There were a lot of lessons learned before, during and after Hurricane Matthew’s rude visit, most of them hard, and we trust that those county and municipal officials charged with emergency operations will, after the wounds have begun to scab, take a determined look to see what was done well and what was done otherwise.

It is clear that both the city and the county need better avenues to communicate with those they are charged with protecting during crises such as what we suffered on Oct. 8, and might benefit from the template that this newspaper provided, which was to use social media, with Facebook carrying the biggest load, to speak directly with those who are literally and figuratively in the dark. Even when folks don’t have access to a computer, a cellphone and the internet are typically within arm’s length.

That is easily achieved, so there is no reason to delay.

Although Matthew might have been a once-in-500-years-event, there is nothing but long odds preventing another Matthew by a different name occurring next week, next month or next year. Such an event will never be easy, but it can be made easier by correcting the mistakes that were made.

Another lesson learned, especially by Lumberton residents, is that clean and available water is more cherished than even electricity. It affects all we do, especially hygiene and the ability to eat, which are essentials, not luxuries, like a working AC and TV.

So when news first began circulating that Lumberton residents could be without clean water for as long as a month, the public’s OMG reaction was appropriate. At no point did we believe the threat was exaggerated, a conclusion we came to based on knowledge concerning the extent of damage at the Lowery Street water plant, and from speaking to city officials, who didn’t reveal that they feared the worst by what they said, but rather by how it was said.

City officials, however, were able to get water flowing about 10 days after Matthew hit, although it needed to be boiled before being consumed, and then about a week later they were able to lift the boil-water advisory, restoring a key piece in what is a slog toward recapturing normalcy.

So how was this achieved? With the leadership of Rob Armstrong, an engineer who heads the Public Works Department, a work-around using portable water processing plants was put to use, while at the same time pumps were brought in to quickly drain the water plant so that damage could be accessed and a plan developed to get it fixed.

Armstrong had as allies a fully engaged mayor, Bruce Davis, City Manager Wayne Horne, who learned of the availability of portable water-processing units while serving in Vietnam, the City Council, the county government, and Gov. Pat McCrory, who sliced through red tape to get what was needed here more quickly.

Most city residents with whom we spoke seem aware of the hard work that city officials put in to get the water flowing and to provide additional comfort during an uncomfortable time. This is so a few more will.

Well done, city of Lumberton.