Per CNN. Irma now a Cat 5 and a direct hit to Florida.

[sheshe2]

Please stay safe all.

[mcar]

1. She's heading right for us on the west coast

Too late to leave. Have to hunker down.

[womanofthehills]

2. So looks like Irma might be headed for Naples

[shenmue]

3. We're being careful over here by Tampa

[sheshe2]

5. Stay safe!

[shenmue]

10. Thanks

[R B Garr]

13. Stay safe, shenmue, and please check in here.

Stay safe, everyone. Please check in.

[shenmue]

21. I will, thanks

[Weekend Warrior]

17. Getting nervous?

Pinellas here.

[shenmue]

22. I'm going to a friend's house tomorrow

Best of luck to you.

[Siwsan]

31. My niece is in a mandatory evac zone

She and her fiance are headed to a friend's place, more inland. She took her wedding dress with her. I'm so worried they will lose their house in a storm surge.

[inanna]

36. Ah no...

Will be thinking of you, shenmue.

Please, please stay safe and check in!

[shenmue]

38. Thx

[sheshe2]

4. You and William769 are both there.

Sancho is close by as well.

Please take care of yourself.

[mcar]

12. William is in more danger than I, being in SW FL. Im in West Central

But still in danger zone. Heck, the whole state is and there's no freaking gas to get out.

[sheshe2]

15. It is zipping through the whole state!

[mcar]

16. Reports predict it'll be in the state for 30 hours!

I can't get my head around it.

[sheshe2]

19. Check in when and if you can.

Love to you.

[mcar]

24. Will do

Thanks she.

[R B Garr]

14. Wow! That's intense, thanks for letting us know

Hope they will be checking in.

[Fla Dem]

9. Share your anxiety. Hunkering down on the east coast. Be safe.

[William769]

32. True.

But we have each other.

[murielm99]

34. Please stay safe there.

We need you. I am sure your loved ones need you, too.

[inanna]

37. I really wish there was something I could do...

I feel powerless....

Please stay safe, and let everybody know how you're doing.

And that goes for ALL Florida DUers.

This is just awful.

[samnsara]

6. let us know when you are safe...

[sheshe2]

8. I am not there...

I have friends who are.

[MissB]

7. Yikes.

My stepmom hunkered down and stayed. She's near Largo.

[brer cat]

11. We are seeing increasing numbers of FL

vehicles in our area of North GA, and our grocery store shelves are getting bare. I'm glad so many were able to get out. I don't think Irma is a storm to take lightly.

I hope everyone stays safe.

[sheshe2]

18. Are you being hit as well, brer?

[Flaleftist]

20. I don't see them talking about the risk of tornadoes

Andrew created a couple dozen and this is much bigger. Should we watch out for F3s in Central Florida?

[sheshe2]

23. They say that Irma is the size of Texas.

Andrew was a baby compared to her.

[janx]

25. I have read that it's 400 miles wide.

While it is usual to predict the track of a hurricane, the National Hurricane Center stresses that this one is so big, tracking is not as important as it usually is. A lot of people are going to get hit by this storm.

Yes. Andrew was a baby compared to this one.

[BarbaRosa]

26. Not looking to good for the Keys.

[sheshe2]

29. Yes.

This a Cat5 and they are saying that there is no safe place to go there.

[democrank]

27. Thinking of all of you

Be safe

[wasupaloopa]

28. Spent some time on Sanibel and Captiva. I hope they survive

IIRC they use to be one island and a storm caused them to become two

[AC_Mem]

30. Orlando here

I have to go to work tomorrow at the VA hospital and i'll probably be there until Monday or Tuesday. I'm packing now and trying to move things away from windows, etc.

I'll be in the main "War Room", fielding calls and helping Veterans and their families (even their pets!) if needed. Since we are a new and huge hospital, we are helping Vets from all over Florida. It's been an extremely hectic last few days as we have been getting ready for all this.

All we can do is wait and hope for a turn to the Atlantic - it doesn't look like that will happen, but hurricanes are strange things, they can make a turn at the very last minute.

To everyone in this monster's path - please stay safe and do not take any chances!!!

If you are a Veteran and in need - we are there for you!

Annette in Orlando

[mcar]

33. Thank you Annette!

You are truly helping people.

[aggiesal]

35. Just to let everyone know ...

If you are in a mandatory evacuation area, some homeowners insurance will cover your accommodations for the duration of the evacuation.

Found that out during the San Diego fires a few years back.

So check your homeowners insurance coverage to see if you're covered.