Forewarned is forearmed when it comes to hurricane readiness, but that is only half the battle, according to the director of the National Hurricane Center.

Bill Read, the keynote speaker Tuesday at the 2012 Hurricane Workshop at East Carolina University, soon is retiring after 35 years with the National Weather Service, four as NHC director. He told scientists and colleagues at the daylong session at the Murphy Center that most people deny the threat of hurricanes and tropical storms in their area and do little to prepare for them.

“If you don’t know the type of flood plain where you live or have flood insurance, or know your home’s wind speed risk, you’re taking a gamble,” Read said. “Most people really don’t know what they’re up against and have no disaster plan, and there is a good chance they won’t do the right thing.”

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