Gone with the (fear of the) wind

Middle Duval Street looks mighty empty Sunday -- hours after the emergency management folks ordered a mandatory evacuation for visitors and non-residents.

Both of the guest houses next to my rental emptied like that.

People usually don't take it this seriously this early, but I think nonstop promotions for coverage of the Katrina anniversary have focused public attention mightily.

(I don't think visitors have a clue about what Wilma did here last October, though the effects still linger. [We are so lucky to have a roof!] Call me crazy, but I suspect our Tourism Development Council downplayed that disaster on purpose.)

Anyway, the get-outta-town order is just part of the Keys' "staged evacuation" plan, to avoid overwhelming our two-lane lifeline to the mainland. It kicks in whenever any tropical storm (up to 73 m.p.h.) is within 36 hours (or 48, if it's a Category 3-5 -- 111 to 155-plus).

They're closing the 18-mile Stretch tonight just in case -- high winds can push water over the roadway -- but giving freebies across the toll bridge on Card Sound Road, the only alternative.

At least this year they plan to keep the airport open until at least Monday night. Last year, every TSA screener scampered at the first alert, since they were "visitors," shutting down every potential evacuation flight. Heckuva job, Homeland Security.

So far, Key West is smack dab in the middle of Ernesto's probability cone, and enough satellite trucks rumbled into town this afternoon to supply a Lower Alabama subdivision. The Miami stations have gone all-storm-all-the-time.

But I have a good week's worth of food and water (OK, so it wouldn't be that good a week), extra ice, a charged cell phone, candles, pool water to flush with, fresh laundry (figured I'd do it while I had the chance) and a "safe room" in the main house if it's a Cat 1 (74-95) or 2 (96-110). If it's a 3 or more, I have a full tank, a heavy foot and cash in hand.

I'll know more on Monday -- much more on Tuesday (right now they say the hit's likely to come in the evening). But come what may, there's that other great sign from the Green Parrot:
And, oh yeah. Note for Monday: Tens of thousands of bucks in hurricane windows don't do bupkes unless they're screwed in tight.