The National Hurricane Center warned early today that most of the Southeast coast faced “a danger of life-threatening inundation” within the next day and a half.

In the Bahamas, where Dorian made landfall as one of the most powerful Atlantic storms on record, the extent of damage is only beginning to emerge. At least seven people have died, and the toll is expected to rise. “It’s like we just need to be rescued and put on another island to start over again,” one resident said. “Complete devastation.”

Closer look: Florida, a state where about 190,000 people live in nursing homes and assisted living centers, is scrambling to move older residents out of harm’s way.

Q. and A.: The Times asked readers what they wanted to know about the hurricane. A scientist and a storm expert answered those questions.