Irene, Things Learned

I spent 30+ years going over things learned from projects, processes and especially mistakes! The following after much review is what I hope people learned from Irene:

Dont't react to media fear, utilze common sense
Plan but don't use fear to make decisions
Utilize prior situations and it's outcome
Irene was bordering a catergory 1 to a tropical storm not a 4 like New Orleans
The government and FEMA was so afraid of a NO repeat they spent our tax dollars for nothing
More money was lost in business revenue than property loss
Always be more concerned when they tell you not to worry, then I worry

Florida deals with situations like Irene all summer long sometimes worse. We start worrying at a catergory 2 or greator! Why you may say! Well if you have visited Florida you can get 2-3" of rain anytime, you can get a tornado in seconds, just jump behind something or into something! And winds, letme tell you, winds that move things at any second....

Plan, Prepare and execute when you need to. Never use media or government fear to guide you! Most of all listen to words used and what being said. If the discussion is more of what the states are doing verses the damage being done, it's not that bad!

I have been through two HUrricane's, one tornado and a northeastern that left 32" of sonw and closed New England for a week. None of them were expected! That is why now when I am told not to worry I do! And when hype is made i disregard it.

Dr. Q