Looking at the tracking maps of Hurricane Neki last week, there was an eerie reminder of an earlier hurricane: one that took a similar northward path, but about 10 degrees further east.

That would be Hurricane Iniki, which plowed through Kauai in 1992, causing billions of dollars in damage.

This time, we were fortunate. But that's no reason to be complacent. "It could be considered a near miss," said James Weyman, director of the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

And weather forecasters warn that because this is an El Niño year, there's a higher risk of tropical storms in the Pacific beyond the official Nov. 30 end of the hurricane season. Ironically, El Niño could also mean a drier winter overall — bad news, especially for areas on Maui and the Big Island already suffering from drought conditions.

Those warnings are a clarion call.

It's a given that island residents should adopt sensible water conservation habits, to ease demand on the water supply during a drier winter. But it should also be a given that we are prepared for a disaster — not through last-minute runs to Costco for toilet paper and rice, but as a normal part of daily living. This is an especially good year to make that commitment.

We should all know how to brace for hurricanes — by stockpiling provisions, preparing an evacuation plan and more.

Neki hit the Papahänaumokuäkea Marine National Monument with hurricane-force winds and seas up to 20 feet. If Neki veered east, would we have been ready?