Earlier this week, we published a story about people keeping watch on the twin storms brewing to the south. While we've had very little effects of the storms, we believed it was important to let you know that these storms were worth watching.

Some forecasters kept referring to these storms as little disturbances, and that bothers us.

It was less than 10 years ago in 1995 that another little tropical disturbance roared ashore and battered our area with high winds and torrential rains.

If you'll recall, Hurricane Opal was a category 1 storm the day before she hit the coast and then slammed into our state at Category 3 levels.

Opal taught us that although we live 140 miles inland, we are still very vulnerable monster storms.

That we have to be prepared just the rest of the southeast.

We realize that it is often many years in between the bigger storms, but we we must never become complacent.

There is a reason a hurricane is called the "Finger of God," and

we should remember that these are the strongest storms out there.

We should all have emergency kits in our homes with flashlights, a water supply and emergency rations.

These should also have an emergency supply of medications.

If the power is out or roads are impassable, how can you get to the drug store for refills during an emergency.

Let us be prepared for the next "big one" that rolls ashore so that we won't be caught off guard again.

It all boils down to the idea that have kept Boy Scouts around the world ready for any situation and that is simply, "Be prepared."