Living a long "stone's throw" from the water's edge of the Atlantic, hurricanes are something that Mike's America and other coastal residents must take seriously. But the first rule is be prepared and be informed. Succumbing to the "news" media hysteria every time a hurricane forms in the Gulf of Mexico is stupid.
The foremost authority for hurricane information is the National Hurricane Center operated by the federal government. Their page of information for Ernesto is here.
You can practice being an amateur meterologist and follow the progress of the storm from that page. But even that information can raise undue alarm by indicating where a hurricane might, let's repeat the word might, pass. The damage from most hurricanes is caused in the band where winds are above hurricane force.
The map showing wind probabilities is a good tool for deciding whether you may be in danger and need to evacuate. A hurricane may strike two hundred miles to the north or south and cause little damage other than a few broken limbs or some brief power outages. You'll need to be prepared in any case with non-perishable food, water, a car with a full tank of gas, cash, any necessary prescriptions, etc.
But before anyone gets too worried, refresh the latest image of this chart:
Meanwhile, make sure your munincipal authorities have moved their buses to higher ground.
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