Thanks, Lois! I would guess your trip will be postponed. They have now extended trop. storm warnings all the way across the state. The hurricane also pounded Cuba yesterday. I haven't heard any reports on how much damage they had.

Donna

Lois, Please check with the airlines. We had friends going to Jamaica at the beginning of the week, and they were sent to DR instead.

I think/hope we'll be ok.....tropical storm type winds will be the worst for us as trees will come down and bring the power lines with them. We might have to do our partying and DD's again. We will know by morning.

I hope our other Floridian and East Coast forum friends will check in as Hurricane Matthew moves up the coast so we know you're ok.

Be Safe my Quilty Friends and Families all along the coast - especially Florida! Please leave if you are suppose to evacuate. Hurricanes at night are the scariest in my experience. It is going to be a terrible few days. I will be thinking of you.

Lois, I thought about your trip to Cuba. At best, it won't be easy!

Everyone check in when you are able.

Ditto on the stay safe messages.

Theresa

We are fine here in the middle of North Carolina. However, my sister and BIL are driving into the storm for his daughter's wedding in FL on Saturday. Yikes!

I'm praying for your safety dear friends!

Be safe in Florida and all along the eastern coast!

I agree Lois, your trip may be cancelled. I heard from Kate this morning, they are fine.

Our house is Florida is in St.Lucie county which was supposed to take a direct hit but I think the storm just grazed the coastline instead of making landfall. We spoke to neighbors this morning who said there was no damage on our street. Thank goodness.

I'm glad to hear you all are safe so far and haven't suffered any major damage. My Cuba trip is continuing as planned. Havana is on the west end of the island, far from Matthew. I did reroute my flight to Tampa, so that I would change planes in Chicago instead of Atlanta. I figured it was best to stay away from the coast. I heard that the Atlanta airport was crazy busy. So I should be arriving Tampa tonight at 10. Things should be settling down by then. Have a great time at retreat.

No problems for us. Had some strong wind and a little rain.....more wind than rain. Still getting lots of wind. If the eye had come on shore, it would have been very very different. Very thankful for all the prayers that were said for Florida.

Reporting in. After a crazy, very scary several days, Joe n I are back home in Rockledge. We finished securing the house on Thursday afternoon, had his 94 year old mom safely tucked in here. Our plan was to stay and ride out the storm, but after prompting from our kids and families to leave, we suddenly made the decision to not sit in the path of a Cat 4 storm and left for my sister's house in Ocala. Clear roads going and coming...got back home on Saturday morning to a solid and secure house. TONS of broken branches, limbs and green debris. The pool, of course, was compromised. Nothing that can't be removed, replaced or will grow back. (Yep..I'm a plant freak!) We are extremely thankful. From the news reports, our area was the hardest hit. My daughter's house in Satellite Beach took water but the roof is ok. Floors are all solid, but she has no power and the biggest concern will be getting power so that the drywall will dry out quickly before mold. But no injuries to any person or pet! We are counting our blessings! No word yet on Joe's office at the Cape...he normally sits out on the very tippy point of Cape Canaveral - took the hardest hit of any point in the US with this storm.

Beth, I'm very glad to hear you and your family and properties are okay! It wasn't bad here in Winter Garden. We went to Lakeland yesterday and east-bound traffic on I4 was solid from 429 to the rest area near Auburndale. Everyone trying to get home, I expect.

It sounds like North and South Carolina coastal areas have really gotten a pounding, too. This has to be one of the longest-lasting hurricanes I have ever heard of!

Donna