Are You Ready? Are You Prepared? The hurricane is out there.
This Monday, Sept. 4, 2017, satellite image provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows Hurricane Irma nearing the eastern Caribbean. Hurricane Irma grew into a powerful Category 4 storm Monday. (NOAA via AP)
It is coming and everyone is rushing to prepare for Hurricane Irma’s potential violent and stormy visit to the peninsula of Florida.
She is currently a category 5 with winds of 185 miles per hour and she is swirling in and around the islands south of Florida.
I have looked at the spaghetti plots that have been broadcast on the Weather channel all day long.
I have witnessed the long lines at the gas pumps as people rush to fill up cars, trucks, gas cans and any container they can find.
The shelves at the grocery store have gone from overflowing to a sparse case or two of bottled water to completely bare in some stores.
Businesses are calling or sending out notices that they will close down starting Thursday, and they will soon be boarding up windows.
The good thing about a hurricane, if one can call it a good thing, is we do have advance warnings.
We know approximately when the hurricane will make landfall! At least a week’s notice in most cases.
Irma is expected to reach landfall on the coast of Florida by late Sunday or Monday.
Which coast?
Good question…it could be either East or West coast at this time.
We need to wait and see as we watch the meteorologists plot the eventual path.
Meanwhile, we take precautions.
There are decisions to be made.
Will the Captain and I “ride” it out at home?
OR…will we head to the Northern states in our car on an interstate that will look like a parking lot.
Plus, there is no guarantee that Irma will not follow one up the state of Florida or that the tornadoes spawned will not spread to Georgia or surrounding states.
We’ve decided to ride it out.
We have a generator and plenty of bottled water.
We also have plenty of batteries and a freezer full of meat and veggies and crushed ice.
Also, we have a few canned veggies if needed.
We also have the swimming pool to jump into if we need to cool off.
Jesse James has two cases of dog food, plenty for that little fellow for at least a month.
We have back-up phone chargers that do not need electricity and a gas stove top as well as a grill.
All our vehicles have gas tanks topped off and we have several gas containers that are filled with gas too.
So I believe we are ready and we are prepared.
Of course, nothing is for sure.
There is uncertainty in our world today….in many ways.
And just as we need to prepare for the Hurricane named Irma, we need to prepare for eternity.
I wonder.
Do we think about all the things we need to get done?
Have we talked to neighbors and friends who need to hear about our Lord, Jesus Christ?
What about those words of forgiveness we owe someone?
Or is it more personal in regards to our own relationship with God?
That back-burner relationship with God that must come to the front burner.
Jesus is coming my dear readers and unlike the hurricane, we don’t know when that will happen.
“Abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming”. —1 John 2:28
What should we be doing today to keep us from being ashamed in His presence tomorrow?
The question has to be asked…..are we ready? Are we prepared?
If Christ comes today, will you be prepared to meet Him?
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”. John 14:6
May God Bless All in the state of Florida, as well as any other states impacted this week and the coming weeks.
As I was driving in ATL traffic and rain, I was wondering what plans you and Tom made for the hurricane. I knew I had to check out your blog when I got home. We will be thinking of you and praying for your safety as Irma impacts Florida.
Thank you Rita…Tom seems to think it will make landfall around Savannah sending winds and rain your way too. I am sure we will have heavy winds and rains too…if we manage to escape the brunt of the eye. We will know more by Thursday as to which way this hurricane turns.
Hugs to you and Mike, stay safe.
Thank you.
Kari, you know my door is always open.
Stay safe my friend.
Keep singing 🎤!
Thank you Pat…I appreciate the offer, it would be fun, especially if we had a movie night and watched “oh brother where art thou?. 🙂 He’s got prospects! He is bona-fide.!!!
Or we could sing “all night long”. Wonderful memories my friend, but Tom seems to think Irma might just choose to go up the East coast of Florida and reach landfall around Savannah, Georgia. That doesn’t mean we won’t get wind and rain. Who knows for sure….
Stay safe and make sure you have something comfortable in your converted safe room. I’ll be thinking of you.
Thanks my friend….we will be careful and not do anything foolish. The Captain seems to think the Hurricane will go up on the East side of Florida which will be good for us and bad for them. we shall see.
Hugs
XXX