Floridians brace for Hurricane Ian, some taking refuge in Wisconsin

 

WISCONSIN (CBS 58) -- Tampa Bay is on hurricane watch as Ian steamrolls closer to Florida's gulf coast. 

Tuesday night Wisconsinites with Florida ties are reacting to warnings that this could be Tampa Bay's most devastating storm in 100 years.

Passengers passing through Concourse C off a Southwest Airlines flight expressed big relief. Their 4:05 p.m. flight to Milwaukee was among the last to get out of Tampa International before all airport operations shut down.

"It's panic mode, typical Florida hurricane panic mode," said Brooke Anderson, who lives in Tampa.

Brooke and Josh Anderson have mixed feelings in baggage claim, getting excited to visit family in Southeast Wisconsin, but also worried as they show us the Tampa Bay home they left behind.

"And we took our entire first floor of furnishings and put it into a moving truck because we live on the water and we think it's a high probability that our entire home is gonna be flooded," said Anderson.

The gulf coast's preparing after Hurricane Ian pounded Cuba. Forecasters predict the storm to strengthen to a Category 4 with life-threatening storm surges and winds to 150 miles an hour.

"All the grocery stores are out of water. Home Depot is out of plywood and generators," said Anderson.

Bert Bengtson grew up in Green Bay and moved to St. Petersburg in 2018.

"They're limiting people to like two things of water and like essential toiletries," he said. "So I think that's done a good job of like making sure everyone gets enough for themselves and no one's hoarding everything."

Evacuation orders are posted for certain zones. Bengtson, his girlfriend and their beloved pets are in one.

"I think he hates it. He definitely hates the situation," said Bengtson.

They decided to stay put, but they're taking precautions.

"You guys actually caught us in the middle. We were moving like everything on our ground floor, literally like five feet so that it doesn't get flooded and everything," said Bengtson.

Red Cross chapters all over the country are now heading south. One van left from Milwaukee.

"And then we drive around to areas that are affected, especially in the first couple days, for people who're out of power, who don't have food -- a nice, warm meal can make a big difference," said Bob Nelson of American Red Cross, Southeast Wisconsin.

The Andersons plan to fly back to Tampa Sunday, hoping to be just as lucky with the flight home.

"We're just happy we're safe and together, because the most important thing is right next to me," said Anderson.

And this note to travelers with inbound or outbound Florida flights in the coming days -- major airlines are waiving change fees right now.