Dean Bears Down

As you might know, Hurricane Dean, a monster category 4 storm, is bearing down on Jamaica.

Apparently it is intent on becoming a category 5 storm by the time it hits tomorrow at 2pm.

Here in Kingston at 12:00pm the sky is blue, there are almost no clouds and there is a nice cooling breeze.

Perfect beach weather.

And Jamaicans are standing by ready to proclaim one of two things on Tues morning.

Either
"God listens to prayers and decided to spare us, out of his mercy"
or
"God has sent us a powerful sign, a judgment on our wicked ways"

It's probably just easier for us to accept that God's will is whatever ends up happening, whether we call it good, bad, dry or wet.

It's the first time that I am back in Jamaica for what one of nature's "big events." The weatherman has been particularly excited for the past few days, speaking faster than usual, with a hint of excitement in his voice and the knowledge that many, many people were hanging on to his very words.

Calls are coming from all over the globe from family and friends who are concerned about what is coming.

Flights are filled with people escaping what winds, rains and destruction that is heading this way.

We are fully expecting to lose power, internet, phones and water and that roads will be closed until they are cleared of debris, and until the inevitable looting stops.

So, we sit here waiting, doing the best we can to prepare ourselves.

And it's still a really nice sunny day today, with blue skies and hardly any clouds and a light breeze.