WASHINGTON, D.C.

Continuing its “better safe than sorry” approach to the end of the Mayan calendar, the Pentagon has employed Vince Shlomi, creator of the popular ShamWow, to help prevent major flooding on the East Coast.

The government has asked Mr. Shlomi to cease production on his popular dish rag for consumer purchase and instead work on a plan to use the ShamWow to prevent a possible catastrophe ten times the size of the tsunami that hit Southeast Asia in 2004.

In a written statement, Shlomi said “Wow! It is an honor. Wow!” A representative from Mr. Shlomi’s office later clarified, “ShamWow is honored to be involved in this process during our country’s time of need and we will do everything to protect our customers.”

The Shamwow can hold up to 12 times it’s weight in liquid.

Experts have spent the last few days theorizing exactly what the ShamWow could do to help avert the total destruction of the Eastern seaboard. Some have suggested a ShamWall could be erected along the Atlantic Ocean to sop up the water. Others have wondered if giant ShamWow’s could be dropped in the ocean to lower the water level.

In possibly related news, Governor Arnold Schwarzeneggar has called the creator of the Snuggie to Sacramento for undisclosed reasons.