By the time people read this, Tropical Storm Bret may have already formed over the Atlantic. Computer models have the system passing from well north of the local area to far south and everything in between by next weekend, while there is also another disturbance behind it.
Suffice to say that those who did not yet take the customary precautions for the annual hurricane season should do so now. This certainly goes for residents and businesses along the coast and more inland flood-prone locations as the Office of Disaster Management (ODM) reminded in the Friday/Saturday edition.
In fact, their preparations must unfortunately include evacuation plans. Nobody likes to leave their home and personal possessions behind under such circumstances, but while protecting property against strong winds and heavy rain is hard enough, rising water especially from the sea presents an even greater challenge.
There is no reason to be overly concerned at this point, because the potential cyclone was still at quite a large distance and can be monitored during the next day or two to get a better idea of its expected force, size, speed and direction when approaching the region. Nevertheless, experience has shown that despite today’s advanced technology, accurately forecasting these weather phenomena remains tricky, so vigilance is definitely called for.
Not waiting until the last minute would anyhow be advisable, as others may do the same and clog roads, relevant stores, etc., with the possible impact already near. Again, time will tell if this becomes a serious threat, but it often pays to be ready for worse-case scenarios.
Better safe than sorry.
