Hurricane Fay Heads for the First Coast

As Hurricane Fay churns toward the First Coast, Jacksonvillians are cleaning out the canned goods, bottled water and battery sections of every store on every corner. But are they packing their suitcases as well?

Relative short-timers (in this case, those here less than 44 years) have adopted a blasé attitude toward the whole hurricane thing. They're the ones waxing up their surf boards and packing sandwiches, not suitcases.

But the old-timers no doubt are a bit more leery. They're the ones who remember the devastation of 1964's Hurricane Dora, which caused damages totaling more than $280 million (more like $2 billion in today's dollars) and killed three. To date, she's the only hurricane to make landfall in the Jacksonville area since record keeping began in 1851.

City officials are not taking Fay lightly. The American Red Cross has opened selected shelters throughout Duval County and public schools and most city offices will be closed Thursday. The US mail, "come rain, come shine, come snow or sleet, come tropical storm or full-on hurricane," will run. Get all the latest from the city's Public Information Office.

So what are your plans: Head out or wait it out?

Poll:Will you evacuate for Hurricane Fay?

• Nah. Jacksonville always comes out unscathed.
• Depends on how the forecasts go - and I'm prepared.
• Depends on how the forecasts go - but I'm not prepared.
• Already gone.
• View Results