CHICAGO (CBS) — All eyes were in Florida Tuesday night, about 24 hours away The expected landfall of Hurricane Milton on the west coast of the state.
Highways were full as people tried to evacuate, gas stations were full and some ran out of gas, and all airports were closed, sending people to Sarasota or Orlando to get out. This all happened while people were still cleaning up from Hurricane Helene almost two weeks ago.
Some of the evacuees came to Chicago and landed at O’Hare International Airport on Tuesday evening. Stephanie Lovell was one such person.
“I hope this storm isn’t that bad,” Lovell said. ‘I’m usually never scared, never, ever, but this one just seemed weird to me. So better safe than sorry, you know, especially what just happened to Helene.”
Much of the area has been in ruins since Helene made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane. Lovell came to Chicago from Florida’s Gulf Coast after weathering that storm and all the others before it.
She’s not taking any chances with Milton.
“I’ve never been evacuated before. I’m really just worried about my family,” Lovell said. “Not everyone can evacuate, so that is very frustrating. Some have no choice but to stay.”
But some do have a choice. Sam Pulia – the former mayor of the west Chicago suburb of Westchester – volunteers for the American Red Cross and is one of them.
Pulia arrived in Orlando on Tuesday for his first deployment with the Red Cross. He has already been assigned a partner.
“We just checked in and are now going to another room to set up our shelter teams,” Pulia said. “They’re going to divide us into teams.”
Pulia said the teams will be assigned to different locations to set up shelters, or man said shelters for those in need. He said there are dozens of Red Cross volunteers – many of them first-timers – hoping to put their best face forward.
“To be compassionate towards everyone, accepting everyone, being a good listener and just reassuring them that everything will be okay,” Pulia said.
That is the hope for those who have decided to stay. For those who left hoping to return to a home untouched by Milton.
“I just worry about the people,” Lovell said. “You know, things are replaceable. People don’t.’
It was unknown late Tuesday how long Red Cross volunteers would be in Florida to provide assistance. As for Lovell, she said she plans to stay until the weekend once the storm passes.
