our readers write

With the 2018 hurricane season opening June 1, former Lexington County law enforcement officer Tim James shared this account of his team’s survival of one of last year’s most devastating storms at Ocean Reef community on Key Largo, FL.

It’s a fact that Mother Nature is a force that we cannot negotiate with. But making every effort to be as prepared as you can before she makes her impact could make an extreme difference in the outcomes. Preparedness is the key! Many of us in South Carolina survived Hurricane Hugo. But as the years have passed, so do our intentions of maintaining vigilance in being ready for such tragedy. Last September, it became evident that Category 5 Hurricane Irma was on a direct course to hit lower Florida. Preparations and plans for communities as well as individuals are only good if they have been rehearsed and tested. With the approaching 2018 hurricane season, now is the time to prepare, review and rehearse your plan of action. In putting your plan together, an excellent website to help you is www.ready.gov.This website offers many tips to help you prepare yourself and your family. Share your plan and take time to rehearse with all members who will be affected. Inventory your valuables with pictures that can be used for insurance claims. Choose a place you will evacuate to, such as an out-of-town family member or a favorite destination/hotel further inland. Remain ready to reserve your room, as this will prevent you from being left without a safe haven as masses of evacuating families will be seeking shelter. Abide by the local authority’s directives in relation to evacuation. In The Keys before Hurricane Irma’s landfall, our authorities smartly called for a mandatory evacuation. This meant that there would be no 911, law-enforcement nor emergency medical services. Almost everyone abided by the evacuation order but several refused. That later caused burdens after the storm. Part of the preparation in the Ocean Reef community was to have a few trained personnel shelter in-place in a Category 5 building. We were fortunate to have 7 brave emergency people volunteer. They were integral in responding to medical and fire emergencies in the aftermath. And they were there to prevent looting. We owe a debt of gratitude for the passion of these 7 humble servants.