• Be prepared for a flood
• AAA Premier membership has arrived
• We've got you covered
• What a gas: The service station evolves
• Neil on Wheels
• How to find the right GPS for you
• Steer clear of danger in rainy weather
• The Sydney Opera House

Be prepared for a flood

By Adam Ashton

Floods don't just follow riverbeds and the paths of hurricanes—they make trouble in every corner of the country, with yearly damages reaching
high-water marks in the billions of dollars. What does this mean for you? Just one inch of water in your home could cost over $7,000 for repairs to carpets, walls, and baseboards. Here are some steps you can take to protect your home and your wallet.

▪ Study up Know the risks in your community. Western floods tend to come from winter rains and spring snowmelt. Wildfires make matters worse by stripping vegetation that normally anchors soil and water. Go to floodsmart.gov to learn about threats in your area.

▪ Get insurance Flood insurance can be a good idea, even when it's not required by your mortgage lender. Every year, a quarter of the policyholders who collect on flood insurance live in areas where coverage is optional.

▪ Make a plan Establish an emergency meeting point for your family. Stash bottled water and canned food in a high place, along with a
battery-powered radio for updates. Know where—and how—to shut off electricity and gas in your home.

▪ Limit your losses Elevate furnaces and appliances to avoid pricey electrical damage. Remove debris from your roof and clean the gutters so that water can drain properly.

▪ Stay put Be prepared to leave if an evacuation order comes, but stay inside if you're there during a flood. Half of flood-related deaths involve cars.

To learn about flood insurance through AAA, call (800) 922-8228 orvisit AAA.com/insurance.

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AAA Premier membership has arrived

Give your membership a boost to our new Premier level. Among the benefits you'll receive are towing coverage of up to 200 miles, five gallons of free gas delivered when you need it, a one-day rental car if you're towed, and travel emergency assistance. Premier dues are $109 a year for primary members and $69 for associates. For details, call (800) 922-8228 or visit AAA.com/premier.

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We've got you covered

Try to get lost—we dare you. As a member of AAA, you have access to a host of navigation aids. Our free maps and TripTik routings (paper or online) help you find your way. Or you can use AAA Directions, an online tool that shows you the best route to wherever you're headed, with
real-time traffic conditions. Get spoken, turn-by-turn directions in your car with the AAA Magellan GPS device or on your cell phone with AAA Mobile. Both options provide access to thousands of listings from our popular TourBook guides and one-touch connection to our reliable road service.

To learn more about all the ways AAA can help you get where you're going, visit AAA.com/roadtrip.

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What a gas: The service station evolves

By Adrienne So

1885 Sylvanus Bowser invents a kerosene pump to replace buckets and ladles. It becomes known as a "filling station" for lamp and stove fuel.

1913 In Pittsburgh, Pa., Gulf Refining opens the first drive-in gas station.

1933 Wayne Oil Tank & Pump Company rolls out computerized gas pumps, which calculate cost as well as volume.

1940 Automatic nozzles make self-service possible. Women catch on faster than men, says historian Tim Russell

1960s British oil company EP combines very low prices with female attendants in tiny bikinis. Police are called in to monitor traffic jams (and bikinis).

2007 Israel hires Better Place to build a countrywide power grid for electric cars. Charger outlets will appear in homes, offices, and even... gas stations?

To learn how you can find the least expensive fuel wherever you are, visit AAA.com/gasprices.

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Neil on Wheels
Why isn't the gas cap in the same place on every car?

By Dan Neil

This is a fascinating question, one that involves both microeconomics and macroeconomics. On the micro side, you have the historical preferences of different carmakers. For example, the Porsche 911 has its fuel filler on the right front fender. Back in the 1960s, there was a logical reason—the gas tank was in the front of this rear-engined car—but now the fuel filler is there largely as a matter of tradition.

In sporty cars especially, designers like to position the weight of the fuel as close to the center of the car as possible (20 gallons of gasoline weighs about 120 pounds). BMW, which obsesses about weight balance, always puts the gas tank and the gas filler on the right rear of the car to counter the driver's weight on the left. Pretty cool, huh? Now, forget all that. Gas tanks can now be molded to fit almost anywhere, so it would seem that the fuel filler cap could follow suit. The Honda Fit, for example, places the gas tank under the front seat (it's perfectly safe there... I guess). Yet given the engineering demands on each car model on the road, it would be impossible to standardize fuel filler position. And maybe you wouldn't want to. Here's where macroeconomics comes in. If fuel fillers were all on the same side, wouldn't that mean that one side of the gas pumps would be busier than the other? Sure, you could pull up to the pumps from the other direction, but not all gas stations have good two-way flow. It has been suggested that the distribution of fuel fillers is an unintended consequence with desirable results.

In the end, the fuel-filler dilemma arises out of our own prosperity. If you own one car, you soon remember which side the filler cap is on. If you live in a multicar family, however, you can easily get confused. That's why fuel gauges now show an arrow or an image of a hose on the side you should present to the pump.

So before you start wandering around your car looking for the fuel door, check the gauge and be grateful for small favors.

Dan Neil won the 2004 Pulitzer Prize in Criticism for his automotive column, Rumble Seat, in the Los Angeles Times.

For information about owning a car, including purchase and maintenance, visit AAA.com/autocare.

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How to find the right GPS for you

Pinpointing the ideal GPS System may be a little overwhelming. Here's how to buy one that will fit your needs and budget.

▪ Consider how often and how far you drive. Keep in mind, lower-price units may not have everything you need. Higher-price models may include extras you'll never use.

▪ Start with a strong receiver, a large clear display, maps with a variety of routing options, spoken directions, plus Bluetooth hands-free calling.

▪ Decide on extras you like: points-of-interest information, live traffic updates and more.

To learn about GPS devices from AAA, visit AAA.com/roadtrip.

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Steer clear of danger in rainy weather

Rainy roads can make for difficult driving conditions. Here are tips to help you handle the wet roads.

▪ If your rear wheels skid, take your foot off the accelerator, steer in the direction of the skid and pump your brakes gently. If you have antilock brakes, use steady pressure.

▪ If your front wheels skid, take your foot off the gas and shift to neutral. After traction returns, steer in the direction you want to go, put the transmission in drive or release the clutch, and accelerate gently.

▪ If you're hydroplaning, don't brake or turn suddenly. Ease your foot off the gas until the car slows and you can feel the road again. Then brake gently with light pumping action. If your car has anti-lock brakes, brake normally.

In addition, you should make sure your tires are rain ready. Replace tires that are 6 years old or older. Check the "traction index," which rates the ability to stop on wet pavement. AA is best, C means the tire meets minimum federal standards. Consider rain tires, which are designed with tread patterns that remove water faster than normal tires.

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The Sydney Opera House

By Kristina Malsberger

Back in 1957, opera lived in opulent-yet-dusty European theaters. Yawn. Then—g'day, mate! —Australian o˜cials announced the winner of their Sydney Opera House design contest: Jørn Utzon, an upstart Danish architect who envisioned a structure resembling a series of ship sails—or eggshells, depending on your imagination. The shells alone went through 12 iterations before a design was chosen. Utzon eventually stormed out during act 2, to be replaced by understudy Peter Hall.

The landmark venue opened in 1973 and an instant symbol of Australia was born. Today some 2 million people attend performances here each year. If you can score a ticket, do so: With a 2009 calendar that includes Jerry Springer: The Opera and Poppea, you won't see a yawn in the house.

The AAA Sojourns Australia Highlights tour departs September 18. For more information, call (888) 586-4222 or visit AAA.com/sojourns.