I've seen some projections of it being anywhere from a 2-3 in that time. If that's the case, those people should be fine for the most part. Load up on beer and snacks and charge your mobile devices as best as possible and HUNKER DOWN.
Brother Kontra, good advice. Let me add to it from my Irma experience phone battery banks! Have two and fully charged. The cell phone is the last possibility for access to the outside world. I needed to start using my second and my power was out for only 24 hours (we neighbors were in a text fest but they all dropped off for a lack of a 20$ battery bank). I also have a battery operated weather radio/radio that will charge (charge the banks, keep a lot of batteries, take advantage of the solar cells on it).
Another good move, take freezer bags and fill a whole bunch up with drinking water and stick them in the freezer well before storm hits. When the power goes off you have a way to keep the freezer cold yet as the ice melts within the bag, you have super cold drinking water ready (VERY needed is ice cold drinking water considering the blazing humid temps and no AC).
Have a battery operated small fan and a good stock of batteries (Walmart or Amazon you can get a 24 or 36 pack). I couldn't have slept without that fan, just too hot otherwise.
Have the gas grill tank full, your gas tank full, and a grill capable of burning wood if need be (get sone dry wood and store it. You can cook almost anything on the grill. Have cans of soup ready and crackers. Easily and quick;y cooked on the grill, filling, gives some nutrition (plus cook up the meat that is defrosted!). Pasta and jar spaghetti sauce, all can be cooked on the grill.
Keep a waterprrof sports bag ready packed with a set of clothes and the must haves (prescriptions). Be preapred for instant evac from your home if roof damage and/or massive water leak (which I got). Be! Ready! to evac your house quickly (have a plan with your neighbors).
Those LED lantern lights that you pull upward and it gives more light? Cheap, tough, waterproof, same batteries have run it for over a year now. IMHO excellent light source for cheap money.
Have non electrical ways to occupy your time. A book, crossword puzzles,
Figured I'd pass on my own experience for those who might be new to the hurricane thing. And to those people, fyi, when Irma hit here is was only cat 1+ and I'm on a grid portion with a shelter and school. I got priority and saw power back in 24 hours. People out on branches that have no priroity power needs, like housing developments along undeveloped outer areas, they went 7+ days without power (again this was a cat 1+ only for our area). BE PREPARED FOR EXTENDED POWER OUTAGE. If you haven't been through extended power outage, the first day or two is liveable but it gets hard thereafter. Be prepared to cook on a grill with canned and boxed food, cool yourself from the heat, occupy your time, to bath without hot water, no laundry except by hand, and little to no fresh food replenishment (the grocery store shelves were bare of fresh foods for days), little to no gasoline possibilities. It probably wont get that bad but you'll be SERIOUSLY happy if it is and you're prepared.
