In case you hadn't heard, the hurricane season did not end with Irma and Jose.  In fact, Jose is still alive, but that's another tale.  The West Indies, battered by Irma, with islands like St Maarten, the Turks and Caicos, and Barbuda coming uncomfortably close to being wiped off the map by the storm, is in the crosshairs yet again, with Maria, a storm that went to a Cat 4 during the day (and we are awaiting a recon flight that may well call it a five) aiming a bit lower, looking to nail Dominica head-on, dealing damage to Guadeloupe just north, and with a track that will bring little comfort to a Puerto Rican populace who are still saying, "That was a GLANCING blow?" about Irma.

We have done a good job pitching in, donating and volunteering to help Texas (which is still underwater in some places from Harvey) and Florida.  But keep in mind:  We have resources.  We have insurance.  We have a vast hinterland in which to marshall supplies and house the temporarily displaced.  Places like Barbuda and St Maarten have had 90-95 % of buildings destroyed, communications cut, ports destroyed.

And next up is Dominica, an island nation where most buildings were designed, when rebuilt after the last 'cane, to handle up to Cat 1 winds- and are about to face winds that may double that strength.  I discovered a link to local radio station Kairi FM, and have been listening to the hosts taking calls, including one from the Prime Minister- who was telling people to PLEASE stay indoors (I would think the trick would be keeping the doors around you)...

And in between, playing praise and worship music.

The hosts have been begging people to take shelter "as best you can".  Against a storm whose eye- an eye so tight it's being called a pinhole- is half the size of the whole island, a storm whose furthest bands are brushing the South American coast- shelter is a relative thing.

So far, the Prime Minister says he has heard of nothing life threatening happening yet.  And the one host put it the best way possible:  "...but, I think, God is good..."


We've been on our knees a lot lately over these storms.  Please don't hesitate to do so one more time...