MATTHEW FICKLE…..SO FAR

Matthew is number one attention wise. Yesterday and will continue through today. Those who live in Key West have experienced weaker hurricanes. Never a 4 or 5 in recent years. The worst of the worst! Fear accompanies those numbers.

It was a typical Key West day yesterday. Sun shining. Unusually hot. The heat index had to be 110.

I visited with Tammy for a manicure. Then lunch at Harpoon Harry’s. People quiet. All thinking…..We lucked out!

It is now predicted Matthew may loop back. Can happen. Earlier this year, a hurricane passed south of the Keys into the gulf of Mexico. Was going to hit Louisiana. Halfway there, it turned around and hit north Florida instead.

You do not know. Not even the professionals. In the final analysis, hurricanes are fickle. They go where they want when they want.

Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach lucked out. Rain and wind. The wind not of hurricane velocity. Matthew may still bring devastation with it as it travels up the Atlantic coast.

I must be honest. Matthew concerned me. A 4 or 5 is bad without question. My best experience so far is a 2. However, I drove through Homestead after Andrew hit. Andrew was a 5.  I was there three weeks after Andrew.

My eyes had never seen such devastation. Not one building left standing. A nuclear bomb could not have done worse property damage wise.

The picture has never left my mind. I definitely would leave if told a 4 or 5 was going to hit us. Better safe than sorry.

Charity is on the minds of those fortunate not to have been hit. Communities in the Keys have already joined together to send aid to the Bahamas. Nine vessels of the Bahamian Defense Force sheltered in Key West harbors the past few days. Bottled water and diapers have been collected from Keys’ citizens. It will be delivered to the Bahamas with the Defense Force. A beginning.

It has been suggested that Key West may experience some flooding. Street flooding. Nothing significant.

Apparently, Matthew’s wind is pushing water southward. As Matthew travels northward. Interesting.

Such will cause street flooding at high tide.

Enjoy your day! Stay safe! Especially those still in Matthew’s path.