East Coasters in the US...

[Annik]

The main issues are flooding and power outages, not so much direct wind damage, though the wind might cause problems with trees that still have their leaves. It's going to park itself over the eastern seaboard and we're in for heavy rains for about 3 days. New York is already suspending their subway service. Here in MD/DC we're expected to get 6-10 inches of rain... I live in the lowest area of my neighborhood... Flooding is something that concerns me. Pepco (our local electrical monopoly) sucks too. After the Derecho in July we had neighbors out of power for 8 days, during 90*+ heat. There's also projections of the low pressure system from the hurricane (or has it been downgraded to a tropical storm?) colliding with a regular low pressure system just west of us. The computer model doesn't know what that will produce, as there hasn't been an instance of this occurring since the computer models have been developed. Hopefully it'll be nothing, but better to be prepared than to be caught with just your dick in your hand.

I still don't think you have much to worry about as long as you're not too close to the coast (the NHC seems to be concerned about storm surges). They always play these things up, but as long as you take precautions, there is nothing to be alarmed about. Flooding is always the thing to worry about, though. You always see weathermen on tv going "Look! The wind holds me up!", but it's often flooding that causes the most damages. Board your house, invest in some sandbags and everyone should have a small generator. To be clear, I'm not saying one shouldn't be prepared, I'm saying that the media generally stirs up more panic than needed. As long as you have what you need, there is no need to worry.