Mobile home park residents get hurricane safety visits ahead of Hurricane Milton

Orange County fire fighters visited mobile home communities Tuesday as Hurricane Milton threatened the state, sharing safety information and warning residents they should evacuate if ordered to do so.

At the Fairways Country Club community off East Colonial Drive, Orange County Fire Rescue officials went door-to-door. They told residents to expect flooding and high winds and to consider a temporary move to a county shelter.

Residents Donald and Carole Mann, who spoke with firefighters Tuesday morning, said they’ll likely stay in their home during the storm, though they are also debating moving to their son’s house in Taft.

“He’s got a brick house,” Donald Mann said.

The state’s Division of Emergency Management’s website warns residents in mobile homes to have an evacuation plan ready. “It is never safe to remain in a mobile home during a high wind event such as a tropical storm, hurricane, thunderstorm, or tornado,” it said.

The firefighters who visited Mann’s community told residents they could call 311 or visit Orange County’s storm webpage at www.ocfl.net/storm for a list of open shelters. They reminded residents that if they move to a shelter, they should bring medications, water, important documents, pillows and blankets.

“So today we have 13 parks that we go to like this, we hit them all and give them all the fliers,” said Adam Garcia, an engineer with the department. “We’re trying to let them know that there’s probably going to be localized flooding and strong winds.”

Bruce and Harriet Moskowitz, who also live in the Fairways community, said they’ve experienced minor flooding in their driveway in previous hurricanes.

With a ramp leading up to their front steps and a home slightly more elevated than others around it, the couple plans to stay put and open their home to neighbors in more vulnerable situations.

“Most of these houses are low to the ground, and there’s an elderly lady who lives across the street named Shirley who is 81 years old and won’t go anywhere without her cat,” Harriet Moskowitz said. “We’ll bring her over here if we need to.”

The other tips firefighters shared in the fliers passed out to Fairways residents are information that anyone can use.

Before the storm, stock up on water, non-perishable food and fuel, they said. During the storm, avoid using generators in any partially enclosed area and stay off the roads.  After the storm, be careful using chain saws or other tools during cleanup.