George and I got up real early and went shopping...refilled our propane tanks,bought groceries and other necessary supplies. I wrote a very long post this morning,but then Bill started doing maintenace on the site so I don't know where it went.
Now that it is going towards the north we are more in line for a bad hit. Even if it turns to the west it is far enough up, to where we will be on the north side(the bad side) If it doesn't turn we will be in a direct line(if you pull up a map of Florida counties we are in the extreme SW part of Duval county,almost at the Clay county line(rural area).
The mayor held a press conference and has asked people in low lying areas and mobile homes(we just bought this doublwide in Dec.)to voluntarily evacuate. As the day goes on and if the storm doesn't turn, we will be going to mandatory evacuations. He said it is likely that there will be major loss of power in our area.
We are packed up and ready to go...but there is NOWHERE to run to at this time...the expressways and rest stops are like parking lots(estimated 2.5 million evacuees are coming through our area)the closest available hotel rooms are in North Carolina.
If the need arises I guess we'll have to go to a shelter.
We are boarding up our windows(there is no more plywood available,we checked)with lattice work and 2x4's(better than nothing!)and are securing all outside stuff. The van is gassed up and we have 2-5 gallon cans of gas.
I have exchanged phone #s with Cindy, so I can keep in touch,when and if we lose power.
We are VERY nervous about this storm. I have lived in Jax. my whole life and have been through many brushes. I was here in 1964 when we took a direct hit and it was horrible, I was only 2yo but have vivid memories of the storm itself and the aftermath(actually this is my first childhood memory)
We are hoping for the best but are prepared for the worst. It has been downgraded a bit and that IS good news. I guess we're just playing the waiting game now.
Thank you for your concern
Karen
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)![[Linked Image]](http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v241/afgreyparrot/graphics/893hittingthefan-thumb.gif)
officer on there telling a story of a rescue of a bunch of surfers. 
