A DUBLIN woman in Florida has described her experience being caught up in Hurricane Milton as it severely impacts the US state.
The hurricane has destroyed homes and knocked out power to nearly 2 million residents over the past few days.
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Paige Comerford from Clondalkin was on holiday in Orlando with her family when the hurricane hit.
The holidaymaker said the hotel she has been staying in has been ‘ crazy all day, and although she’s been in Florida five times she has never seen anything like it before.
“So we’re in Orlando for two weeks, we got here last Thursday and we didn’t have a clue about the hurricane then.
“We were in a taxi when we first heard about it and then it just blew up completely – we couldn’t escape it, the news of the hurricane was everywhere.”
Over in America while her Fiancé is in Ireland, She has been keeping him at home updated through her Instagram account @_paintedbypaige_.
Paige revealed that the hotel at first was not been able to accommodate everyone, and some people fleeing their homes in Tampa ended up sleeping in the reception during the hurricane.
Ms Comerford praised hotel staff for being so prepared and keeping spirits high.
“They have been absolutely amazing, they really were so prepared.
“Even thing like making sure everyone had water, and the staff staying overnight all during a natural disaster – so that was really reassuring.”
However, she said guests have been advised to avoid going in the elevator over risks or power outages, but have been flooded too.
They have also been advised not to sleep anywhere near the windows, and Paige revealed that at one point a hurricane proof window smashed.
“Like no one has experienced a hurricane like this here in the past 100 years – last night everyone was anxious.
“By the time it reached Orlando it was down to a category 2 but with us coming over from Ireland when we wouldn’t know how to deal with things like this.”
‘We didn’t know what to expect’
“I had to keep reassuring myself that we have power generators and they’ve dealt with hurricanes before – but really we didn’t know what to expect.”
On holiday with her little sister, Paige said everyone in the hotel stayed as calm as possible to distract them from what was happening outside.
And her Fiancé being a geography teacher was a major help in reassuring her and her family during the height of the hurricane.
“Everybody has just been so calm, I suppose it’s the best way to be when going through something like this.
“My Fiancé was staying in touch with me all of last night, he said he wishes he was over to experience it himself because things like this never happen in Ireland.”
Despite all of the uncertainty and damage that came with the hurricane, Paige revealed that she would still come back in a heartbeat.
“I definitely would come back, I think it was very unfortunate that we were there while one of the most record breaking hurricanes took place.
“But it wouldn’t change how much I love the place, and now I now how prepared everyone is.
“If they could get through Hurricane Milton, they could get through anything.”
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