'There's still time to get out': Canadian expats flee as major hurricane bears down on Tampa
A Canadian couple living in the Tampa area had a gut-wrenching decision to make this week: Stay and face a looming hurricane or flee north, hoping their home would still be there when they returned.
Paul and Stacey Vautour, originally from Canada, moved to Florida seven years ago.
Now, they find themselves part of the mass exodus as Hurricane Milton barrels toward the state.
“When they’re this severe, you really just can’t stay,” said Paul.
U.S. forecasters are warning of destructive waves, devastating winds and flash flooding as Hurricane Milton makes its way from the Yucatan Peninsula toward Florida.
Initially expected to hit the west coast as a Category 3 storm, Milton is now a Category 5, with wind speeds reaching 270 km/h.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center called it “an extremely life-threatening situation” Tuesday, with the storm about 775 kilometres southwest of Tampa.
Speaking with CTV News Windsor, Stacey said the couple was going to hunker down at home, until a friend who worked for the county issued a stern warning.
“I told Paul, I think we have to go,” she said.
“We just have to go.”
The couple said their neighbourhood hadn’t even had time to recover from Helene – which blew through the state last week.
“We’re in the middle of cleaning that up and now, all that debris is outside,” Stacey said.
“[Nearby residents] had four to six feet of water in their homes,” added Paul, “And this one’s supposed to be twice that.”
The Vautours left home Monday, leaving all their belongings behind to wait out the storm in Atlanta.
“What am I going to do, drag my couch?” Stacey said.
“It’s hard leaving everything behind, but at least we’re safe.”
They said more than two days before the storm was even set to hit, the freeways were jammed.
“There’s only one way out and it’s up,” Paul said.
“Everyone’s on the same roads trying to do the same thing. It’s a lot.”
Despite the frenzy, Paul remarked on a sense of community among evacuees.
“We’re all in this together,” he said.
“Everybody’s about to get their behinds handed to them all at once.”
The U.S. National Hurricane Center expects Milton to reach Florida’s west coast Wednesday night, bringing winds of up to 270 km/h and life-threatening storm surges.
As the Vautours wait out the storm in Atlanta, they remain hopeful they’ll have something to return to.
“We’re going to pack up the next day and head back home to see what’s left,” Stacey said, acknowledging the uncertainty that lies ahead.
She fears for those who chose to stay and is praying for them.
“There’s still time to get out for those who haven’t left yet,” said Stacey.
“It’s not too late.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
LIVE UPDATES Tracking Hurricane Milton: Storm becomes world's strongest of 2024
After reaching peak intensity with wind speeds of 180 m.p.h. (285 km/h) on Monday night, Milton became the strongest storm on our planet for 2024.
Hurricane Milton expected to hit Florida cities like Tampa, Orlando and Daytona Beach
Hurricane Milton is expected to leave a path of devastation across central Florida, from Tampa in the west to Daytona Beach in the east.
Meteorologist becomes emotional giving update on Hurricane Milton
A seasoned American meteorologist became emotional on air as he gave an update on a major hurricane, later suggesting the reason behind his strong reaction.
Liberals considering proroguing Parliament amid document impasse? Freeland says 'no'
The minority Liberal government is not considering proroguing Parliament, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said Tuesday, despite persisting uncertainty over who is willing to keep propping them up and procedural wrangling over a Conservative led-privilege debate.
B.C. man convicted of killing neighbour's chihuahua to protect his chickens
A British Columbia provincial court judge says a Boston Bar man who shot a teacup Chihuahua named Bear claiming it was menacing his chickens was not justified in killing the animal.
'I hope so': Marc Garneau on whether there's room for Blue Liberals like him
Former cabinet minister Marc Garneau, who describes himself in his new book as always-a-Liberal, 'but a decidedly blue one,' says he hopes the party still has room for someone like him.
'Very' serious issue: federal transport minister on contamination in northern Alberta town
The renewed pleas of people in Fort Chipewyan, Alta. for government to take action cleaning up contamination in their community have reached the ears of federal Transport Minister Anita Anand.
'Extremely disappointed': Family of homicide victim storms out of courtroom as judge reads decision
Emotions boiled over after a judge acquitted two out of three defendants in a manslaughter case, while the third accused has since died.
'I find it really disheartening': Family calls out police after Ottawa senior falls victim to theft in parking lot
On September 11, Madeleine Gervais was the victim of a theft in Ottawa's west end. It happened in the Loblaws parking lot in College Square, when she was approached by a man and a woman who insisted to help her load her groceries into her car.