“Late tomorrow unless it veers off. It may be quite serious,” Penny said.
Mrs. Weems sighed and settled beneath the covers again. “If it isn’t one thing it’s another! First thing in the morning we must get the awning down, and have all the shutters taken off.”
“If the center of the hurricane should hit here, everything will go,” Penny said cheerfully. “So why worry about shutters?”
“The storm may be a severe one, but I don’t believe it will strike with hurricane force,” Mrs. Weems insisted. “In any case, the shutters are coming down, and I’ll need your help! So don’t try to skip out in the morning!”
Penny went to her own room, but before she could undress, she heard her father’s car on the driveway. He came into the house, locked the doors for the night, then climbed the stairs.
“Hello, Dad!” she called through the half open door of her bedroom. “Any news?”
“There will be by morning,” he answered grimly. “The Star is coming out with front page headlines warning the city to prepare for the worst!”
Penny stepped quickly out into the hall.
“Then Riverview is in the path of the hurricane! Is there danger that the city will be destroyed?”
“Damage to property is almost certain to be extensive. I’ve just come from a meeting with the mayor and City Council. While there’s an outside chance the city may be spared, it’s folly not to prepare for the full brunt of the storm. The mayor has issued a proclamation declaring an emergency and advising everyone to keep off the streets after noon tomorrow. Most businesses will close.”