It hasn’t happened, yet!

Two weeks ago, the Refugio County Press enclosed an excellent brochure to help you plan for a hurricane. I hope you all read it and kept it.

Hurricane Kenda is nearing landfall at Goose Island. The storm surge has pushed water three feet deep throughout Bayside, Austwell, and Tivoli. The water is contaminated, people are dying. “Call 9-1-1” is a common cry, but the Sheriff can’t respond, EMS can’t respond, power is out. Over 300 people are stranded! Many are sick, some critically.

Just a few days ago, public officials urged all the population of coastal areas to evacuate, but man did not heed the warnings.

This is a scenario that has played out in Refugio County before. So far we’ve been lucky. How long will we remain lucky?

“The time to leave is well ahead of the storm’s landfall,” said County Health Officer Dr. Stephan Walker. “Once the storm arrives it is too late.”

No ambulances will be available, no fire trucks, no police —just high wind, polluted water, flooded homes and an attempt to survive.

Even in inland areas, while the wind is blowing over 50 mph, emergency vehicles will be unable to respond. Help will simply not be available to those who fail to heed the warnings and evacuate.

Plan your evacuation now! If you have special medical needs, or if you are disable or handicapped, be sure to get registered on the Statewide 2-1-1 list.

Just pick up any telephone and call 2-1-1. You will get a machine that offers several options. Pick number one.

Then, after several minutes on hold, you get an operator who will take your information about where you live, how to contact you, any special medical need or disabilities.

You will remain registered only one year. This means if you registered last year in June you may have been dropped off the list, so call again.

Be safe this year, plan ahead.