Florida Woman Wraps Her House in Plastic to Protect It From Hurricane Dorian

Bill Pan
By Bill Pan
September 3, 2019US News
share
Florida Woman Wraps Her House in Plastic to Protect It From Hurricane Dorian
Businesses are seen shuttered near Fort Pierce Jetty Park in Florida on Sept. 2, 2019. (Adam DelGiudice/ AFP/Getty Images)

A Florida woman has taken some extreme measures to protect her home from Hurricane Dorian, which is expected to move towards the state’s east coast after delivering its punishing blow over the Bahamas.

Brittany Vidal, who lives in the Davis Shores neighborhood of St. Augustine, wrapped her house in heavy-duty plastic and secured it using duct tape and nearly 300 sandbags in preparation for the impact of the approaching storm, CBS47 reported.

“We just started out by doing 6 mil plastic all around the house,” Vidal told the news outlet. “If it works, it’s totally worth it.”

Davis Shores lies in an area designated as Evacuation Zones A and B, containing some 149,000 people who were asked to leave for their safety. The neighborhood saw devastating flooding as a result of hurricanes Matthew and Irma in 2016 and 2017. In the wake of Dorian, its residents are well aware of the risks.

“Now we’re getting a little scared,” a neighbor said. “So it is a tough call.”

Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina have all declared a state of emergency in preparation for the storm. A mandatory evacuation of the entire coastal South Carolina took effect Monday. A few hours later, Georgia’s governor Brian Kemp ordered mandatory evacuations for that state’s Atlantic coast, also starting at midday Monday. In Florida, mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for vulnerable coastal areas.

“I urge you to closely follow the forecast and listen to your local officials,” said Florida’s governor Roy Cooper. “If they order an evacuation please follow their instructions.”

One of the most powerful Atlantic storms on record, Dorian has brought destructive winds and heavy rainfall to the Bahamas, leveling numerous houses and claiming at least five lives so far.

On Tuesday the hurricane weakened to a Category 2 storm, with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph. But the storm is showing signs it’s growing as it moves toward the southeastern United States.

“A slow westward to west-northwestward motion is forecast during the next day or so, followed by a gradual turn toward the northwest and north,” a National Hurricane Center statement read. “On this track, the core of extremely dangerous Hurricane Dorian will continue to pound Grand Bahama Island through much of today and tonight. The hurricane will move dangerously close to the Florida east coast tonight through Wednesday evening.”

ntd newsletter icon
Sign up for NTD Daily
What you need to know, summarized in one email.
Stay informed with accurate news you can trust.
By registering for the newsletter, you agree to the Privacy Policy.
Comments