Living in Florida, we have learned to not take any chances with any storm system - we stay stocked up nearly year round. (Tampa Bay area). Our “normal” afternoon thunderstorms have been known to produce serious lightning and tornadoes. We evacuated to Kissimmee when Hurricane Charley (the year of the four famous hurricanes) caused a mandatory evacuation for our area. We faithfully boarded up our house, crated our dog and two cats and took enough supplies for a week and headed to a hotel in Kissimmee. The forecast had Charley heading straight for Tampa. After we settled into our hotel the news showed the storm wobbling slightly and it was that slight wobble that made it come directly into Punta Gorda, and then it continued on towards Kissimmee/Orlando as a Category 3 storm. All we could do was to sit helplessly and watch the thing approach (you could not get back onto the highway to go elsewhere (they were all blocked). It was horrible. The lights were the first to go. We grabbed the animals and barricaded ourselves into the bathroom and then the security guard started yelling to get out as the two-story motel was coming down! We had to go out into hurricane force winds and run towards the front of the complex. At one point the wind lifted my dogs crate straight up over my head and I thought the handle would break - a kind stranger managed to help me hold onto her - my DH had the two cats and his hands full. Tree limbs were flying horizontal and lights and transformers were popping all around. The hotel was pitch black. After the storm passed, my DH and the guard went back to our building - it fell down allright - on our car! Our little station wagon had two stories of bricks on it. I know this is long, but after that experience I never take any storm for granted and I am always thankful when it does turn out to offer up minimal damage. We are now looking down the barrel of hurricane Ike - please keep us in your prayers.