Manitobans with homes in Hurricane Irma’s path describe preparations

Hurricane Irma may seem far away from Winnipeg but for some Manitobans, it’s hitting closer to home.

Former Winnipegger Jason Merrick lives in Parkland, just west of Boca Raton, Fla. The bad weather is expected to impact the area on Sunday.

READ MORE: Hurricane Irma barrels towards Florida: When will it hit, how bad could it get?

Merrick has already chosen to voluntarily evacuate his family. He said even his neighbours, who have seen their fair share of bad weather in the state, are starting to get uneasy.

“Everybody’s getting a little bit nervous. A lot of the people who’ve been in Florida for most of their lives are starting to get nervous,” Merrick said.

Share this on X Click to share quote on X: "Everybody's getting a little bit nervous. A lot of the people who've been in Florida for most of their lives are starting to get nervous," Merrick said.

He said the state of Florida is well prepared to handle the hurricane and he’s glad officials are taking precautions.

“A lot of times it’s a dry run but this time I think there’s going to be some issues in respect to this storm.”

Share this on X Click to share quote on X: "A lot of times it's a dry run but this time I think there's going to be some issues in respect to this storm."

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It’s estimated Hurricane Irma has already caused ten deaths in the Caribbean and the death toll is expected to rise.

WATCH: Ongoing coverage of Hurricane Irma and its destruction 

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READ MORE: At least 10 dead as storm rages through Caribbean, heads closer to Florida

Another Manitoba couple is worried about their home in the Dominican Republic.

Cola Hasch and her partner Tyler Gray run a seasonal restaurant in Grand Beach. But most of the year, they live south of the border in Cabarete, a coastal town.

While Hasch is worried about her home, she is far more concerned for the people living in poorly-constructed homes in the village.

“It’s not that wind tears down the structures, it’s going to be all the added water that comes into Cabarete.”

On Saturday, they pair are holding a fundraiser at their restaurant, Grays on Grand Beach. They will be accepting donations to go towards hurricane relief with a focus on funds for clean water; which will be needed once the storm blows through the Dominican Republic.

RELATED: These photos reveal the destruction left in monster storm’s wake

“At this point our main focus is going to be medical supplies, money to get the water filtration system, or hand pumps to pump out their homes,” Hasch said.

They assume they’ll know the extent of the damage by Friday and be able to better assess exactly how to help.