Heads UP! - Here Comes Flossie

[HADave]

Gosh it appears another short 24 hours will tell the story as to whether Flossie finds landfall upon The Big Island. We offer our thoughts and prayers that no-one becomes adversely affected by this potentially dangerous event. Please prepare yourselves as though a direct hit was imminent. Anyone close to a construction site where flying debris is a concern, coverup and stay away from windward walls. Fema says " A Category 4 hurricane would have winds between 131 and 155 mph and, on the average, would usually be expected to cause 100 times the damage of the Category 1 storm. Depending on circumstances, less intense storms may still be strong enough to produce damage, particularly in areas that have not prepared in advance. The strongest winds usually occur in the right side of the eyewall of the hurricane."

Having experienced only two in my lifetime I can honestly say it was two too many. Donna in 1960 ripped one elm tree apart on our front lawn and a one foot dia limb from a maple tree was torn away and thrown against the second story bedroom wall of my parents. Of course to make matters worse it all happened at night. It's the wind gusts ya-know I remember thinking our big old victorian home wasn't going to stay together. I hid under my bed till daylight. As an adult, Gloria in 1985 worried me to the point i sheathed all the windows on our front porch as most of my neighbors watched and chuckled. After the storm there were six trees around our home that were piled in our driveway on our vehicles and against our house they broke off during the wind gusts. As I sit here now thinking back i can't even imagine the frightening power of a cat 4 storm. I hope I make at least one person nervous enough to board up and be glad later that they did. Bottom line, you just can't be sure till the moment is upon you what damage might occur........

Good Luck everyone, peace be with you all

Dave & Peggy