• There are eight of us riding out Hurricane Melissa in our concrete, slab-roof home. • We prepped supplies, and I'm repurposing my school-lunch stock to feed everyone. • I'm terrified, but I keep routines and calm language so my 4- and 6-year-olds feel safe.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Ines Pacheco. It has been edited for length and clarity.

It's very scary. The storm is intense, but we're safe. The house we are in is made of concrete with a slab roof, and we did a lot of preparatory work. Currently, there are eight of us here: my husband, me, our two girls, ages 4 and 6, our nanny and her two children, ages 10 and 13, and a gardener from our community whose roof is made of zinc, which offers less protection. Plus a dog and a cat.

We're just waiting it out

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