Commentary

Another week, another storm

ONE WEEK AFTER Hurricane Dennis gave us a passing blow and, in the process, wreaked serious havoc on the island, we are looking to the west for another hurricane.

This time it is Hurricane Emily which is kicking up a storm and heading our way.

Unlike Dennis, though, Emily will not be doing its major strengthening after it passes us, but is coming to us at full Category 3 - or more - force.

Of course, all of us will be hoping that this hurricane does not hit; coming so close after the last near-miss, it would be simply too much.

However, the advantage - if there is any to the situation - is that with Dennis so fresh in our minds we should be prepared for Emily and whatever she may bring. After all, to not be prepared two weeks in a row would be sheer madness.

So the candles, lamps, flashlights and food should all be in place and, most importantly, the people who need to evacuate their dwellings should not be hesitating about doing so.

Prime Minister Patterson has a very valid point in proposing that people who need to leave their areas ahead of a storm should be forced to do so. It is sheer madness to be expending energy, time and money, not to mention putting rescue workers in harm's way, to 'go for' people in the middle of a storm when they should have left when it was safe to do so.

Those who choose to stay in dangerous positions this time around have no excuse whatsoever.