West Palm Beach and East Coast of FL SEE HERE Please be proactive

At 500 AM EDT (0900 UTC), the center of Hurricane Matthew was located near latitude 17.8 North, longitude 74.4 West. Matthew is moving toward the north near 9 mph (15 km/h) and this general motion is expected to continue today.

A turn toward the north-northwest is expected by Wednesday, followed by a northwest turn Wednesday night. On the forecast track, the center of Matthew will pass near or over southwestern Haiti during the next few hours, move near eastern Cuba later today, and move near or over portions of the southeastern and central Bahamas tonight and Wednesday, and approach the northwestern Bahamas Wednesday night. (more…)

Hurricane Matthew is massive in scale and extremely powerful.  The forecast track of Hurricane Matthew has now shifted slightly Westward. This means it is forecast to come even closer to the state of Florida and the East coast.   Any further Westward shifts have the potential to be catastrophic.   EVERYONE MUST BE ALERT.
Once this storm exits Hispaniola, there will be little time left for preparation in the  Bahamas, and in the Florida Peninsula and the Florida Keys.  Keep a close eye.

Florida Governor Rick Scott has issued EXECUTIVE ORDER #16-230 A state of emergency for every county in Florida effective immediately.   Every resident is urged to take immediate action to secure, at minimum, a 3 day supply of water, food and medicine.  Visit FloridaDisaster.Org for more preparatory information and assistance; also FLGetaPlan.Com
Additionally, all residents in the path of the potential storm are requested to notify their friends or family of their specific action plans.   The 5:00pm advisory from the National Hurricane Center is AVAILABLE HERE.  (more…)

Hurricane Matthew is massive and dangerous.  Overnight it briefly upgraded to a Cat5 status (160 MPH winds), and now remains as a very strong Cat4 (150 MPH winds).  With the potential path having a great deal of uncertainty, Florida Governor Rick Scott is warning everyone to pay attention – things could change quickly and impact Wednesday.
The East Cost of the U.S. also needs to pay attention because this could be on/near the East coast by next Friday.

More below (more…)

UPDATE:  1:20am Landfall just south of St. Marks.  Also, Tallahassee getting pounded.

As anticipated Hurricane Hermine has strengthened a bit (now 80mph) as it closes in on the Florida bend.  Anticipated to skirt Apalachicola and move inland through the bend toward Tallahassee.  The storm surge is the immediate cause for concern in the coastal areas, however the inland effects can be secondarily problematic.

This potential impact zone was spared from the horrific 2004 season (Charley, Frances, Ivan, Jeanne), and 2005 (Wilma); which means the trees (mostly oaks) are decades without severe storm impact.  For Tallahassee, and surrounding areas, the wind damage could be considerable and power outages are almost guaranteed. (more…)

Hurricane Hermine appears headed to the big bend area of northern Florida. We have a lot of Treepers in the impact path of this storm from Hillsborough county, FL North.  A rather large storm surge is anticipated as Hermine heads in from the Northern Gulf.

Please stay safe.  Unfortunately landfall is anticipated overnight, and it’s always the late night/early morning storms that are the most disconcerting for those riding out the storm. At this stage the storm appears a weak category 1.  However, prior storms of this significance have tightened and increased in intensity shortly before landfall.

If any CTH member finds themselves in need of any assistance please reach out through the comments section or via email.  Prayers for all.

Miami (AFP) – Tropical Storm Hermine strengthened into a hurricane Thursday as it continued churning on a path toward Florida, US forecasters said. (more…)

3:36am local time central Italy was impacted by a 6.2 magnitude earthquake which has claimed several lives.  Many older and historic buildings have been heavily damaged. Dawn brings national Italian rescue efforts.

(Reuters News Agency) A strong earthquake brought down buildings in mountainous central Italy early on Wednesday, trapping residents and sending others fleeing into the streets, with at least six people believed killed. (more…)

Days before candidate Donald Trump announced his intention to visit the flood ravaged area of Louisiana, he had already put in place a donation (a full 18 wheeler) of supplies for the victims of the flood.

CNN accidentally stumbled upon the donation, and Brooke Baldwin reported on it during a 90 second segment.  Don’t worry, they won’t air it again:

While Donald Trump and Mike Pence were visiting with Franklin Graham and the fine folks of Samaritans Purse, the donation was quietly being off-loaded in another location. (more…)

Candidate Donald Trump arrived in Louisiana Friday and was met by crowds yelling “thank you Mr. Trump“, and “we knew you would not forget us Mr. Trump“.

It brings a great deal of joy to the hearts of many to see presidential candidate Donald Trump and VP candidate Mike Pence team up with Franklin Graham and the awesome people of Samaritans Purse.  (videos below)

Reverend Graham and his army of Orange Shirt volunteers are working hard to aid the flood ravaged community within Louisiana.  They have a field command offices set up in Lafayette and Baton Rouge.

Orange-clad team members of Samaritans Purse are helping homeowners salvage precious home belongings and then assisting them in taking out waterlogged items to the curb.  They also remove damaged walls, sheetrock, insulation, and flooring—and in some cases ceilings. (more…)

The ‘America-First’ Compassion Ticket Heads To Louisiana

Campaigning in North Carolina today, candidate Donald Trump began his campaign remarks by speaking about the horrific devastation in Louisiana:

[…] We are one nation. When one state hurts, we all hurt – and we must all work together to lift each other up. Working, building, restoring together.

Our prayers are with the families who have lost loved ones, and we send them our deepest condolences. Though words cannot express the sadness one feels at times like this, I hope everyone in Louisiana knows that our country is praying for them and standing with them to help them in these difficult hours. (link)

Candidate Trump’s comments followed a campaign announcement that Donald Trump and Governor Mike Pence will travel to Baton Rouge Louisiana tomorrow morning to see first-hand the worst national disaster since Hurricane Sandy in 2012. (more…)

Louisiana residents are a strong and resilient people.  They help each other, friends, neighbors, strangers, it matters not.  All Americans.

The “Cajun Navy“, a team of ordinary Louisiana boat owners have rescued over 20,000 residents from the historic flooding.  40,000 homes are completely destroyed – without insurance.

Danielle Blount kisses her 3-month-old baby Ember as she feeds her while they wait to be evacuated by members of the Louisiana Army National Guard near Walker, La., after heavy rains inundating the region Aug. 14, 2016. (Photo: Max Becherer, AP)

Unfortunately, 13 people have been killed.

As anticipated, National Media (MSM) has essentially ignored this catastrophe because the local constituency and affected community doesn’t fit the pert box, the profile, the correct personage of victim for the media to support.

President Obama hasn’t stopped golfing a day – and he won’t.

However, there are groups making a difference: (more…)