I remember talking with an older lady in my neighborhood right before Hurricane Ivan was supposed to hit here and she advised me to go buy a couple small cheap frozen hens. We live near the levees and if they were topped she said that it was possible that (as she supposedly saw in a previous hurricane) a few gators might come onto the streets. If you had to get out fast, and/or to protect your small pets, you throw the hen and the gators go after it instead of you, or your pet.....
Ivan didn't hit here, but I have always remembered that.
As to the roach:
The Six-Foot Cockroach
Every night, Frank would go down to the liquor store, get a six pack, bring it home, and drink it while he watched TV. One night, as he finished his last beer, the doorbell rang. He stumbled to the door and found a six-foot cockroach standing there. The bug grabbed him by the collar and threw him across the room, then left.
The next night, after he finished his fourth beer, the doorbell rang. He walked slowly to the door and found the same six-foot cockroach standing there. The big bug punched him in the stomach, then left.
The next night, after he finished his first beer, the doorbell rang again. The same six-foot cockroach was standing there. This time he was kneed in the groin and hit behind the ear as he doubled over in pain. Then the big bug left.
The fourth night Frank didn't drink at all. the doorbell rang. The cockroach was standing there. The bug beat the snot out of Frank and left him in a heap on the living room floor.
The following day, Frank went to see his doctor. He explained the events of the preceding four nights.
"What can I do?" he pleaded.
"Not much," the doctor replied. "There's just a nasty bug going around."
Sorry, bad I know, but I couldn't resist.