Frank,
I just landed in a new position halfway across the country. It took a while to find just what I was looking for.
Andrew's advice was good. I'll add to that from my perspective.
1) there is a 70% chance your next job opportunity will come through networking as opposed to want-ads. THe trick, then, is to build a personal network. Use your relationships at work, church, and professional groups.
2) IN most every city, there are networking groups devoted to job-transition support. There are some that are sponsored by church groups (here's an example:
http://jacksonville.busytonight.com/event/career-transition-workshop/0703313ac312c2b5 ). These may not "find" you a job, but they will help you get your mind working toward new opportunities. These groups can also help you refine your resume, your "talking points", your 2-minute speech (elevator speech), and cover letters. You might even turn up leads.... the opportunity I'm in now came through a couple of professional networking groups run by an executive coach for whom I'm a client.
3) Prepare now. By that I mean, make sure your finances are in order, and you have a plan if the time-off is protracted. Even if the plan is "if I don't find something in 3 months, I'll need to work at McD's", you need to have a plan. Best case: you don't get laid off and the plan isn't needed. Unlike some people, you've at least got a "heads up". Time is on your side.
4) Tread carefully on public postings on Monster and other boards. Yes, an employer can fire you (especially in a right-to-work state). And most employers don't search for folks on large boards like that - but some will post opportunites there. I know of folks that determined a post on Monster was just like posting your email address to a spam engine. HOWEVER - as part of the job search, you should review the job postings and reply to those that you think are a good match.
5) Notwithstanding #4, participating in forums like Ken suggested would be a good thing. Specialty boards offer a greater chance of success. Make sure you write well, and make the posting an advertisement or teaser for your services. Remember: first impressions count.
6) I've had candidates with slick resumes that had no idea what was in the resume (or the resume was false). I've also interviewed candidates that had very weak resume, but were very strong in-person and fit well. You want to be both. Make sure the resume is truthful, but shows your accomplishments well. It is you're "sales piece", so to speak. You need to use it to open the door, and then use your interviewing skills to win the position. BTW, make sure you know the value proposition you provide to an employer.
7) Create a profile and connections using Linked-in.
8) The best time to look for a new job is while you're still employed. Be proactive. Your value is a lot higher when you're employed.
I'll help you any way I can. Feel free to PM me if there's anything I can do, and I'll be happy to pass along a direct email/phone.
Best wishes for success!