Hope this doesn't bore you all, I know you have Jim Cantore and all but I thought you might want an "on the scene" from a local.
I think we are set. We took down the arbor, moved all the plant pots (outside), put the outdoor furniture in, moved the cars out of the way of obvious trees. All around the neighborhood the only people who are boarding up windows are the ones with a lot of trees on their property. We have had so much rain this summer that a bigger concern than the wind is the trees uprooting because the ground is so saturated. Schools all closed half day today and are not scheduled to reopen until Monday. Stores are emptying out and the traffic is very plentiful and purposeful.
Oil lamps are filled, candles are set out, tarps, staple gun, screws and drill in the hallway, water bottled, canned goods stocked. Might take down the computer tonight, maybe wait till the morning. In the VI, we had to take all the pictures off the walls, clear all surfaces and ended up losing it all anyway. Don't have *that* big of a one aimed at us, so that's a plus!
I took all the ice out of the ice maker and bagged it so that we can make more and fill the coolers when the power goes. It's odd trying to get ready for a hurricane here when we have been through such a roof ripper in the past. Don't want to go overboard, but neither do we want to be unprepared. I guess here in this area, the most you do is prepare to be without power and make sure the most obvious things don't get blown around, identify the windowless, central spot in the house and get ready to bunk in. The worst thing about hurricanes is that they move so damn slowly and the sounds are horrific. Here anyway, they're estimating that the strongest winds will start around 11 am tomorrow and in this area get no stronger than 115, which is not so bad (not so good, but not so bad). That timeframe would be better, night hurricanes are the worst! Right now we're already getting some gusts, so I don't imagine there will be a lot of sound sleep tonight.
Most of the Outer Banks have evacuated, so that is good. It always makes me so mad when people don't heed mandatory evacuation and then put the police, coast guard, firefighters, ambulance and rescue people at risk who have to go in and save their stupid butts!
So there you have it. We had to have our beloved dog put "to sleep" yesterday after staying up withhim for nights (long, sad story, don't ask), so all in all this has been a pretty crummy few days! We are trying to put aside that sorrow so we can be what we need to be for the kids, but it ain't easy.
Pray for the old folks and those who are afraid. Thanks