Published on October 8, 2024 at 11:46 p.m.
Hurricane Milton is preparing to hit the Tampa, Florida area head-on. Since Florida is a particularly popular destination for Quebecers, those who are currently there or those who plan to go there soon to spend the winter are particularly worried. How do they cope with this distressing situation? Do they plan to change their plans? Reporting.
It’s time to stock up
Audrey Foy, a former Laval resident, has been a resident of Fort Lauderdale since 2006. This is not the first time that she has found herself in the front row, or almost, to face a tropical storm or hurricane. Not carrying winter – the typical one in Quebec – in her heart, Ms. Foy says she endures hurricanes in Florida and prefers to face them rather than snowstorms!
Still, she and other residents of many parts of Florida feel the disturbing effect of Milton. Moreover, during her visit to the grocery store on Monday, Ms. Foy noticed that the bread and eggs, for example, seemed to have flown off the shelves as if by magic. People are also stocking up on gas and water, in addition to trying to get their hands on generators that are in high demand. In Fort Lauderdale, the biggest risk from Hurricane Milton is flooding; that the expected heavy rains, in addition to those which have fallen on the region for several days, are causing sewer backups.
Distressing evacuations
Clearly, major evacuations are underway in several areas of Florida. Many people want to leave the coast in the hope of finding shelter further inland. Monster traffic jams can be observed on major arteries in the regions most threatened by Milton.
Moreover, tolls are being lifted on the highways of South Florida, to allow people to evacuate risk areas free of charge. On the Fort Lauderdale side, schools are closed, in anticipation of welcoming victims from Tampa. The authorities want to send a clear message that Milton represents a very great danger… Some have gone so far as to say that if residents plan to stay at home, when Milton passes, they should write their name in marker on their arms, to help identify them later.
Will snowbirds abandon Florida?
Floridians are just recovering from Helene’s visit and must already prepare for Milton’s visit. Are all these storms likely to dampen the enthusiasm of the many snowbirds who love to spend the winter in Florida? At this time of year, many Quebecers are working hard to complete their preparations to return to their Florida winter paradise. Guy Martin, a snowbird established at Pioneer Village RV Resort in North Fort Myers for 10 years, planned to leave for Florida on November 2. He is waiting to see what will happen and how Florida will recover from Milton’s passage. He and his wife are considering possibly giving up on Florida, if Ian’s catastrophic scenario in 2022 repeats itself. At the time, snowbird trailers found themselves flooded, some with four feet of water inside.
Milton is expected to make landfall in Florida Wednesday night or early Thursday morning. Even far away, the heart of Quebec is with all those who will have to face this great monster, this great Milton.
With the collaboration of Rébecca Salomon, journalist.
SEE ALSO: IN PICTURES: Florida prepares for Milton
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