I bought a house in Florida a year ago, then Hurricane Milton hit us

• Natalie Schwartz, an early learning specialist, bought a home in Wesley Chapel, Florida, last year.
• As Hurricane Milton hits her neighborhood, she's making herself comfortable in her new home.
• Schwartz said she couldn't sleep because of the strong winds and falling trees on her street.

This essay is based on a conversation at 11 p.m. ET with Natalie Schwartz, 24, who lives in a suburb of Tampa. Schwartz seeks shelter in her new home amid Hurricane Milton. It has been edited for length and clarity.

Since I've lived here, I've never really been afraid of a hurricane.

But in this case, the whole experience was frightening.

My home is new – my husband and I built it last year and moved in in January of this year. We paid around $540,000 for it.

We do not have flood insurance. But our house isn't flooded yet – so far we're seeing wind damage.

I'm worried about the roof and outside of my house. I don't know if something hit the door or the side of the house.

I know a big tree fell in our yard just now. I have several palm trees in my garden that have several branches broken.

This is definitely the fiercest storm I have ever experienced.

I sat in the pantry with my husband, my mother, my grandfather and my aunt. But I had to get out because we had five people and three dogs in there and it was just too hot and I felt claustrophobic.

If I'm being honest, I should probably still be in there.

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My mother, grandfather and aunt were actually on vacation this week. They shouldn't be here – they don't live here. But they were visiting and got stuck here, so they experience their first hurricane.

My grandfather is 86 years old and has never experienced anything like this. He wanted to leave two days ago, but that wasn't possible because there were no flights.

As we talk, I watch trees fall. I look at my neighbors across the street and it's dark.

Our lights have been flickering on and off for the past few hours. We constantly think that we will lose power. I'm shocked we didn't do this because many friends and family say they have no power.

To be honest, I'm very worried. My husband has gone to bed, but I don't think I can sleep anymore.

I couldn't sleep through Helene, so I was awake all night because of the wind.

And I know I won't sleep tonight.