On the Wednesday leading up to Severe TC Winston striking Fiji, one could sense with all the available data that calamity was going to strike and it was going to hit direct and hard.

As it started to increase in speed and show no sign of turning by late Thursday, the worst was confirmed.

For those who took heed of the many warnings, Thursday was the day to get moving with battening house and securing other property, purchasing of extra supplies of food and water, fastening down vehicles, moving to safer housing, pulling smaller boats ashore and with proper consideration berthing larger ones in the appropriate locations. However, as late as Friday afternoon the majority here in Savusavu seemed not too bothered at all. Many whom I spoke with were rather sceptical and were without any sense of urgency.

Finally disaster struck our coastline and hometown and it did so with unprecedented power and force!

Come Sunday, it became obvious that those who responded late to the situation were caught unprepared. The late reaction saw many unable to deal with Winston.

Obviously those who thought they were smart enough in waiting for the last moment were caught off-guard and suffered the consequences.

It amazes me that with all the modern technology available to us many still think and feel that they know best!

The warning was given well in advance and all we had to do was to take the most sensible course of action and take safety precautions in advance. Simple measures that are just too advanced for many! Such is our mentality! We are just too good for everything but ourselves!