Yahoo! News - Southeast Braces for Hurricane Frances
STUART, Fla. - With some homes still swaddled in blue tarp and the deaths from Hurricane Charley still fresh in their minds, Southeastern residents once again warily eyed a menacing hurricane — a storm that could prove the mightiest yet this season.

Nearly a half-million people in Florida were ordered to leave their homes by Thursday afternoon as Hurricane Francis churned toward the U.S. mainland. States of emergency were declared in both Georgia and Florida.

Packing 140 mph winds and a course that has emergency officials in several Southeastern states jittery, the Category 4 storm was expected to fluctuate in intensity as it headed for a Labor Day weekend rendezvous.

Still no word on Palma. Feelin' sorry for the folks down there- I can't imagine having to shutter my house, pack stuff and cats and leave to drive to ...where? How would you know which way to go?