Kendall, I was even more struck by this picture:
http://anglicanprayer.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/sept1-08-hanna-gustav.jpg
It’s from the NOAA website, the GOES Satellite image from 10:15 UTC (6:15 Eastern) this a.m.  I included that pic. in my a short devotional post at L&B;.

Hanna has grown large overnight, and looking at the two storms together is sobering.  May the Lord have mercy on us and cause us to turn to Him when faced with storms and afflictions.

Thanks, Karen.  Hanna looks even more menacing now.  My goodness.

Yes, menacing was exactly the word I thought of as well when I saw that pic. this a.m.

Amazingly, at least as of 09:00 GMT (05:00 eastern) she was still only a Tropical Storm.  Somehow I doubt she’ll stay at that classification much longer.  She looks ready to ramp up.  I know you’re in or near the cone.  May the Lord keep you, your family and your parish safe.

Uh oh.  And here’s the latest picture of the Atlantic basin with possible storms and areas of interest highlighted by the NHC.
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/overview_atl/atl_overview.gif

We’ve got Gustav & Hannah.  It looks like Ike is likely soon to follow (the red ciricle—now about to be classified as Trop. Depression #9) and a brand new “promising” wave just came off the African coast (Orange circle).

The tropics are WAY too busy for my comfort!

My family and I were in Cancun in 1988 when Hurricane Gilbert struck.  It was Cat. 5 storm and turned out to be the biggest hurricane of the 20th century.  I remember wading thru chest deep water against gale force winds trying to find higher ground (which we did).  We tied bed sheets together b/c we didn’t want anyone to get swept away.  It was the only time in my life when I seriously thought we might not survive.  For days afterward there was no electricity and no running water.  We sustained ourselves on warm beer, spam and cheese whiz until we were able to leave.  I’ve been fascinated w/hurricanes ever since.  I hope people stay safe during these storms.