considered a category 2 storm and is expected to keep strengthening before making landfall along florida s gulf coast this evening. let s go to saint marks, florida, to south of tallahassee where we find cnn s brian todd. he s at the top of the so-called big bend. the big bend is where the panhandle meet the western coast of the peninsula in florida. brian, the new hurricane track sends the eye of the storm even closer to where you are right now. what are weather officials saying to those who have made the decision to stay? reporter: jake, i just asked an emergency management official that very question. what do you say to people who want to stay? this official had a one word response, don t. but then he did say if you choose to stay make sure you have at least three to four days worth of provisions to get you through the next few days because it s going to be tough for emergency people and emergency responders to get to you. why is that? you take a look where we are here and how low