EDITORIAL: Prepare for the worst; hope for the best

With prospects of some potentially severe weather moving into our area, even as storm recovery efforts continue, it’s understandable that the news comes with some concerns.

The early weather forecast is that a strong cold front will move into the area, probably sometime late Saturday, and could bring with it severe weather, less than three weeks after the Jan. 2 storm system that produced nine tornadoes and straight-line winds that touched 90 mph in some places.

For those who were heavily impacted by the previous storm, many of whom haven’t yet returned to a life that could be considered “normal,” the idea of more inclement weather, no doubt, can border on paralyzing. We already are in a difficult phase of recovery, with the adrenaline and survival instincts that accompany an immediate crisis long past. Now is the proverbial long haul, the part of recovery that never seems to go as quickly as it should. A light can be seen at the end of the tunnel, but the tunnel seems to be extending rather than the light getting closer.

What we all hope is that this weather system and its successors — normally this time of year rainmaking systems work through the area every two or three weeks — pass through, as thousands have in the past, with minimal impact. But that hope — as the devastation our area suffered on Jan. 2 bares witness to — should be accompanied by preparation. To borrow a well-known phrase, hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.

Now is not the time to let down our guard. The fact is, devastating storms and tornadoes are a year-round threat in our area, though, thankfully, the wreckage we saw from the Jan. 2 storm is rare. If you haven’t yet, however, it might be a good time to put together an emergency kit or to restock one, just in case. The Georgia Emergency Management Agency recommends that you have the following in yours:

— Water: One gallon per person per day, for at least three days, for drinking and hygiene;

— Food: At least a three-day supply of non-perishable food;

— Manual can opener: For canned food in kit;

— Radio: Battery-powered or hand-crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert, along with extra batteries for both;

— An emergency charger for mobile devices;

— Flashlights and extra batteries;

— A first-aid kit;

— A whistle, to use to signal for help;

— A face mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to put a makeshift shelter in place;

— Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties: for personal hygiene;

— Wrench or pliers: To turn off utilities;

— Local maps.

Other items that GEMA suggests (some may not apply to all people): prescription medications and glasses; infant formula and diapers; pet food, extra water, pet supplies, toys and vaccination forms; important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records placed in a waterproof, portable container; cash or traveler’s checks and change; emergency reference material, such as a first-aid book; a sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person; a complete change of clothing, including a long-sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes; household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper; fire extinguisher; matches in a waterproof container; feminine supplies and personal hygiene items; mess kits, paper cups, plates, plastic utensils and paper towels; paper and pencil; books, games, puzzles or other activities for children.

We have learned how quickly destruction can come. Much of what hit specific areas look less than 15 minutes to do unbelievable amounts of damage. As humans, we can’t overcome the destructive power of nature when it is unleashed, but we can take action to prepare for it the best that we can. If we have learned nothing else from the destruction of Jan. 2 we learned this: It is better to be ready for the storm or other disaster that doesn’t come than it is to be unprepared for the one that does.