Long Islanders head to, from Florida amid Hurricane Irma
<p>Some Long Islanders are arriving to and from Florida Thursday in anticipation of Hurricane Irma. </p>
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Sep 7, 2017, 3:35 PM
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Updated 2,662 days ago
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While some people in Florida were leaving the state in advance of Irma, some Long Islanders were actually heading down to the region at the same time.
TRACKING IRMA: Tropical Tracker | Updates | Photos | Weather Center
Floridians arriving from West Palm Beach to MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma say they traveled up north to escape Irma. Many are staying with family and spent all night boarding up their homes before fleeing.
"It's scary and I was frightened," says Enid Gold, of Lake Worth. "I really just wanted to get away."
Passengers who departed from Orlando International Airport say it was chaotic and that flights were completely full.
Alyssa Spadavecchia flew up from Jenson Beach, Florida, with her two boys. She says she will be staying with relatives but had to leave her husband behind.
Other Long Island residents were heading down to secure their properties and help with storm recovery.
Julius Small, of North Babylon, headed to Apopka, Florida, which is north of Orlando, to be with his family and ride out the storm. He says he hopes he won’t need help from the Red Cross.
Craig Cooper, from the Long Island chapter of the Red Cross, was headed down to Florida to lend a hand.
"Hopefully, I'll be able to help with feedings or in one of the shelters," he says.
Irma remains a Category 5 hurricane.
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