It looks bad for the northern Gulf Coast. I have heard about 800k people w/o power in southeast FL.

This storm is shaping up to be another Ivan for someplace along the northern Gulf Coast. It crossed the state intact, which is very unusual, and is now in the Gulf, strengthening itself.

Prayers go out to whomever is affected by its next landfall. The Gulf water is very warm (90 degrees), and there is little shear. In short, there is nothing really to hold back its intensification. I am afraid there is a bad chapter yet to be written in this story, somewhere between Texas and North Fl.