Hurricane watch: Seems like it should be a no-brainer, but many won't heed warnings

Hopefully, this warning won't apply to anyone in Wayne County.

After all, most people around here are pretty sure they do not want to tangle with another hurricane, let alone take the risk of ignoring the warnings from the experts about how to handle such an emergency situation.

But there will be people all over the East Coast and Florida who will think they know better. They will pay no attention to news reports tracking the storm, and then they will sit back and wait for someone to come tell them they need to evacuate their homes or property.

And, once again, we will have a whole group of people in need of government assistance because they were too stubborn or too lazy to get out of the way of the rushing waters or to prepare their homes and families for such an emergency.

The number of times law enforcement and emergency personnel have to risk their own safety to help someone who could care less about his or her own is just criminal. It is above and beyond the call of duty and a waste of valuable time that could be spent dealing with real emergencies.

Hopefully, this time will be different.

First off, let's hope Irene loses power and veers back out to sea. That would be the best scenario.

But if she doesn't and decides to make a trip to North Carolina, let's hope residents listen and do what they need to do to keep themselves safe.

That is how you make it through a weather emergency unscathed -- and keep others safe, too.

Published in Editorials on August 23, 2011 11:11 AM