Editorial: Be sure you don't die wondering

Don't die wondering, they say.
That's good advice. Who wants to go to their grave wondering whether they should have done this or they should have done that while they had the time.
So it was interesting to note the reactions of people after a weekend power surge activated warning sirens at Clive and Haumoana.
At Clive Motor Camp, owner Jim Thorne figured out the constant wailing must be the result of an electrical malfunction as there was no word of a tsunami warning on radio or from emergency services.
The encouraging news was that several people, overseas visitors among them, didn't hesitate for long after the sirens began.
They packed quickly and presented themselves at the office to evacuate.
By then, Mr Thorne knew what the situation was and could calm jittery nerves.
"We were able to tell them it was a false alarm - but it was reassuring that they had read the notices and knew what to do."
As someone who has been through an evacuation in a genuine emergency on our coastal strip (the 2011 floods), I can understand the reaction of the visitors.
Emergency situations happen fast and can be unforgiving. They are unpredictable, which is why we have sirens and evacuation procedures. It doesn't pay to ignore a warning siren until someone in authority tells you the coast is clear. Earthquakes, floods and perhaps one day (although we pray not) a tsunami - we are right in the zone for the lot.
These tourists had read the advice in their units and knew enough to take the siren seriously.
That's a whole lot smarter than sitting around wondering why the sirens are blaring when heaven knows what is heading your way.
By packing their bags and being ready to evacuate, they ensured that at the very least they were not going to die wondering.