natural disaster were to sweep my house away, I'd be toast.

Clearly, I need to prepare. But how? I recently heard a pundit suggest that we all buy second homes so we have a place to go if our main homes are destroyed. Hmmm. While I do dream of that condo on the beach, the reality is, between my kids and my mortgage, I'm lucky to afford one house. ...