Irma you need to take a vacation

it is approximately 12 hours before the arrival of the strongest hurricane in the Caribbean, Irma, following closely behind Harvey who devastated Texas, and Jose is now following right behind Irma. Global warming? who knows.
Whatever it is , it is dangerous. The North Coast was originally slated to be less than 50 miles off the eye, and with sustained 160 mile winds, I worried... Last night Irma went just a shade North, giving us maybe 100 miles, and so while we are still in a strong 'red' imminent hurricane path, the storm surge is not as great. Of course the real characteristic of hurricanes is their total unpredictability, and that combined with human frailty(and stupidity) leads to devastation.
Close to midnight I went out and sat in the pool to cool off, watch the full moon, smell the puta de noche blooming heavy on still air. I watched amazing huge clouds, massive as continents, drift slowly over the moon. It felt as if they would crush me as they made their slow float by. No air moved, no leaves stirred, no noises except for crickets. It felt like being on another planet , devoid of human or animal life, just big heavy clouds passing by and spying on me. Watching me. Warning me.
Too late to run, you cannot get off the ride , cannot pull off to the side and wait for traffic to pass, you are in the thick of it. And there's always that fear that if you were to seek refuge, where ever you went would be worse than the spot you escaped from.
So here I sit, on an empty terrace, all plants and furniture and anything resembling a potential projectile has been removed to a hopefully safe place. Today in a panic I began stuffing, inside the house. I wondered what would happen if a window or wall blew out of the house and so indoor projectiles and valuables went in drawers, under beds, stuck in closets. I will be looking for them forever, and kicking myself for being so prepared. I made ice, for when the frig and freezer needs help,  the electric lines that have been draped through the flamboyant trees were threaded in pipe and buried in the road today, after scrounging for plastic pipe from neighbors, disconnected propane tanks, located candles, matches, flashlights, medical kit, begged my Haitian worker to stow more things I imagined to come sailing through windows and impaling me...I defrosted what will probably be the first stage of food that will have to be cooked if power is lost for long, and made two giant meals, dog food, banana bread. I am exhausted. And a bit lonely. I am not trying to prove anything, have given up on receiving cash rewards for Ms. Independencia....it just is what it is. I don't want to be rescued, but would not mind a friendly game of cards or backgammon, or being read to, slid a glass of wine across the open space.
Yesterday I walked to the beach and took photos along the way, thinking about how rustic and sweet this pueblo is, and hoping I will not find it too different on Friday morning.
There is little preparation by Dominicans and Haitians here. They have all seen the brief videos on the internet and FB, but it does not register as a reality here. They shake their heads at me and tell me that is tomorrow and Dios will protect them. It is not happening today, and no one prepares or anticipates the future. I watched the men pull in the fishing boats last night, just as always, no farther up the beach, no lines used, all the beach shacks still had tables and chairs scattered around, no sandbags,no panic, the only nervous energy was mine.