Marylanders stay connected to families in Florida affected by Hurricane Ian
Some Marylanders are attempting to stay in touch with loved ones affected by Hurricane Ian.
The storm may be 1,000 miles away, but the minds of some in the Mid-Atlantic are with their family members in Florida. Some having to evacuate, while others hunker down.
Flooding and strong winds hit southwest Florida Wednesday as the storm became a Category 4 hurricane.
"It's just crazy to think that it's like a Category 4, and it could be something on the impact level of Katrina. It's like really shocking," said Carson Rehfield, of Hampden.
Rehfield is one of many Marylanders with loved ones in the sunshine state as this monster storm arrives.
His uncle and aunt, Tommy and Karen Bernstein, live in Sarasota along the Gulf Coast.
"They're in their 80s, so I know it's been really hard for them to like be mobile and like to get out quickly, but they did it, which is good. I know it was challenging, Rehfield said.
He said they fled because of an evacuation notice. They're now in Pittsburgh until it's safe to return home.
Video below: Vacationers, residents flee Florida, arrive at BWI-Marshall ahead of Hurricane Ian
"It's tough family-wise, and then to think about like everybody else has family down there too, and to think about how many families this is going to affect beyond mine, it's hard," Rehfield said.
Kerry Dailer, of Frederick, is in a similar situation, with family in downtown Fort Myers. He just flew out from visiting them on Monday. Now, his relatives are hunkering down in their fourth floor condo as streets flood and the power goes out.
"We were there Monday morning. It was beautiful. And it looks like the river has run right through downtown Fort Myers," Dailer said.
He's staying in constant contact, as Hurricane Ian carries out its destructive path.
"They don't feel unsafe. They did say it's the scariest thing ever, but the place they're living in was built for this," Dailer said.
Dailer said his family's last transformer blew around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, but they're hopeful they'll be able to ride the storm out from their home as those strong winds and rain continue through the night.