Let’s not forget our very own Dave Parker and his wife who just recently moved back to central Florida. Let us not forget the thousands of Disney Cast Members who work at the Walt Disney World Resort. Let us not forget the thousands of tourists who are vacationing in Florida. And let us not forget all of the other residents of Florida who will be affected by this storm just weeks after Charley passed through.

I have an aunt right in the path of the storm who I spoke with just last night. She says that the Red Cross is completely moving out of the area so that they can be sure their people and equipment remain in tact to return immediately after the storm is through. She said people are being encouraged to fill up their washing machines and sinks with water in case water service is disrupted during and in the days after the storm. She says that people are preparing to not have power for weeks after the storm passes through. She says that the streets are still lined with debris that was cleared from Hurricane Charley that is just going to be picked right up again and tossed around at dangerously high speeds. There have been long lines at gas stations as people fill up their gas tanks now while there is still a supply of gasoline. Grocery stores have been packed with people stocking up on canned foods, water, and anything else necessary for survival.

I encourage everyone to do what they can to help out by visiting the American Red Cross www.redcross.org or the United Way national.unitedway.org and perhaps giving a small donation to their disaster relief funds.

And to everyone preparing for the worst, just know that our thoughts and prayers are with you.