Posted on: Thursday, September 4, 2003

EDITORIAL
Jimena is a reminder against complacency

Hawai'i dodged a bullet Monday as Hurricane Jimena missed the Islands and headed for an obscure fizzle in the vast western Pacific.

The occasion is a needed opportunity to review our preparedness for the future hurricane that, like 'Iwa in 1982 and 'Iniki in 1992, will choose not to be so cooperative.

How many of us watched the departure of Jimena secure in the knowledge that our loved ones were prepared to survive on our own resources for at least a week had that unpredictable storm taken a sudden right-hand turn and struck our homes? (That's what 'Iwa and 'Iniki did.) Did we have adequate drinking water on hand, gasoline in our tanks, a battery-operated radio? For a full checklist, see the front pages of your phone book — Page 56 on O'ahu.

Were stores ready with adequate supplies? Were media too casually plugged into weekend programming, neglecting to provide frequent storm advisories? Did businesses have contingency plans for sending employees home or advising them not to report for work?

Were county and state government, military and National Guard units ready to meet emergency needs — as they so admirably did in 1992?

Jimena was a reminder that it's not a question of whether a hurricane will strike our Islands again, but when. We must be ready.