The worst of it will hit Annie tonight, but she it is already pretty wild. pouring rain and tree limbs starting to come down in the yard from bigger gusts. She is riding it out at home alone because she doesn't think she will be able to get back into her neighborhood after the storm to check on her animals. She is as battened down as she can get.   Has all of her many musical instruments in inner closets and also covered with plastic in the event a tree pierces the roof and lets water in.

Says to picture her tonight lying in her hall on a mat with her windsurfing helmet on, and perhaps earplugs, in the hope she might actually sleep. In the meantime, full of nervous energy, she considering using it to restring a bunch of her instruments.

Earlier today she talked with a friend who lives about an hour inland from Nags Head who said conditions were really bad.

To give an idea of the size of Irene, I am 245 miles nearly due west of Nags Head. We have winds this early afternoon at 17mph with gusts up to 35-40. Not much rain, mostly just heavy clouds and high humidity.