To stay or to go: People look at their options as Hurricane Milton approaches

PUNTA GORDA — Area residents are looking at their options when it comes to whether they will evacuate or stay as Hurricane Milton threatens the region this week.

Delayed flights at Punta Gorda Airport were making some people a bit more concerned.

Angie Williamson was smoking a cigarette and on hold with a car rental company after she found her flight to Columbus, Ohio had been delayed.

She worried it would be cancelled.

"I don't want to stay here," she said. "I'm looking at renting a car to drive home."

Venice resident Danny Roberts was walking his mother into the airport for her preplanned visit to Cincinnati. Roberts and his girlfriend, Jonnie Greene, were likely going to stay at their home.

"It is what it is," Roberts said.

He said the home withstood Hurricane Ian two years ago.

Jonnie Greene said she was concerned about Hurricane Milton.

"I don't want anyone to get any damage," Greene said.

Rena Balzer, of Yellow Springs, Ohio, was awaiting her flight home. It was being delayed four hours. She and her sister, Tammy Duncan, and their family have Hurricane Ian experiences as well.

"We all rode it out together," Balzer said.

The family has a home in Cape Coral.

Duncan said people need to make up their own minds when it comes to evacuating or not.

They were able to get through Hurricane Ian and watched as Hurricane Helene brought water to within a few feet of their home, but think the forecast isn't as bad for them when it comes to Hurricane Milton.

"If I were on an island, perhaps I would heed the warnings more," Duncan said.

At a nearby gas station, Punta Gorda resident Brock Bentley was filling his vehicle's tank and a fuel container. He said the home where he lives should be good to go. It is farther inland than many.

"We rode out Ian and our house was fine," he said.

He thinks downtown Punta Gorda could be struck hard again, he said.

He said there is a sense of concern with Milton for a lot of people.

"It's definitely different," Bentley said. "I think that's why more people are worried about it … especially the way the models are showing," he said.

Johnny Rickert was pulling the last of the items from his home on Danforth Drive in Charlotte Harbor.

The home was condemned after damage by Hurricane Helene just a few weeks ago.

He didn't think people should be sticking around.

"The last one was 5 feet and this is predicted to be 10 to 12. If you got water in your house the last time ... well," he said.