Thanks SO MUCH to all for the prayers. I beseech you .. please keep praying Charley away. Ny, I was specifically told NOT to crack a window .. to not let there be any way that wind could get into the house. I get so nervous from the opposing suggestions. My windows are closed shut, and that's how I had planned to keep them. I have my trusty crank radio standing by .. it's the greatest. Pray pray pray.
Click here for some hurricanse safety info from folks who should know, NOAA :) The awareness and prep guides are down around the middle of the page.
Star, we turn your safety over to the Lord who commands the winds. He will see you through. Try to remain calm and know that you will be just fine. I rode out many a hurricane of CAT 3 during my 10 years in Miami. No severe damage until they get over CAT 3. You are 25 miles inland, so the winds will die down some by the time it reaches you. The biggest danger will be the storm surge and you are beyond that. Rest easy.
I would crack the windows. When the hurricane passes, the low pressure can cause them to explode outwards. I haven't been through a bad hurricane in years but can still remember the sound of windows breaking one after the other.