Belizeans in Florida Share Their Experiences As Hurricane Milton Approaches 

Belizean Shadini Henry continues to prepare as Category 5 Hurricane Milton barrels towards Florida. Henry, who has been living in Florida for the past eight years, says that she has stocked up on essential items. She lives in St. Petersburg. Meanwhile, another Belizean, Christine Jones, who lives in Ruskin Town south of Tampa, says that she too continues to make preparations as Milton nears.

Hurricane Milton surged into a Category 5 storm over the record-warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. As it continues to grow in size, there is a chance its category could drop, but the storm’s impact is expected to cover a much broader area. Belizeans in the Yucatan Peninsula have prepared. 

Milton is projected to make landfall along Florida’s Gulf Coast on Wednesday, with its dangerous eye and eyewall potentially hitting anywhere from Cedar Key in the north to Naples in the south, including the Tampa and Fort Myers regions. Just 10 days after Hurricane Helene ravaged Florida’s Gulf Coast with a storm surge and struck the Big Bend as a Category 4 storm, officials are urging residents still in recovery to evacuate or brace for another life-threatening storm.

According to Henry, she had a challenge finding water. ‘Water…couldn’t even find water in the stores. Luckily, we found some afterwards. We have both of our vehicles full with gas, but it was hard. All the gas. I imagine today because we got our fill last night. It was hard to find gas to fill the cars, but I imagine by today they’re all gone. They’re all out. We have stacked up on non-perishable items.” Henry and her family still have items following Hurricane Helene. “We made sure we went out, and we got some rechargeable lights. We are going to make sure that we have all the lights, all the devices, and everything charged to keep the kids entertained.”

Henry explained that although her neighbourhood isn’t prone to flooding, her family has a plan in place if mandatory evacuations are issued. “We live in a zone that doesn’t typically flood, which is why we’ve decided to stay home. But with two younger kids, if an evacuation order comes, we will definitely listen and move to a hotel as our backup plan,” she shared. Discussing her mental state, Henry remained calm. “I have to be,” she said. “It’s not good to panic, because you can’t think clearly when you do. I have control over my mind that way, so I’m staying calm.” Her family back in Belize has been checking in frequently.

Meanwhile, back in Ruskin, Jones is not thrilled. She said that while her area has avoided direct hits in the past, the possibility of a major storm reaching Tampa is unsettling. “We haven’t had a direct hit in about 100 years, so this is very concerning.” Jones lives in Zone C, an area not currently under evacuation orders, but she remains cautious. “Zones A and B have been told to evacuate, so I’m waiting to see what will happen in my area,” she explained. In preparation, she has been helping neighbours put up shutters and plans to do the same for her home. She has also stocked up on gas and non-perishable food, ensuring she’s ready for at least a week.

Recalling damage from Hurricane Ian three years ago, where she lost part of her roof, Jones is hopeful that her new roof will hold up against the storm. “The main concern for me is avoiding flooding and hoping my roof doesn’t blow off again,” she said. Jones stays in constant contact with her family back in Belize, where she has eight siblings and her relatives in Florida. “We have a family page where we keep in touch and get regular updates,” she shared. She also praised the Belizean Association in Florida, which she discovered about a year ago. “They do great work, especially supporting underprivileged children in Belize.”

Janine Sylvestre, Honorary Consul of Belize in Florida, urged Belizeans to prepare for Hurricane Milton. She advised residents to gather essential supplies, update hurricane plans for pets and elderly family members, and heed evacuation orders if necessary. The Consulate is available for emergency services at 305-300-7520.