Residents Brace for Hurricane Milton in St. Petersburg, Florida
As Hurricane Milton churns ominously towards the Gulf Coast, residents in cities like St. Petersburg, Florida are faced with a tough choice: evacuate or ride out the storm. Thousands of people have chosen to leave western Florida, but some, like Megan Engels, a native of Novi, Michigan, have decided to stay put.
Riding Out the Storm
Megan and her boyfriend, along with their beloved cat, have settled in at a friend’s place located in the heart of St. Petersburg. “We were keeping track of the gas shortages and the amount of traffic,” Megan explains, reminiscing about the chaotic highways clogged with flee-ing families. “It was just so stressful, and we felt it might be better to ride it out instead.”
Choosing to stay in a sturdy, brick building in a non-evacuation zone definitely eased their minds. Their friend, who lives on the fourth floor, extended the invitation to hunker down, and Megan felt it was a wise decision. “Honestly, staying here seemed safer than being on the road for hours,” she stated, “especially with all the reports of people running out of gas.”
Preparing for Impact
The looming threat of Hurricane Milton, projected to make landfall between 10 p.m. Wednesday and 2 a.m. Thursday, has residents bracing for impact. Expected to hit as a Category 4 storm, Milton could bring winds reaching up to 155 miles per hour and torrential rains that could accumulate to 18 inches or more, along with flash flooding and storm surges as high as 15 feet.
Despite being in a safer building, Megan didn’t take any chances. “We’ve brought enough food and supplies for ten days,” she shared while mentally counting how much they had stocked up. “Although we’re on the fourth floor, we’re still putting boards over the windows and setting sandbags at the sliding door just to be cautious.”
Feelings of Anxiety
When asked whether she feels scared, Megan admitted, “Yes. Trying not to be, but I think it’s kind of impossible not to feel that way.” The emotional toll of waiting for a storm that could be disastrous cannot be understated. She spoke candidly about the overwhelming concern expressed by friends and family back in Michigan. “I’ve received a ton of texts checking in on me, and while I appreciate it, it can sometimes freak me out even more,” Megan explained.
Although many of her loved ones think they should have evacuated, Megan feels confident in her choice. “I keep telling myself, we’re just going to be as safe as possible,” she said, indicating a determination to stay optimistic despite the brewing storm.
The Community Response
The situation is stirring mixed emotions throughout the community with some choosing to leave while others, like Megan and her friends, decide to stick around. Local officials have broadcasted dire warnings to those on the coast, urging them to leave while there’s still time—sticking to the old adage that it’s better to be safe than sorry.
As the storm draws closer and preparations ramp up, we can only hope that everyone remains safe, regardless of whether they chose to evacuate or ride out the storm. “I think we’ll be okay,” Megan reassured, keeping her fingers crossed as they wait for the hurricane to make its presence known. The resilience of the Florida community is certainly something to admire during such uncertain times.
