I'm hoping and praying for those in Florida that Irma will pass with a lot of damage but not a lot of lives lost.  In one way they've already gotten lucky that it's down to a Cat 3. In other ways, the West Coast, originally assumed to be the safer side, now is due for a direct hit.

I remember waiting for Sandy, knowing that in all likelihood I would be safe, since Upper Manhattan hasn't ever flooded or really been in danger of flooding, but that Downtown was fairly well screwed. The waiting was nerve-wracking to deal with all of the unknowns.

The aftermath was where nerves were stretched to the breaking point as days of closed transit, no internet, damaged trees and cars, and a completely flooded tip of Manhattan and many outer boroughs shut businesses for most of a year, if they ever came back. I worked the whole week except for half a day, walked to Midtown where my building still had power, and for the most part observed the disruption of life while mine went on with few hitches. And I still found it stressful.

I cannot imagine what it must be like to have the devastation of Barbuda, St. Martin, Cuba, or other areas where there was a direct hit by a storm several magnitudes of Sandy. It will be years until everything is said and done, from a relatively mere 24 hours of active hurricane destruction. So I wish the best for those impacted over the next 3-4 days, that they remember recovery is long and hard, but possible, and that preserving life is the most important consideration. Everything else will follow in it's own time.