I can't believe that Tropical Storm Fay is heading directly for us!   

Hi Louise.
Well, it's like my husband says, "We've done everything we can do to be safe." We had to get a new roof the last time so we're hoping our newer roof can take the stress and strain. Plus, we didn't have hurricane shutters the last time, and we do this time. We didn't stay inside the house last time, but if it's not predicted to be higher than a Category 1 Hurricane, we're going to try staying in the house this time. Thanks for your concerns and wishes to stay safe.

Hello paisleylass.
Michigan sounds like a pretty decent place to live, if a person doesn't mind a lot of snow. I don't mind it too much, but I might if I had to live in it! Glad that most bad weather passes you buy.

Yes, thanks for your well wishes and prayers. I'm feeling like we will do better in this one than we did the last one.

Hello melissaruth1.
We are about 1 1/2 to 2 hours south of Tampa by car, between Fort Myers to the south of us and Venice to the north of us. We live 1 1/2 miles from the Peace River which empties into the Gulf of Mexico.

I cannot remember where Cedar Key is but as soon as I type this post, I'm going to look on the map. I think we've been there exploring before. Yes, most reports are indicating that Tropical Storm Fay is heading pretty much right toward us. We are so hoping that it remains a Tropical Storm but we all know what happens in those warm gulf waters.

Yes, it can be very scary. I do agree that I can't get used to having to think about hurricanes six months out of the year. Hope we both (and everyone else) stay(s) safe. Take care.

Hello ellie333.
Thanks for your prayers and good wishes. We are as prepared as we can be and are hoping it won't be stronger than a Category 1 hurricane. It is customary for storms and hurricanes to strengthen in the Gulf of Mexico because the water is so warm there. Warm water strengthens hurricanes. I didn't know that until we moved here. I have learned alot of weather facts since coming to Florida.

Thank you for the huggles!! Do take care.

Hi wilsongoddard.
Yes, blizzards are pretty scary, that's for sure. Especially white-outs when you are driving. I can't stand those.

Yes, you are lucky not to live in a place where the hurricanes come. Yes, I'll take a rain storm that lasts for several hours over the horrid winds and spin-off tornadoes that come during a hurricane.

I've not been in a flood either and definitely don't want to. We do have our flood insurance though, in case that happens as the result of a hurricane. Take care and thanks for sharing.

Hello sunnflr.
Oh, gosh, I sure hate to hear you've been through plenty of tornadoes. Those things are wicked! Thank you for your wishes and prayers to stay safe. I feel like we will fare this one better than Hurricane Charley. I hope I'm right about that. Plus, I don't really like wishing it doesn't come here because that's like wishing someone else will have to deal with it. And I definitely can't feel good about doing that.

Maybe it'll just turn back into a depression and won't hurt anyone. That's what I hope for anyway!

Even if it stays at the Tropical Storm level, that won't be too bad at all. We don't mind the rain so much as all the wind that comes with a hurricane. Yes, there's still time for it to dissipate or just not strengthen.

Hello kimbers867.
Thanks for your thoughtfulness and prayers. Yes, we are quite hopeful that the storm will not rise further than a Category 1 Hurricane. Yes, seeing the aftermath of a hurricane is quite sobering, isn't it? And it sounds like you know what living through one is all about. It's just the pits to be without power, particularly in August when it's so hot. I think I could go without the TV, lights, and internet, but I gotta have the air conditioning!

Isn't that interesting about people rebuilding their home on stilts? Quite a few have done that down here, since Hurricane Charley. I for one would not trust those stilts to hold the house steady if a big surge of water hit them.

Well, I'm sure I'll be letting all my myLot friends know what happens over the next few days, if it's anything interesting or exciting. Thank you again for your prayers and thoughts.

Hello jillhill.
Your story is quite compelling. I bet as a kid that would be a pretty scary thing to go through. Wow, softball size hail, well that's just huge! Oh, I can't imagine the little kids--like you were at the time--seeing your animals laying in heaps like that. It is traumatic to see things in your house and yard all torn up, isn't it?

Just seeing the rain come in our house after Hurricane Charley hit affected me so strongly. It was windy and rainy all night that night, and I stayed up mopping the water all night, trying to find pans, bowls, buckets, anything, to contain the water. I just couldn't lay in bed while the water was coming in like that.

We're hoping things will go much better this time. The roof is new (after Hurricane Charley, of course) and we now have hurricane shutters on every opening of the house and had metal struts and a tie-bar installed on the garage door.

Thanks for your positive thoughts, jill.

Hello barbiegirl13.
I'm glad you don't remember Hurricane Hugo as I'm sure the memories would not be all that positive. It's interesting that you are in Illinois now, because, guess where I'm from? Yup, Illinois. My husband and I moved here to Florida 5 years ago.

Yes, Illinois has a history of quite a few tornadoes and the devastation they bring is unbelievable. I've seen the results of many of them over the years. Very scary. Sorry to hear your town was recently hit. That is so hard to see and live near and it seems to take forever before things are fixed and back to normal.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. I am hoping no one anywhere will suffer severe hurt or damage from this coming storm.

Hi cripfemme.
Glad you don't have to contend with hurricanes. Blizzards can be a pain also. I used to deal with those when living up north. Thanks for your concern. We are pretty much as prepared as people can get down here. We just put up the rest of the hurricane shutters this morning over the front door. And right before the storm hits, we'll put up (or down) the tie-bar for the garage door.

Yes, I'm going to make a homemade pizza and we'll be watching the Olympics and maybe a movie or 2. Take care and thanks again for your positive wishes.