Orlando Magic Daily Mailbag: Stay safe, everyone

While we will continue regular posts on Orlando Magic Daily, I wanted to step back and wish everyone to stay safe during Hurricane Irma.

To our readers at Orlando Magic Daily:

I rarely address everyone in first person like this. But I feel like I have to this weekend to address what is going on in Orlando. And, less importantly, to make a few site announcements.

As I am sure everyone reading Orlando Magic Daily knows, the entire state of Florida is preparing for Hurricane Irma, which is expected to make landfall in southwest Florida at some point Sunday morning or Saturday night. The current projections have the storm making its way up the length of Florida in the next few days.

I posted a statement on Facebook on Friday night, but I will repeat some of the same sentiments here on the site.

There have been a record amount of evacuations in the state and everyone in the state is preparing to ride the storm out. Orlando is expected to get the worst of things Sunday night and Monday morning.

This is a very serious storm, and I do not want anyone to think I am not taking it seriously. I, myself, am preparing to ride out the storm from my apartment in Downtown Orlando. I am confident I will be safe as will everyone else. But there will undoubtedly be a lot of damage once the storm passes. This storm will, unfortunately, change people’s lives. There will be a lot of loss.

Once the storm passes, I will be sure to share information on how you can donate and help with the cleanup either through the site or on Twitter @omagicdaily.

But, as Florida always does in the face of storms, we rebuild and we move on. Floridians have a sort of defiance about hurricanes. We are so used to watching the tropics this time of year and have been through hurricanes so often, we are able to joke aobut things while we prepare.

Hurricanes are a part of life in Florida. But do not take this to be a lack of seriousness about how much damage these can do. Our state and local governments do incredible jobs preparing for these moments. To the point that there is almost a comfort that everything will be fine in the face of these storms.

To all those who live in Central Florida and the state, please stay safe and listen to local authorities. If they tell you it is time to evacuate, it is time to evacuate. If you are riding out the storm, please do so safely. I know I will.

I understand some of my audience is not in Central Florida, but this storm will undoubtedly have some effect on Orlando Magic Daily. It seems very likely I will lose power at some point Sunday or Monday. I do not know when it would come back or when I would be able to post again. So if the site goes quiet, that is likely the reason why.

That is obviously less important than staying safe and making it through the storm. But I wanted everyone reading to know that my plan is to be back up and running as soon as I can after the storm passes.

In the meantime, my plan is to keep posting as normal. If I can provide a little bit of a distraction from what is going on outside, I am happy to do so. If you would like not to think about the Magic during the storm, please ignore me. I and Orlando Magic Daily will be here when you are ready to return.

With that, and since we all seemingly have the time, I am going to open up the Orlando Magic Daily Mailbag and try to answer some of your questions before training camp starts. Feel free to drop me a question in the comments below, via twitter @omagicdaily, via our Facebook page or via e-mail at omagicdaily@gmail.com.

Next: Orlando Magic Daily Mailbag: What comes next?

Most importantly, though, please stay safe during this hurricane. I will see you all on the other side!