Looks like this is going to hit somewhere on the Gulf as a Cat 1. I hope everyone is okay.
Cat 2.
It looks close to me, but no longer likely to go over my house.
For those who don’t look at such storms with a very personal interest, there are 2 numbers to pay attention to:
Category.
<3-rainy windy day.
>2-seriously consider renting a motel room up north.
At least as important:
Ground speed.
A slow storm is very bad-just ask Houston.
A fast storm is a good news day.
It mostly has to do with storm surge due to the circulation. The sea level rise needs time to build up under the eye. If the eye is moving fast, it outruns the surge and the bubble isn’t as big. But an intense storm can build a bigger bubble faster, so both factors come into play.
Now these are my rules of thumb and do not apply to anyone living within 5 miles or so of the coast. And remember, a tornado can appear almost anywhere at any time. Luck of the draw.
That and the exact landfall location. Which can’t be determined until about 12 hours before landfall. Or later. 
Landfall mostly determines whether you are on the wet side or the dry side. We like dry.
How are our Gulf Coast Dopers doing?
My middle daughter evacuated her kids and dogs from Bay St.Louis, this morning. Thank God, she is safely away from the coast!
Good plan!
The storm is being called half a hurricane-almost all the weather is to the east of the eye. Bay St. Louis is to the west-but just barely.
Here in Louisiana, it isn’t even a particularly rainy evening. Thank goodness.