In fifteen minutes, the landlord is shutting off the generator. The power went out in the early morning hours shortly after the first band of rain and wind swept across Cruz Bay in St. John and began battering St. Thomas. I woke up because my ceiling fan was off and I could hear the gusts of wind pouring across the hillside, making the trees hiss and the Mexican fan palm outside my window bend and dance. I lay awake, covered in perspiration, looking up at the useless fan and hoping that I could get ice in the morning. I didn't expect to lose power this quickly.

I spent yesterday at my laboratory, taping the windows, putting away delicate equipment, and stowing glassware. According to the laboratory's owner, our building lost its roof in a previous hurricane so even if Earl isn't a big deal, it's better to err on the side of caution. I also discovered that there is no insurance on any of the laboratory's equipment, which made the task of preparing for the worst all that much more urgent. 

 As soon as Cost-U-Less (one of our big wholesale warehouse stores) was open, I went there and got water, food, batteries, and fuel. The store was very crowded but everyone was polite. The tension on the island was palpable. People understand that hurricanes here can mean months with no electricity, water, or shipments from the mainland. Gas station lines weren't bad in the morning, but later, lines formed since gasoline shipments from St. Croix can take a while after a storm. Gas stations frequently run out before fuel can be had again. 

Before it got too bad today, I went to Mandahl Market to see if they were open and had ice so I could save the perishables in the refrigerator just a little longer. They had two pitiful bags left in the bottom of the ice locker. I bought them. The roads were littered with leaves and rocks, branches and debris blown down from the hillsides. A radio report noted that at least one of the large trees at Havensight had fallen and was completely blocking the road. Power lines were down all across the island. When I got to the top of my hill, I could see whitecaps on Magen's Bay, usually one of the calmest bodies of water here. The storm surge is expected to be 2 to 4 feet. Some friends that live on Hull Bay have sought shelter on higher ground.

The winds are gusting to 60-70 mph and the eye isn't expected to pass us for at least another hour. All I can do is hole up and wait for the weather to calm down. My back deck faces the oncoming storm and I tried to take pictures, but I had to wrestle the door from the grip of the wind. The sky is nearly grey with sheets of sideways rain. Out front, my landlord has lost most all of his banana trees, they lay in heaps on the ground and his mango trees' leaves have been piled by the wind in a heap outside my front door. 

Hurricane Earl is expected to strengthen as it leaves here and makes its way to the North Carolina/Virginia coast.

 Updates to follow as the electricity and cell tower service permit. 

 8/31 - The landlord put the generator on again this morning. Last night the gusts of wind as Earl was leaving rattled the walls of my house and were so loud, I couldn't hear myself speak. As the rain subsided, I could see the lights were out all the way up and down the hills. A 6 p.m. curfew was enacted last night until 5:30 a.m. this morning, but that has been extended until 9 a.m. The road crews needed more time to get out and clear trees and power lines from the streets. All public schools are closed today. 

The steady buzzing sound of generators is the only manmade noise to be heard. No cars are out. Overall, everything is fine where I am. I hope everyone else on the island is okay, too.