Bahamians in Florida Make Tough Call to Evacuate or Ride Out Storm

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FLORIDA, U.S.A. – Over the last few days, Florida authorities have issued one of the largest evacuation orders in the state since 2017, urging more than half a million people to leave their homes.

Among those heeding the warnings was Bahamian Laurie Dames. Dames is an eleven-year Tampa resident who decided to leave most of her earthly possessions behind and head north.

While her home is not in a flood zone, Dames says she had more than enough reasons to leave.

Laurie Dames – Bahamian living in Tampa
“We secured the house the best we can. Uh, that time we made a decision. I believe Monday, early Monday, to just evacuate. We figured we have to make it now based on what happened overnight. Um, the storm went from a tropical storm on Sunday to cat 1 before I went to bed, and I woke up at a cat 3.”

Bahamian Opts to Stay in Tampa

Howard Johnson, another Bahamian living in Tampa, opted to remain in his home.

Howard Johnson – Bahamian living in Tampa
“For where I’m located, uh, what residents in the area of New Tampa, where I live, are most concerned about—my neighbors and the like—are the winds. The winds are what we are most afraid of. We’re not on low ground. We’re not, you know, um, in any areas that would be subjected to storm surge or flash flooding. So our real concern here in the northern end of the county and the city would not really be water per se or flooding, but more so the wind damage.”

Tips for Riding Out the Storm

Orlando resident Jonathon Burrows also decided not to evacuate and even had tips for others staying behind to ride out the storm.

Jonathon Burrows – Bahamian living in Florida
“Go ahead and prepare for if you do have areas that potentially have flood in just traditional range, you want to make sure that you have preparations with your sandbags or if you have any way to divert that water away and just really be more aware of everything that’s around your home.”