***scroll for updates***

She looks bad–strengthening to Category 5 and heading to south Florida.

Brendan Loy has all the latest. And TheStormTrack.com has a nifty new charting system that’s worth a look.

The Florida Masochist is tracking the storm.

Florida Cracker: “Looks like we’re not even going to get the chance to be wiped out by the bird flu.”

Miami-based Babalu Blog: “Has anyone seen my hurricane deflector hat?”

Confederate Yankee: “Idaho sure sounds nice.”

Hang in there, folks.

***

Now is the time for local, state, and federal officials to demonstrate that they’ve learned from Katrina and Rita. They should be working together to make the proper emergency declarations in advance; activate evacuation plans; preposition assets; deploy the National Guard before it’s too late; ensure that hospitals and nursing homes have all the help they need evacuating the sick and elderly; arrange for traffic flow to get people moving smoothly; have lots of fuel accessible to evacuees; and ensure that empty buses don’t sit unused in flooded areas.

Emergency planners say they’re confident recent mistakes won’t be repeated.

Sarasota County is looking after senior citizens and special-needs residents.

Florida officials say they’re ready and can handle the disaster without FEMA’s help.

And here’s Austin Bay on DOD’s role in domestic disaster response.

***
10/20 update. Joe Gandelman has a big round-up, and reports on his family’s concerns. His parents live in Florida’s Gulf Coast. Praying that they’ll be safe, Joe.