As Hurricane Harvey approaches the Gulf of Mexico coastline of Texas, with its further course unknown, The Daily News hopes that every local household has a hurricane plan. We believe that it’s better to have a plan and not need it, than to need a plan and to not have one.

The devastation is projected to be horrendous where Hurricane Harvey makes landfall, as likely a Category 3 hurricane. And it might strengthen again over the Gulf of Mexico, then set its sights on Louisiana. All who went through Hurricane Katrina in August of 2005 realize that’s not what Louisiana needs. The city of Bogalusa was rendered unrecognizable, and many families suffered due to the winds, rain, and the residual heat.

The City of Bogalusa has done its part by making sandbags available and by clearing ditches so any rainwater can flow freely. We ask that you clear any catch basins on your property to help them out.

And it wouldn’t hurt to gather supplies. We suspect you all know the drill-accessible food, water, and any needed medical supplies.

We hope you don’t have to use them, but we feel that it’s better to be safe than sorry.