Made a promise to watch out for a family near central Florida without Dad home.  Tree came down and blocked their house exit so me and the boys took a pre-loaded truck, tools and headed out late last night to assist.
Worked chainsaws with shop lights and generators all night to clear 3 houses, then four, then five… well, you get the picture; and make sure all is ok. All is good.
Trees cleared, stacked, everyone safe.  Roofs check, all ok. Promise fulfilled.
While we worked through night, several moms, kids and a bunch of neighbors -super nice peeps- made boxes of sandwiches for relief workers etc… seemed like a party.  God, how we all love this country.
Daybreak, packed up and headed to into FP&L staging area where they were waiting to hook up with line crews from Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia prepping to head north along FL, GA and SC coast.  We gave the scruffs the styro-coolers of food, sandwiches, snacks and drinks to pass out along the way.  More awesome people.
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At 800 PM EDT (0000 UTC), the eye of Hurricane Matthew was located near latitude 30.7 North, longitude 80.6 West. Matthew is moving toward the north near 12 mph (19 km/h), and this motion is expected to continue tonight. A turn toward toward the north-northeast and then to the northeast is expected on Saturday.

On the forecast track, the center of Matthew will continue to move near or over the coast of northeast Florida and Georgia through tonight, and near or over the coast of South Carolina on Saturday.
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While the responding local, city and state officials have done an outstanding job prudently communicating with the public and warning people to evacuate, some in he media seem to have lost their minds with over-the-top hurricane Matthew hyperbole.
Here’s a summary of segments showing how Fox News host Shepard Smith covered Hurricane Matthew yesterday as it approached the Florida coast.

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The Hurricane Warning has been extended northeastward to Surf City North Carolina. The Hurricane Warning from Sebastian Inlet to Cocoa Beach Florida has been changed to a Tropical Storm Warning. The Tropical Storm Warning south of Sebastian Inlet has been discontinued. The storm surge inbound into South Carolina is the largest concern. 26 Million people currently under Hurricane watch/warning.
Florida Governor Rick Scott morning debrief and presser :

FL Governor Scott has done an exceptional job in planning, communicating and preparation.  Florida has been extremely fortunate so far. This could have been infinitely worse if Matthew varied only a few miles west.
At 1100 AM EDT (1500 UTC), the eye of Hurricane Matthew was located near latitude 29.4 North, longitude 80.5 West. Matthew is moving toward the north-northwest near 13 mph (20 km/h), and this general motion is expected to continue today. (more…)

Hurricane Matthew has downgraded slightly to a Category 3 storm (120 mph) as it wobbles just off shore and threads the gulf stream needle meandering NNW at 14mph. The eye wall itself is about 70 miles off shore and the hurricane force winds extend 60 miles from center, so you can see it’s skirting the coast…. very close.
Each mile makes a big difference.  Palm Bay, Melbourne and Titusville Florida are feeling the scour of the wind field now.  The paramount concern is the wall of water (storm surge) being pushed by Matthew as it heads toward Jacksonville Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.

UPDATE 200 AM EDT (0600 UTC), the eye of Hurricane Matthew was located by NOAA Doppler weather radars and an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft near latitude 27.6 North, longitude 79.7 West.
Matthew is moving toward the northwest near 14 mph (22 km/h). A turn toward the north-northwest is expected later today, and a turn toward the north is expected tonight or Saturday. On the forecast track, the center of Matthew will be moving near or over the east coast of the Florida peninsula through tonight, and near or over the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina on Saturday. (more…)

Here’s the latest information from Florida Governor Rick Scott on Hurricane Matthew and the preparations in place. North of Brevard County still has an opportunity to evacuate.

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Friends, due to the scope and potential severity of Hurricane Matthew we are going to suspend traditional research and discussion threads so that we (specifically me) can focus all attention on any Tree House member who might need assistance in this storm.
Remember, no-one is ever alone.  As Americans, we are always at our best when our nation is in its greatest need.  We are a UNITED states.

The current forecast track puts Matthew hitting the Eastern Florida coast North of Miami and heading north along the entire coast toward Georgia and South Carolina.   Even if the worst elements of the weather impact are only 15-20 miles inland (from the coast), that is an impact zone with more than 10 million people (coastal residents) within it.
Many people might not be aware that elements within the private business community (critical societal needs), and risk management, have been coordinating and planning for decades in the event such a situation might occur (continuously hoping it did not).
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Any Florida Treeper who finds themselves in need of help, please feel free to use the comment section and we’ll work earnestly to assist. Prayers for all.

At 200 PM EDT (1800 UTC), the eye of Hurricane Matthew was located near latitude 25.7 North, longitude 78.4 West. The hurricane is moving toward the northwest near 14 mph (22 km/h), and this general motion is expected to continue today with a turn toward the north-northwest tonight or early Friday. On the forecast track, the eye of Matthew should be near or over Freeport in the Bahamas in the next few hours, and move close to or over the east coast of the Florida peninsula through Friday night.

Maximum sustained winds are near 140 mph (220 km/h) with higher gusts. Matthew is a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Some additional strengthening is possible, and Matthew should remain a Category 4 hurricane while it approaches the Florida coast. (more…)

Most tolls are now suspended as the Eastern Florida coastal counties along I-95 begin evacuating Westward.  Authorities anticipate 5 to 10 million people leaving the evacuation zone. Here’s the full press conference from Florida Governor Rick Scott:

• The National Guard has been activated with 6,000 on standby.
• Prolonged power outages are to be expected. Perhaps the worst in history.
• There are 7,000 power line workers on alert.
• Tolls are suspended. All roadwork and road projects halted.
• No fuel shortages as of this afternoon other than sporadic stations.
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At 200 AM EDT (0600 UTC), radar data from Guantanamo, Cuba, along with reports from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft, indicate that the eye of Hurricane Matthew was located near latitude 20.7 North, longitude 74.4 West. Matthew is moving toward the north near 8 mph (13 km/h), and this general motion is expected to continue overnight.

A turn toward the north-northwest is expected today, followed by a northwest turn Wednesday night. Matthew will be moving across the Bahamas through Thursday, and is expected to be very near the east coast of Florida by Thursday evening. (more…)