We're getting some real outerbands

[malaise]

with serious thunder and lightning. No wind yet, but if we're getting this so far away I shudder to imagine what others experienced or are experiencing as I type. Irma is one massive hurricane.

[Siwsan]

1. My niece is now under a mandatory evac order

They are wrapping things up and tying things down, before they head inland. Their biggest worry is a storm surge.

I'm so worried, for her, I feel like I have a bowling ball sitting on my chest. They just bought their first house. I hope they still have it, when they return.

[Hortensis]

14. I'm so sorry this is happening to them, and you. Hope for the best.

Suspect this is major game changer for our nation. I'm wondering if thousands of homeowners without flood insurance who simply can't afford to restore or rebuild will be forced to abandon their mortgages. The value of the land would drop for a while, and it seems very possible many would simply have no choice. And then they'd move on. That would be the worst case for your niece and her husband, and they would deal with it. One way or another, it'll be okay.

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. and Jose was supposed to be heading north

I thought, BEFORE hitting any Islands....
what did I miss?

[malaise]

3. Turning already - two fugging Cat5 hurricanes in the same week

must be a wake up moment

[HipChick]

6. Damn...Where is Jose trying to head? up US Eastern coast?

[malaise]

9. Bermuda

Nova Scotia???? Who knows.

[RandomAccess]

4. We?

Where Are "we"?

[malaise]

5. Jamaica n/t

[RandomAccess]

17. Thanks

stay safe

[roamer65]

7. Another disturbance south of the Cabo Verde Islands, malaise.

They are calling it Disturbance 1 at NHC.

Seems like a 2005 redux.

[malaise]

10. We heard about this one

Looks 'fishy'

[spanone]

8. hunker down! 😎

[MineralMan]

11. It's affecting the entire region, isn't it?

Huge thing!

[malaise]

12. There have been sea swells but Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados and the Windward islands

the ABC islands, Jamaica and the Cayman islands have been very lucky. JA and Cayman are having more rain than the others with just a little lightning and thunder. Our turn will come because it is where we live.

[MineralMan]

13. Beautiful part of this planet, but a little dangerous sometimes.

OTOH, I live in Minnesota. We have tornadoes and blizzards. I used to live in California, where earthquakes and droughts are the issue. It seems like everywhere has its own potential disasters to contend with.

The Caribbean, though, is massively beautiful and awesome. Love it there!

[malaise]

16. Well since we all have to live somewhere

we learn to live with Mother Nature's ways to renew and replenish our planet, Additionally we have to ensure that we're not violating all of nature's rules because ultimately Mother Nature is boss. And yes the Caribbean is beautiful.

[Achilleaze]

15. .