Hang on to your hats .............. looks like Matthew is turning north

[captaind]

No change in the 1700 (5:00PM) forecast update.

Tomorrow will tell the tale.

Still looks positive....

Cap

[Rainorshine]

Here is a link to the Jamaican Emergency Preparedness site. At the very top is a link to shelters all across Jamaica. Please share!!

http://www.odpem.org.jm/

[captaind]

Forecast holding as of 0500. Looks like the best place to be in Jamaica will be the west end of the Island.

But it sure is gonna rain!

Cap

[Bnewb]

Lol...just saw a truck full of ply go by...someone has a lot of windows

I remember wondering the same thing the first time I experienced a potential hurricane...
why isn't anyone panicking?...why isn't anyone getting prepared?...
Rob was acting the same way...grrrrrr...
but as soon as it seemed that it REALLY WAS going to hit (not veer or die off)...everybody got it together fast fast, helped each other out quick...I don't take well to being bossed around but I knew whom to listen in this case...Jamaicans around us were well ready and bossy...lol.

Thankfully the government emergency services are already set up...unlike the old old days! Major institutions as in banks, government offices etc are closed Monday and Tuesday, the police are prepared, Digicel says they are well ready, shelters are available...
still keeping my fingers crossed as we're watching the storm weaken...stay safe all!

And I agree with Booger...at some point you do all you can to get ready and then you join the hurricane party in your neighbourhood!! Beers are cold so far....

**Also just remembered another common reaction...Jamaicans do not want visitors panicking as they're still wishing everyone to have the best time possible and not to have to worry about what's going on.
Jamaicans have most everything under control and find it unnecessary to have visitors panic by telling them they're concerned about events that may not occur. In the tourist areas they will take care of the visitors first.

[eddiemingus]

I just left the hardware store plenty of ply still. I'm thinking of using 1/2inch square mesh. My burgler bars are on the outside. Ply is $3100 per sheet. Mesh is $900 for almost the same size. If money is tight you might want to put up mesh.

[Bnewb]

We are fortunate to have our home built with impact resistant windows/glass...guess we'll see how they hold up though I still prefer not to find out!

[eddiemingus]

This is a great article just came out Saturday night. Only 2 hurricanes out of 20 had a north south route. All the rest were parallel from souteast to wesr northwest
https://www.wunderground.com/blog/Je...?entrynum=3456

[eddiemingus]

At the speed this storm is moving and if it doesn't change it won't reach until late tues early wed. This storm is totaly unconventional. They realy haven't got anything right yet except that it is a hurricane. It's made up of 2 cell's something they very rarely see if ever. My friend says Matthew is a batty mon and very confused. I'm staying vigilant but am just as confused as Matthew.

[captaind]

unconventional. They realy haven't got anything right yet except that it is a hurricane.

I think the models have done very well. Here's the first run at 0800EDT last Wednesday and today's run. Matthew has not left the probability cone yet.

[eddiemingus]

Looks like we dodged a bullet, no wind or rain ja bless. I be praying for poor Haiti. They just can't catch a break.