Stay or go? With Hurricane Irma models projecting landfall in Florida, many TCC Students and their families are left with a dilemma.
While the hurricane is still a couple days from Tallahassee and with the sporadic tendencies of hurricanes, is it worth evacuating immediately?
On one hand, evacuating means uprooting your family and pets, purchasing supplies, booking hotels and traveling long distances. Evacuating is as emotionally taxing as it is financially.
On the other hand, if one chooses to stay or wait to evacuate, it may become too late to make any travel plans and to gather the needed supplies for a potentially catastrophic storm.
With Governor Rick Scott announcing “the closure of all public schools, state colleges, state universities and state offices for their normal activities effective Friday through Monday,” as well as TCC closing Friday through Tuesday, many students will now have more options regarding plans for Hurricane Irma.
The Talon did a poll on twitter to see what our followers’ plans were for Irma. Out of 31 people, 45 percent plan to ride the hurricane out, 23 percent are planning hurricane parties, 16 percent are leaving the state and 16 percent are still undecided as to what their plans are.
The Talon staff also interviewed TCC students to see what their plans and their families plans are for Hurricane Irma.
Freshman Gloria Mazariegos has family in Kissimmee, Florida but doesn’t know if it would be better to go down there as it is more central Florida. She has the safety vs. free food mindset, as parts of Tallahassee were without power for over a week during to the storm last year and going to Kissimmee means she would have a place to stay and food to eat with her family.
Junior Matthew Steacker has many pets, and the fact that his house could flood, to keep in mind. Those pets include four dogs, two birds, a bunch of hamsters and hermit crabs. He said if Tallahassee does need to evacuate, he will split the animals between two cars and head to Alabama.
Will Butler, who is taking classes at TCC through his work, said: “I built the house I live in, I’m going to die in it.” This means no matter what the circumstances are he will not leave his home.
Second year Dony Jean Charles said: “I am honestly terrified of the hurricane, not going to lie. Me and my roommates plan on going to Atlanta or Alabama. Just trying to go somewhere away from here.”
Jose Cortez plans to ride the hurricane out and sleep through it. Saying “I don’t think it will be that bad for us.” His family is planning to stay in his hometown of Lakeland, Florida, but are “boarding up all the windows and stocking up on supplies because they are for sure getting impact from the storm,” Cortez said.
Kaitlyn is a third year student at TCC following her dreams in finance, she does not plan on evacuating for Hurricane Irma. She is from Tampa Florida and her family that is currently there is riding it out as well. She has prepared by filling up her gas tank, having enough water supply and non-perishable food. Kaitlyn said that she is very worried for the state of Florida but she feels that Tallahassee is one of the safer places.
Shawn Morancy plans to stay in Tallahassee for Hurricane Irma. His family lives in New Jersey so they will not be affected by the storm.
Sources: Rick Scott announcement
