Worrying about Ivan

I'm staring at Ivan's projected path and I'm getting more and more worried by the day as he is starting to target Mobile, then Montgomery. I just got off the phone with my father, trying to find out what's going on down there. He said that officials have prepared to close I-65 South going from Montgomery to Mobile, and all of it will be routed north for people trying to get out.

I'm trying to urge my folks to get out as well. So far, they're saying that Ivan is going to hit Mobile as a category 5. Tropical storm force winds extend out 179 miles from the eye and hurricane force winds somewhere around 100. Montgomery's only 150 miles from Mobile. When Opal hit back in 1995, it hit the coast as a 4 and Montgomery as a 3. I don't think things look very good for Alabama right now.

When Opal hit Montgomery, we lost power for five days. Thankfully, Daddy brought a generator over to us so Mama, Chris and I wouldn't lose our food, etc. This time, Mama won't have that luxury. She told me she was thinking about a hotel, but I told her that the hotels will be filled with the initial Charley/Frances refugees from Florida plus those evacuating from Mobile, Panama City Beach, etc. Daddy and Kathy have the motor home, so they can go about anywhere. I'm trying to get Mama to either come here or go to Tony's. Oh, and Chris and Amanda too. They're living in Troy now. I need to call Amanda today and find out what's going on. They're only 100 miles from the coast.

James, you might want to talk to your folks and convince them to come up to the Tri-Cities or over to Sharon's for a few days if it looks like it's going to get bad in Montgomery - from all indications it looks like it.

I'm glad I'm living where I am now, but I can't stop worrying about my family.