Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Florida, on the east coast of the United States on Wednesday morning (30). The hurricane arrived earlier than expected and stronger than expected, with winds exceeding 200km/h and a strong potential for destruction.
Brazilians who live in the affected region report the tension with the arrival of the hurricane. Economics student Ana Paula Schlitler says that purchases of essential products such as water were limited in a supermarket in Tampa, the city where she lives.
“Water is something that people usually buy a lot because they run the risk of cutting it or it starts to get dirty. So everyone wants to make sure they have water, not only for drinking, but also for showering and brushing their teeth, because they might cut it for days”, says the student who has set up a stock of non-perishable foods.
In the building where he lives, some measures were also taken in the pool area. All the chairs and tables surrounding the leisure area were placed in the water to prevent them from flying off when the tornadoes arrived. The pool needs to be emptied a little so as not to overflow with strong winds.
Precautions
Daniela Sodré, a speech therapist who has lived in Florida for 27 years, says that today she feels more prepared for the arrival of the hurricane, having faced the situation countless times over almost three decades living in the American state. According to the speech therapist, the biggest problem where she lives is the flood, as her house is located on the edge of a lake.
She says she put gas in her car and got cash because last year she couldn’t go shopping during Hurricane Ian due to lack of electricity.
“I didn’t think the machines wouldn’t work, it didn’t even cross my mind and when I went to withdraw money, there was no more money in the machines because several people had already thought about it before me”.
The Brazilian opted to install metal plates on the windows, to protect them from possible objects that could fly and hit the glass.
According to her, all public schools had classes suspended until Thursday (31). School spaces often serve as shelters for people who are vulnerable, with medical needs and those who live in homes that are not strong enough to withstand storms.
Daniel Dourado, a realtor who lives in Orlando, says he is prepared for the hurricane. In 2017, when he arrived in the US, he didn’t know how to deal with Hurricane Irma. He tried to distance himself from the storm and ran out of gas midway. At the time, he only realized the seriousness of the situation when he saw two people fighting over a gas cylinder in a supermarket.
For Idalia, Daniel says that residents of Orlando, which is further east of the state of Florida, are not as worried as those who live in the western part, but that it is an apprehensive situation.
“You can see that the weather changes on the streets and in supermarkets. People get more nervous in traffic and at work because it is an unpredictable moment”, reports the Brazilian.
Moving outdoor furniture into the home and checking that the home insurance is valid and correct are important measures, especially in the aftermath of a hurricane.
“Furniture that sticks out of the house can fly in the strong winds and damage someone’s house or the person’s own residence. In addition, the annoying part here in Orlando is that we can be left without electricity, without internet and with the streets flooded”, he adds.
VIDEO: Hurricane Idalia: More than 110,000 people are without power
* under the supervision of Elis Franco
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
