It’s human nature: never do today what can be done tomorrow, next week or next month. But human nature or not, it’s an attitude that can be costly — even life-ending.

The nation woke up to that reality, once again, in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Ill-preparedness, indifference and foolish, foolish bravado has claimed the lives of dozens of Americans to date. And the death toll continues to climb.

One would be inclined to think that after Hurricanes Hugo, Andrew and Katrina that the citizens of this nation — the most advanced country in the world with eyes in the sky that can see these dangerous storms the very instant they form — would be readier than anyone for landfall of these Atlantic monsters. The country is not, though.

Despite plea after plea from emergency officials, from men and women who are experts in the field, the nation is still not bracing properly for the potential consequences of high winds and rising water.

There are always advanced warnings. More often than not, forecasters know the approximate vicinity where the hurricanes will strike and their approximate strength at the time they will hit.

Still, thousands of Americans, for some inexplicable reason, decline to pay heed. Some even go about their daily lives as if nothing were about to happen. Unfortunately, some of them die.

The nation needs to take notice of the devastation these mega-storms can cause, both to property and to lives. And for once, act like the intelligent beings Americans are supposed to be. Take all precautions necessary and listen to the advice of experts.

Meantime, we urge Coastal Georgians to do what they can to help those whose lives have been turned upside down by Sandy. Many, especially impoverished individuals and families, have lost everything. For others it will be months or years before life returns to normal, if ever.

Do what you can to aid your neighbors by contributing to the various collections of emergency supplies around the community or making a financial donation to the American Red Cross and specify that it is for the relief of citizens and communities that were in the path of Sandy.