Turning evacuation into vacation: Floridians find refuge in Savannah

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) – Some evacuees from Hurricane Milton are turning a scary situation into an unexpected vacation in Savannah, enjoying what the Hostess City has to offer while seeking refuge from the storm.

“We are just trying to keep a positive attitude, that’s it,” said Amanda Cervera, who evacuated with her family.

The streets of downtown Savannah were busy with both the usual tourists and several Floridians who fled the storm. Cervera and her family, after a nearly 12-hour journey, arrived in Savannah following a mandatory evacuation by military orders.

“It’s a little nerve-racking,” Cervera said. “We’re not originally from Florida, so this is only our second hurricane. It’s scary. We have a baby, a bunny, and two dogs, so it was difficult for us.”

Some evacuees told us they left Florida because Hurricane Milton coincided with their pre-planned trip to Savannah.

“We wanted to get out of town anyway, and we kind of had some other things planned up here,” said Carol and Larry Schiffman. “So, it kind of coincidentally worked for us. We’re lucky.”

Others, like Michael and Ann Kane, decided to cut their trip short and head home early due to concerns about flight delays caused by the hurricane.

“They’re postponing a lot of flights leaving Savannah due to the hurricane,” they said. “We were unsure if our flight would be affected or not. So, we decided to cut our trip short, rent a car, and drive back to Denver.”

While many evacuees are dealing with uncertainty, most are just happy to be in a safe and welcoming environment.

“Thank you for being a great city,” one visitor said.

If you’re still looking for a place to stay, hotels are updating their availability frequently. Be sure to keep checking.

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