As millions of people try to flee Florida before Hurricane Irma strikes, two families in Kingston are paying close attention to the mass exodus as their loved ones are among those trying to evacuate.
Nathan Meyer works in Key West but has family in the Kingston area. He left Key West on Wednesday. It took him eight hours to get to Daytona Beach. Meyer is frantically trying to get back to the Kingston area as his girlfriend Courtney Byford is not only pregnant but due to give birth any day now.
“Makes me very nervous. I’ve never in my life experienced a big evacuation like this and just the size of this hurricane — I’ve never seen this whole entire state trying to get out all at once,” said Meyer who spoke with CKWS while on the road.
The couple is trying to stay positive and is keeping their fingers crossed that Meyer will make it back in time for his son’s birth. They’re communicating via text and Facebook.
“He’s hoping to make it to North Carolina by today but the traffic is terrible and then from there he’s going to Ohio and hopefully going to make it back here. I just hope everything works out for everyone not just me and Nate for everyone. I hope everyone stays safe,” said Byford.
Former Kingston resident Liam White will be leaving his Fort Lauderdale home on Friday. White and his roommates have spent the last few days boarding up their home but supplies are running out.
“There’s tons of people that don’t have shutters, don’t have plywood for their windows or anything. We waited about an hour to get more water. Biggest thing is gas too. There’s no gas left at any of the stations,” said White via Skype.
White is not optimistic his home will escape the Hurricane’s wrath. There are already predictions Irma will be the most destructive storm in U.S. history.
But some good news for Meyer: after 24 hours on the road, he’s now safely out of Florida and one step closer to a reunion and a special delivery.