Be smart about it

Published 2:53 pm Thursday, September 13, 2018

The groaning has already started.

Facebook and Twitter are blowing up with the annoying comments from Hampton Roads residents because of the current status of Hurricane Florence.

The weather says it won’t be that bad, but there is still some danger of wind and rain.

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The collective groan was heard across the seven cities.

I think it is foolish to be angry that the state and the federal government had us prepare for the worst.

I don’t know about anyone else, but I’d rather be overly prepared for the storm and have it turn away than to be ill-prepared thinking the storm was never coming.

Think back and remember Hurricane Matthew. Remember all the storms we thought weren’t going to be a big deal, and remember how they devastated communities.

I’m speaking from experience. I’ve spent almost 25 years in Virginia Beach dealing with hurricane season.

That is exactly why we should be prepared every single time a hurricane is projected to come near us.

Realistically, people are just looking for a reason to complain, and there is no pleasing everyone.

If Florence had kept to its original path and decimated Hampton Roads after we assumed we would be OK, there would have been outrage.

I think everyone should relax and prepare for the wind and rain coming our way, because those can be just as detrimental to us.

Trees are going to fall and streets are going to flood, and it is just as important to be overly prepared for the smaller impact from Florence.

I’ll give you the best advice possible. Sit down, stop complaining and prepare for the worst no matter what.

As Benjamin Franklin once said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”