Although the weather station channel and NOAA are claiming that the storm has passed us by and is on the way to Haiti, we are still experience torrential rains.

 On the satellite pictures on our weather channel, we appear to be in the eye of the storm….1 pm EST….

 We have been working on our presentations and blogs in the lobby (where we have free wireless) next to huge glass windows. This is the same area that we practiced in yesterday, but today however, there are no clear views of the ocean. The motel has closed shutters on the outside of these plate glass windows.

 These windows are at least fifteen feet tall, and thirty feet wide EACH! The shutters are obviously the modern version of nailing up plywood. We went out (not outside, but to a door that was open with the shutter drawn across the front..) to investigate them. They are made out of heavy metal, hinged like a louvered blind, and double paned….the accordion pleat across the front of the windows on the outside. Although we were standing right behind the shutters with the door open we couldn’t feel much of the 45 mile an hour wind on the other side! We could definitely hear it however!!

 
The Washington County youth were practicing their presentation and I was videotaping when a hotel manager asked us to please move to another area of the hotel.

It appears that the windows are not safe…as we collected our five laptops, three digital cameras, and misc other accoutrements, we noted that they had a manager, and a police officer holding the front doors closed. They were discussing how the board planks that were holding the doors shut (wedged between the door handles) looked as if they were going to break. The glass doors were bowing even with the door handles connected with a piece of wood, and a person holding them shut!

 We are currently practicing in the back of the lobby, quiet jazz playing in the background, and can observe absolutely no signs of the weather outside. No wind noise, no rain….it is however….extremely humid!

 According to NOAA we have seen the worst of the storm, and it has passed us by! Walking to the front of the building, it appears that that is wishful thinking!!!!

 So for now, we sit in the lobby feast on appetizers for lunch, and work on our presentation and blogs! We would love to hear from you with any questions or comments!