A FORMER Pembrokeshire mum and her family are nervously preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Matthew, writes Anwen Francis.

Former Preseli School pupil and mother of two Louise Palmer (nee Livermore) is experiencing the storm first hand as Matthew destroys everything in its path.

Louise, originally from Hermon, Crymych has lived in Palm City, Florida, since she graduated from Glamorgan College.

“The hurricane is hitting us tonight and it’s looking pretty close,” said Louise.

"It will probably make a landfall 80 miles north of us. We keep watching the track of the storm constantly and hardly getting any sleep."

Louise and her husband Daniel have two children – Jessica 10 and Harry seven. The whole family is understandably very worried.

“I’m absolutely terrified, completely panic stricken. This is a big storm and it would have been nice to have a category one first before a whopping category four.

“The kids are very nervous but helping us in every way, boarding up the house, and just doing the dishwasher as we are very likely to lose power for a few weeks."

A professional saddle fitter, Louise is very concerned how her horses will cope.

“The house is not my major worry, the horses and ponies that are outside are really going to experience the storm and it’s difficult to know what to do – whether to leave them in and worry about the barn falling down around them, or turning them out and letting them get away from flying objects.

"Everyone has a different opinion and you just have to go with your gut” said Louise.

Louise and her family are always watching the news so they are kept updated with what’s going on.

Louise added: “The news here is incredible and keeps you up to date. Right now, the right thing to do is to stay put and hunker down.”

Hurricane Matthew is a category three hurricane with winds of 115mph which is expected to strengthen to category four and strike the US coast today.

More than two million people along the Florida, Georgia and South Carolina coasts have been urged to leave their homes ahead of the arrival of the hurricane, which has killed at least 16 people during its week-long march across the Caribbean.