Floridians prepare for Hurricane Milton: NPR

A Lee County sheriff's officer patrols the streets of Cape Coral, Florida, as heavy rain falls Wednesday in advance of Hurricane Milton.

Marta Lavandier/AP

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Marta Lavandier/AP

SARASOTA, Fla. – The skies over downtown Sarasota grew grayer and more threatening as Hurricane Milton approached Florida's west coast, threatening coastal communities.

By early afternoon the wind was getting stronger, blowing branches and leaves onto eerily quiet streets. By midmorning there were only a few cars on the road as almost no stores were open and many Floridians followed evacuation orders and fled to hotels or emergency shelters further inland. By Tuesday, many residents clogged highways, preferring to flee further north or south, away from Milton's main drag.

But a 90-year-old resident of Englewood, Florida, just over 30 miles south of Sarasota, was at a gas station making last-minute decisions about whether to drive further inland, north or south of Milton.

Irving LaLonde said he has a house right on the bay. “It was nice the whole time,” he said of the weather. “And then this morning I turned on the TV and oh my God, they said, 'Get out of Englewood.' “And he set off, still unsure which way to go.

Despite the very real threat to their homes, belongings and livelihoods, many Floridians who sought refuge in hotels or evacuation centers in Sarasota remained in good spirits despite the inclement weather. They settled in, chatted with other evacuees, played card games, drank wine and beer and prepared to ride out the worst of the storm with friends, families and pets.

“Of course life is more important than possessions, so you can always rebuild and recreate what you had,” said Alan Staniforth, a sailing instructor who was evacuated with his family from his Longboat Key home to the Westin Sarasota on Tuesday.

Members of Pasco County Utilities set up classrooms in a hurricane shelter at River Ridge Middle/High School in New Port Richey, Fla., on Wednesday to prepare for Hurricane Milton.

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Before fleeing, the Staniforth family attempted to fortify their fortress house and move furniture and other possessions to a higher level. He told NPR he has come to terms with the belief that his home, which was renovated just four years ago, will no longer be livable after Milton's attacks.

“We will probably spend the next six to 12 months rebuilding,” he said. “It will be a long road to recovery for everyone here, not just us. And I think that's the risk you take when you live fairly close to the ocean in Florida. It’s a great lifestyle, but it also comes with risks.”

With that in mind, Staniforth remained calm, like many other Floridians NPR reporters encountered.

“I think a lot of people are thinking ahead about what happens after this, and obviously we don't know what's going to happen, but you have to assume the worst and hope for the best,” Staniforth said. “But be pragmatic and don’t panic. Freaking out isn’t going to help anyone, and that’s where we are now.”

Local resources

Member stations across the NPR network in Florida are reporting on the local impacts of Hurricane Milton.

➡️ Tampa Bay (via WUSF) | Text-only site | Radio: 89.7 FM
➡️ Tampa (via WMNF) | Radio: 88.5 FM
➡️ Orlando (via Central Florida Public Media) | Text-only site | Radio: 90.7 and 89.5 FM
➡️ Fort Myers via (WGCU) | Radio: 90.1 and 91.7 FM
➡️ Miami (via WLRN) | Radio: 91.3FM
➡️ Gainesville (via WUFT) | Text-only site | Radio: 89.1 and 90.1 FM
➡️ Jacksonville (via WJCT) | Radio: 89.9FM

Jaclyn Diaz and Kira Wakeam reported from Sarasota, Florida, and Sergio Martínez-Beltrán reported from Fort Myers, Florida.