A very good friend of mine who lives in the Tampa Bay area of Florida has been sharing with me what she has been going through regarding hurricane, Ian.

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Hurricane Ian

Smart/Getty Images/iStockphoto
Smart/Getty Images/iStockphoto
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When reports first started coming in about hurricane Ian, it looked like Cuba was going to get hit really hard, which it did, then the storm would lighten up as it would hit Florida a few days later. The storm was predicted to hit around 85 mph and then quickly move down to 35 mph.

Sean Rayford/Getty Images
Sean Rayford/Getty Images
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The prediction was way off, Ian is barrelling in on Tampa Florida at 155 mph hour which is just two mph away from being a category 5 hurricane.

Living Through a Friend Who is Living Through Hurricane Ian

Handout/Getty Images
Handout/Getty Images
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My friend Nikki is a school teacher and lives in the Tampa area of Florida. She has been updating me the for about a week regarding hurricane Ian.

Gerado Mora/Getty Images
Gerado Mora/Getty Images
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Nikki told me last week that she may have to evacuate and that school would be canceled.

Gerado Mora/Getty Images
Gerado Mora/Getty Images
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Over the weekend a friend of mine stopped in for some fishing and we fished in some light rain. At the same time, Nikki is messaging me that she is preparing for the hurricane. Getting flying objects put away, securing doors, and windows, and stocking up on supplies to ride out the storm.

Joe Raidle/Getty Images
Joe Raidle/Getty Images
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One minute she is told to be ready to evacuate, then the next minute she was told to stay put hoping no matter what happens the storm is not catastrophic. At one point it looked like Ian was going to hit at 110 mph but that has now changed to 155 mph.

It's tough hearing my friend who is an adult say she is scared and there is nothing to do but pray for her. She feels helpless and so does those who want to help her. She wants to get to higher ground because of the storm surge but is unable. It is terrifying to know and it must be terrifying to deal with in real-time.

Nikki is prepared with a stockpile of water, food, candles, and batteries. The storm will be at her doorstep in the next couple of hours. She just sent me a note that her power just went out and then followed up with the photo below:

Tommy Carroll/TSM
Tommy Carroll/TSM
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You can't get much more in the path of a hurricane than that. I will continue to pray for Nikki, her mom, and the other people who will be affected by hurricane Ian.  It won't hurt for you to send a few prayers as well.

Stay safe my friend.

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