Connie's Corner

Waiting for Matthew

I'm sitting here waiting for Matthew. I'm all prepared and the only thing I'm worried about are my pines trees...as in crashing down on me. I desperately tried to get my daughter who lives near Atlantic Beach (Jacksonville) to come here but she thinks we will have winds almost as bad. She works for an insurance company so I tend to believe her but I'd feel much better if she came here...and her kitty (Oliver), who hates the carrier...don't they all?

I'm sure the beaches will have more flooding. According to our last Alachua County advisory (where I live), winds up to 39 mph beginning around 8 a.m. Friday morning and lasting 23 hours, 80% chance of 58 mph winds around 5 p.m Friday and lasting 6 hours. I realize that doesn't sound too bad considering the actual strength of a Cat 4 hurricane as Matthew is right now. Hopefully, he will stay offshore as far as they are predicting and not circle around and come back for another try at us. The southeast coast beaches will be the hardest hit, the worst since Andrew. I remember him well.

until next time...c