Are you ready

I don't know why I am so intrigued by hurricanes. I know they are destructive and many people get hurt in them. I am also amazed by the power and impact they have. I am perplexed by peoples reaction to the coming hurricane and not heeding the warnings.

I guess one of the things I like, if you want to use that term is that you have lots of advance warning that one is coming your way. For about three days now we have been hearing about hurricane Earl and the path of destruction it could leave to those who are in its way. You know and I know many people will not listen and go out on the rocks and sit to watch the waves crash in.

Being in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina I learned a few important things:

1. When people tell you to get away from the coastline, you better do it.

2. If you think you are safe because you are in a brick building you aren't, because the water will gets inside when the storm surge comes and even the strongest buildings are not immune.

3. Bridges topple like dominoes when the wind is strong, even when we are told they are safe.

4. Hold on to your possessions lightly

5. Have a plan to follow...and then do it. If the plan is on paper and you don't follow it, why do you have it in the first place

6. Hurricanes affect everybody, it doesn't matter what color you are or how much money you have

7. If you can't swim, you won't learn how to in a hurricane

8. Insurance companies don't always pay out what they say they will. In other words not everyone who says they will help in a storm actually does.

9. Many people see that there are people in need but few actually will go out of their way to so something.

10. When a hurricane is coming, be prepared. It is too late after the storm is right on top of you to plan to drive on the evacuation route. It is probably already under water.

What does all this have to do with Boaz. Not much unless you can see it from the perspective of their are families headed for storms in their lives. They are not heeding the warnings and they are about to enter some terrible storms unless they do something now.

Go back and read those ten things from that perspective. Maybe it will make more sense.

Oh by the way, hurricane Earl may be upon us this weekend. In fact most models tell us we are right in the projected track. Prepare now. Trust me I would rather be prepared and not need the preparation than wait until the storm is here and wonder why I did not take the warnings seriously.