Here’s a story that’s stuck with me ever since I heard it many years ago:

A severe flood was forecast but John, a man of great faith, refused to evacuate. As the water rose, a National Guard truck pulled up to take him to safety. John refused to go, saying “God will protect me.” The water continued to rise and John climbed to the second floor of his home. During the night a police boat pulled up and ordered him aboard. Again John refused, saying “God will protect me.” By dawn, only the peak of the roof, with John perched precariously upon it, remained out of the water. A Coast Guard helicopter was soon hovering overhead but John refused to climb in the rescue basket, again saying “God will protect me.” As the helicopter clambered off, the water swept over the house and John drowned. When he got to heaven, John asked “God, why didn’t you protect me?” The Almighty replied “I sent a truck, a boat and a helicopter for you. What else was I supposed to do?”

My takeaway from that story: Don’t fear bad weather, but don’t fail to prepare.

With that in mind, consider the latest from the National Weather Service regarding the track of Hurricane Irene:

It’s not every day you see a hurricane forecast cone pointed into the Northeast. In fact, the concern among meteorologists is high. National Hurricane Center Director Bill Read: “We are very concerned with what’s going to happen in New England. The benchmark is the 1938 hurricane. I am very concerned with what will happen there.” The potential is real for the strongest hurricane hit on the Northeast in at least a couple decades this weekend!

Fortunately, the Weather Service also provides this pamphlet on what to do to prepare for a hurricane, just in case.