While many Florida residents have evacuated high-risk areas as Hurricane Ian approaches, not everyone has.
TOLEDO, Ohio — Cape Coral, Fla., Toledo native Emily Reese has seen plenty of hurricanes in the 40 years she’s lived in the state. But she said she will never forget Hurricane Jan.
“This storm is different,” Reese said. “I’ve never faced a storm of this size and strength.”
Despite the danger of the hurricane, Reese stays put because the work she does is necessary. She said she works at a senior living community and was on the response team.
About 80 miles north in Bradenton, northwest Ohio, native David Werning is also riding through the storm.
“The trees are blowing like crazy,” he said. “I think the wind is blowing about 60 miles an hour right now.”
Werning said he lives in a house on the fourth floor, so he is not worried about flooding.
“I have hurricane windows that can withstand 150 miles per hour,” Werning said. “It’s probably safe to just stay put, but I’m surprised when I see cars go by every now and then and I can’t believe people are here.”
Natalie and Debbie Krell, also from northwest Ohio, boarded a Disney cruise on Monday and saw the effects of Ian while on the ocean.
“Yesterday we were in the Bahamas and it was raining hard and we got on a ship and went to Castaway Cay not far from here and they tried to dock the ship but the wind was so strong they couldn’t dock the ship,” Debbie said.
Both said they always come to Florida during hurricane season, but have never experienced a hurricane. Now they are just on a trip.
“We have no idea where we’re going, we’re just trying to get around it, we don’t have room yet,” Natalie said.
https://www.wtol.com/article/weather/hurricane/hurricane-ian-northwest-ohioans-in-florida/512-3d7cb3ed-ba19-4e07-a1a0-2b8474b5f8eb
