So far, so good...

Recent computer models tenatively laying out the track of Hurricane Ike are pushing it quite a bit further south than before. Most seem to agree that it will either skirt north of or slam into Cuba before going into the Gulf of Mexico. Good news for us, bad news for the west coast. That is, unless Ike nails the west coast of Florida and moves over to the east. That's what Fay did, and we had it worse than the landfall zone did. Because of the angle in which Ike would hit, if he did move across the state, we would be in what is known as the northeast quadrant of the hurricane, otherwise known as "probably the worst area of the storm to be in". This is where most of the tornadoes happen, and most of the rain. So we're not out of the woods yet. And that southerly track depends on the strength of the low pressure trough coming off the US. If it's not strong enough to keep Ike down, he will more than likely head north, sending him our way. It's still too soon to tell. They have started a mandatory evacuation of the Keys, though. Many people around me are getting their houses boarded up, and gas stations are getting crazy. I filled up on my way home today, and I had to go in to prepay (cause it was 5 cents cheaper if you paid with cash). I was the twelfth person in line at a store which hardly sees much business on a normal day. People are starting to worry. One Christian school a bit south of us has already canceled school for Monday. Talk about jumping the gun. I have to admit, though, it was an eerie feeling saying goodbye to my class for the weekend, facing the uncertainty of next week. I just told them we don't know what's going to happen, but to be smart, be safe, and be a help to their families during this time. Hopefully I'll see them in school on Monday, and all of next week. God-willing...