A north Belfast woman is tonight bracing herself as she prepares to sit out Hurricane Milton in her Orlando home.
Tracie Delaney-Evans moved to the United States over 20 years ago and currently works in a boarding school in Wyndham, Florida.
Like millions of other Floridians she has been preparing for the Category 4 Hurricane Milton, which is reportedly set to be one of the worst storms to hit the US in over 100 years.
Milton was due to slam into communities still reeling two weeks after Hurricane Helene flooded streets and homes in western Florida along its devastating march that left at least 230 dead across the South.
Milton was centred early yesterday about 360 miles south-west of Tampa with maximum sustained winds of 160mph, the National Hurricane Centre reported.
Millions have been ordered to evacuate and officials warned that stragglers faced grim odds of surviving.
Tracie Delaney-Evans
Governor Ron DeSantis yesterday predicted that “unfortunately, there will be fatalities; I don’t think there’s any way around that”.
But despite multiple warnings, Tracie is not leaving her home and instead is hoping to wait out the storm.
Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph from her self-described ‘bomb shelter’ in her Orlando condominium, Tracie said she has had bouts of worry since reports of the hurricane’s expected destruction first emerged, but has managed to calm herself since.
“When you’ve lived through the Troubles, you’re prepared for anything,” said Tracie.
“I’ve also lived through two Category 5 hurricanes, when I lived in the Caribbean islands just off the coast of Florida years ago. Plus we had Hurricane Helene last week, though that was like a strong wind in Belfast, not a hurricane — but we did lose power.
“I know what I’m looking at here, we have this all the time with hurricane season, but the further you are in the season, the worse it will be — and we’re now late in the season.
“We are preparing for the worst. I’m about six hours away from it starting, I expect it by tomorrow morning it will be in full flow here. We’ve been told no more prepping, and that we should be indoors.
“It’s eerie now, and that’s how you know it’s going to be bad. The shops are bare, there is no gas, no water, and no one is about.”
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She has stocked up on water, has her own filtration system, and has prepared a cooler box filled with drinks and prepared meals she can eat hot and cold.
“(Evacuating) is everyone’s plan. But I don’t think it’s a good idea. I mean if you’re really in the heart of it, then yes it is, but everyone has hit the highway to leave and they’ve now run out of gas. If you know what you’re doing, you can prepare,” she said.
“I have a back-bedroom with no windows, I’ve made it my bomb shelter with an air mattress and snacks.
“The worst part is the waiting. I started prepping last week and I do expect to lose power, which could be for months.”
Tracie, who lives alone, also said she does not have a generator, and explained they are not popular in her area and has turned them down.
She hopes because of her close proximity to Disney World Florida, her power could be restored on their grid.
“I don’t normally panic .There is always furore then a storm comes, there are always the people running out buying the last loaves of bread and the last drop of water — but because I’ve been through them on the islands, where they are worse, I don’t tend to worry myself.
“I did have a bit of wobble yesterday though — but I normally buy a bottle of tequila and call it a day.
“We’re used to Irish weather, and there is no point panicking too soon, but I do understand the concerns. Earlier today I found myself writing a note for my daughters to be left in my house, in case anything happens to me.”
The queue of traffic near Tracie’s home in Florida as people evacuate ahead of the hurricane
She also said her family back in Northern Ireland are worried about her, but added they know she “will get through it”.
“I will be able to get through it, it brings out a lot of things in people. My back is against the wall, but it’s our sense of humour as well.
“We from Northern Ireland know to look at things differently. We are resolute, we have faced worse.
“Having grown up in Northern Ireland — we have a great sense of humour too. I could be floating on a raft tomorrow, and I’d still be able to find something funny about it.”
According to forecasters, it’s predicted the storm will retain hurricane strength as it crosses central Florida on Thursday on a path east towards the Atlantic Ocean although its precise track remains uncertain.
Officials have warned that anyone staying behind must fend for themselves, as first responders are not expected to risk their lives attempting rescues at the height of the storm.
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor noted that up to 15ft of storm surge forecast for her city would be deep enough to swallow an entire house.