Hurricane Opal as of 6am EDT Wednesday 10/6/95: 27.0N 88.7W Winds are sustained at 135 MPH (this is a category 4 Hurricane). It is currently 150 miles SSE of the mouth of the Miss. River. THIS IS A DEADLY STORM - SHELTERS AND FERRET OWNERS IN THE COASTAL ARE OF THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE, ALABAMA, AND LOUISANA SHOULD KEEP THEIR RADIOS AND TELEVISIONS TUNED TO THE WEATHER CHANNEL. THOSE IN THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE, AND THE COAST OF ALABAMA SHOULD BE PREPARED TO EVACUATE! I ask all who are currently reading the FML to check your ferret supplies and see if you have one or two items that you can spare for the victims of this Hurricane. I repeat this is a Category 4 Hurricane. Those willing should begin to collect items for the animals so that we can get relief to the victims as soon as possible Shelters in the above areas will be monitored. We have been fortunate this season and only lost one ferret shelter due to Hurricane Erin. Unfortunately Opal is far far worse than Erin and we have several shelters in Opals path The hurricane conditions will be felt from the mouth of the Missippi River to Anceote Florida. FFDRI Southeastern United States, Northeastern United States and Southwestern United States Coordinators have been notified IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS IN THE PATH OF HURRICANE OPAL PLEASE HAVE THEM CALL IMMEDIATELY CHERE MCCOY AT 407-567-0994 LET US KNOW WHO YOU ARE, WHERE YOU ARE, HOW MANY ANIMALS YOU HAVE AND WHERE YOU ARE EVACUATING TO. Our prayers are will all of those in the path of this storm. Chere McCoy Director Ferret Friends Disaster Response International [Posted in FML issue 1335]