Weather Watching!!

This is a time of year that I spend time checking the weather channel throughout the day.  It's hurricane season, and I TV watch the weather front bounding forward, in it's threatening red circular jagged edge form and see it's heading right towards the Florida coastline.  That east coast State line, if you look for it, has a little point sticking out.  About midway down.  That is the Cape Canaveral and famed Cocoa Beach area.  That little triangle is Merritt Island.  I watch that spot of land like a hawk.  Precious people live there.  One of our children's family, within our 6 household make-up, are right smack dab on that coast line.  Oh, yes.  I'm watching Irene head to the States.

My SIL, Scott, was actually in Seattle and he came home a couple of days early as he knew Jeanee couldn't possibly board the windows up. She was concerned he might not be able to fly in if he waited and the wind picked up. She had done all she could.  Filled up the gas containers.  Gassed up the car.  Made sure batteries were live. Checked water on hand.  Food.  Trimmed shrubs etc. in back yard and covered all of them.  Laundry done.  Could exit quickly if needed.  

They have been through this routine lots of times.  They are not risk takers.  They have evacuated when told to do so.  They are as prepared as they know to be.  Now it's watch and wait for all of us.  The girls were disappointed that school wasn't canceled today.  If the winds hit 40mph tomorrow then they will get their wish and stay home.

My SIL's Mother lives on Long Island.  She's located on central Long Island and when I talked to Scott today he felt she was okay and if she did have to evacuate, his brother was there and would take care of her.  She's around 80. 

I've not heard from our friend Jim in the Carolinas.  He would not be foolish with his family.

I've learned a bit about hurricanes from having my darling daughter live on the Fl coastline and it's always scary but again....they are as prepared as they can be.  

Isn't the weather channel amazing with information?  They can track these storms and predict, pretty accurately, what will happen.  I know that this year when the possible hurricanes started off that Arlene was the first one but she turned to a Tropical Storm and so did Bret, Cindy, Don, Emily, Franklin, Gert and Harvey but....Irene is a full fledged dangerous Hurricane!  If she " produces significant damage or loss of life" then her name will be retired from the name pool list- right along with Katrina.    

The Internet lead line shouts out.....

BUXTON, N.C. (AP) — A monstrous Hurricane Irene tightened its aim on the Eastern Seaboard on Thursday, threatening 65 million people along a shore-hugging path from North Carolina to New England. One of the nation's top experts called it his "nightmare" scenario......

Florida is not the #1 concern of the Weathermen or the newspapers but it is for me.  I don't want anything to happen to those I love.  Aren't we all like that?

This is where the power and comfort of the Gospel come into play.  They have truly done all they can to prepare and ready themselves for this situation.  They will listen and do what the authorities say.  Now is the time for faith.  and prayers.  The projected storm path, further northward up the coast, into those heavy populated areas, just makes my heart sink.  If they were there?....wonder how my faith would play out then?

The  turmoil of the last days is rugged, isn't it? 

....but if ye are prepared ye shall not fear. (Doctrine & Covenants 38:30)

Am I really ready?