North Carolina's Outer Banks are called barrier islands for a good reason. They're going to receive the brunt of any major storm in the vicinity. Personally, I think it's irresponsible for county and state authorities to continue to allow large numbers of people to move and live there.

There's only one effective route of escape for Hatteras residents in times like these, and if that ever fails for whatever reason in the face of a rapidly approaching hurricane like Iniki out here in 1992, instead of the ponderous Florence, the result could be tragic. We really ought to remember what happened in 1900 in Galveston, TX, where an estimated 20% of that city's population were killed by a Category 4-level hurricane. It remains the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history.

Even though the local authorities in east Texas had received ample warnings nearly six days prior to the monster storm's arrival, Galveston residents were effectively isolated from the mainland and couldn't get away in time. Most of the estimated 8,000 people who died there were killed by the resultant 15 ft.-high storm surge that washed completely over Galveston island, where the highest elevation is only 8 feet above sea level. The city itself was completely destroyed.