Mike, people need to pay attention to the cone this time. They didnâ€™t with Ian and needless deaths were the result! As of now the models are all over the place. Skirting Floridaâ€™s east coast, crossing Florida and into the Gulf taking it into the big bend, or even into Mississippi/ Alabama, etc. This one is similar to Frances & Jean.

Iâ€™m aware this is the Forecast Lounge, but Mike I have to write the following in order to warn against complacency. People have to realize these storms have a mind of their own when it comes to strength at landfall. Zeta in 2020, according to the Weather Channel was to hit Mississippi with a Cat 1, 74 mph winds. She shocked everyone when making landfall as a low Cat 3! Iâ€™ll never forget Jim Cantore on the WC saying â€œI canâ€™t wrap my head around this one! Cold water on the bottom, cold air on top and it increased to a Cat 3 at landfall!â€

At the time I lived across the street from the Gulf, but happened to be in Florida. My daughter was in my house and experienced the frightening ordeal of hearing part of my metal roof peeling back, the house on 16â€ concrete piers shaking, objects hitting the house, storm rain coming through the front door as if there wasnâ€™t a door! I was on the phone with her when it hit! She grabbed my Yorkie and ran for the interior pantry. Thank God my neighbor took them in for 6 days as they had a whole house generator.

U.S. 90 became part of the Gulf. Zeta also caused many interior tornadoes which did tremendous damage to structures. So folks, pay heed to the warnings. Keep your eyes on the cone. Andâ€¦if told to evacuateâ€¦EVACUATE!! Those who survived Camille in Mississippi and didnâ€™t evacuate during Katrinaâ€¦didnâ€™t survive.