As Katrina grows in strength, residents here grow more concerned. Though the storm’s track is consistent with each update - aimed right at New Orleans - Katrina’s size promises Pensacola some strong wind and rain. We are under a tropical storm warning and a hurricane watch. It’s started raining and the water is rising. Navarre Beach is under a mandatory evacuation and officials are urging Pensacola Beach residents to leave, too.

I took the requisite pre-storm trip to Wal-Mart with my sister today. The lines are back at the gas stations and the store was quite crowded—except for the frozen food aisle, which was deserted. When the power goes out, everything in the freezer has to be eaten or tossed, so why bother with that?

I heard on CNN the other day that the most sold item at Wal-Mart in the days before a hurricane is beer. I would have guessed water. Silly me.