But when Hurricane Rita blew through the area, the total loss of local telecommunications services caught Clark by surprise. It took five weeks for the services to be restored, prompting him to switch service providers in preparation for the new hurricane season.

The lesson he learned: Take nothing for granted. "The implications are so catastrophic that we have no choice but to expect that we will be hit this year," Clark said. "To think of it any other way is to invite more headaches and heartaches."