Editor's Note: Lissa McGrath writes the eBay Consignment Corner column for AuctionBytes.com. She had to evacuate her home in Florida due to Hurricane Dennis, and managed to file this story through a hotel Internet connection Sunday evening.

Please bear with your eBay trading partners if they are in the Gulf Coast area of Florida and Alabama. Hurricane Dennis is the first ever category 3 hurricane to make U.S. landfall in July. Luckily for us it was downgraded from the strong category 4 hurricane before it made landfall.

The majority of us have evacuated, and while we have all taken what we can from our homes, items listed on eBay may not be the highest priority on the list. When Hurricane Ivan ripped through this area last September, I personally went without power for 2 weeks, and internet service took quite a lot longer to be restored. PLEASE don't leave negatives or neutrals for your sellers who may be affected by this catastrophic storm. It is currently hitting my town in Florida, and since so few structures have been completely repaired from Hurricane Ivan last year, the damage is likely to be much worse and recovery that much harder.

If a seller doesn't have your item anymore, please understand that evacuating family and important personal belongings has to take precedence over business-related items. If they were lucky enough not to sustain too much damage, please bear with them with shipping times and communication, since internet is usually one of the last services to be restored.

Please also understand that this hurricane is not just going to affect coastal cities like mine. The path of the hurricane through the mainland U.S. is going to be very destructive. I am currently in Birmingham, AL and we are expecting category 1 hurricane conditions throughout the night, and this is 250 miles inland.

If you are a seller, please be aware that buyers from these areas may not be able to access or respond to your emails. I have a laptop and managed to get a hotel with wireless connection, but many people will already have been without internet access for 3 days. Anyone who did not evacuate is likely already without power. Please consider this rather than filing a non-paying bidder form. Please give us a few weeks to get back on our feet and be able to think about things other than food, water and a shelter over our heads.

Thank you for keeping us in your thoughts.