Just wanted to thank you all again for all your wonderful responses to my post about camping out for the first time. Unfortunately, we've had to reschedule our camp out thanks to Hurricane Michelle who is kicking up her heels and causing a big ruckus at the present. Things are forcasted for her to strenghten and it's a good possiblity that we will be on her "bad" side. At the moment we are experiencing winds of 25-30 MPH along with heavy rains. They have advised us to "prepare" and that means food/water storage, flashlights, radio, extra batteries, storm shutters - the works. Maybe the lantern, tarps, water etc. that I bought for the camp out will come in handy after all. Just got the latest Hurricane update. Winds have strengthened to 85 MPH and the pressure is dropping (favorable conditions for it to continue to strengthen). It is moving very slowly - 3 mph to the north (giving it even more time to strengthen). At present it is a catagory 1 Hurricane and expected to reach catagory 2 status in less than 24 hours. It is expected to reach catagory 3 status before it reaches Cuba. Looks like we will be battening down the hatches this weekend folks. Boy am I glad we won't be out there in a tent! LOL

-- Greenthumbelina (sck8107@aol.com), November 02, 2001

Answers

Wow, I feel for you! We used to live in S.Fl and two of my grown children still live there on the east coast. They called an hour ago to say they're on the way here for the duration - instead of going to the race in Homestead, which I understand now is iffy. Good luck and keep your matches dry! Let us know how you are when the power comes back on.

-- Mickhen (CackleberryAcres@aol.com), November 02, 2001.

Hurricane Center is predicting that Michelle will become a Major Hurricane which means Category Two or better. Those of you in South Florida had better get prepared.

Those of us in Central or North Florida had better pay attention to the news just in case she decides to pay us a social call as well.

..........Alan.

-- Live Oak (oneliveoak@yahoo.com), November 02, 2001.

Well, it appears that Ft. Lauderdale is pretty much out of the path of a direct hit by Hurricane Michelle. Later this afternoon through tomorrow evening should be the worst for us. We are now on,y under Tropical Storm warnings and are only expected to be affected by the outer bands on the weaker side of this system. They anticipate the winds to be between 40 - 60 mph with heavy rains. We could lose power but I don't think it's likelt. I wish this storm would have passsed our way yesterday so that we wouldn't have to be out in it going to school/work tomorrow. Oh well, as they say, "We can't control the weather now can we?"

Blessings,

-- Greenthumbelina (sck8107@aol.com), November 04, 2001.